NFL game summary for 10/06/1974:
After falling behind 9-0, the Cardinals erupted to score on five consecutive ball possessions, beginning late in the second period on Terry Metcalf's 24-yard run to climax an 84-yard march. St. Louis' 24-point third period included scoring passes of 57 and 59 yards from Jim Hart to Mel Gray, who made three receptions for 124 yards. For the third time in their four consecutive victories, the Cardinals' blockers did not permit Hart to be sacked as he moved into second place among NFC passers.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 157.3 (7) | 116.0 (18) | 273.3 (11) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 112.7 (7) | 176.3 (20) | 289.0 (16) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 176.3 (4) | 61.0 (26) | 237.3 (22) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 153.7 (20) | 133.0 (12) | 286.7 (15) | 12 |
Line: Cardinals by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals (4-0-0) | 0 | 7 | 24 | 3 | 34 |
| San Francisco 49ers (2-2-0) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
( 0- 6) SF Gene Washington 58 yard pass from Joe Reed (kick failed)
( 0- 9) SF Bruce Gossett 20 yard field goal
( 7- 9) STL Terry Metcalf 24 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
(14- 9) STL Mel Gray 57 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(21- 9) STL Donny Anderson 4 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(24- 9) STL Jim Bakken 47 yard field goal
(31- 9) STL Mel Gray 59 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(34- 9) STL Jim Bakken 42 yard field goal
STL SF
First Downs: 21 12
Rushes-yards: 49-223 28-186
Yards/rush: 4.6 6.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-19-184-2 7-20-128-2
Sacked-yards: 0-0 4-8
Net pass yards: 184 120
Net yards/pass: 9.7 5.0
Total net yards: 407 306
Total plays: 68 (72% run) 52 (53% run)
Yards/play: 6.0 5.9
Fumbles-lost: 3-0 6-1
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 4-34 5-35
Attendance: 47,675
Passing:
STL: Jim Hart, 11 of 19 for 184 yards and 3 TDs (2 int) SF: Dennis Morrison, 4 of 8 for 56 yards (1 int); Joe Reed, 2 of 7 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Tom Owen, 1 of 5 for 9 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
STL: Terry Metcalf, 14 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Jim Otis, 12 for 41 yards; Willie Belton, 9 for 30 yards; Ken Willard, 5 for 23 yards; Donny Anderson, 5 for 21 yards; Eddie Moss, 4 for 13 yards SF: Wilbur Jackson, 14 for 91 yards; Larry Schreiber, 9 for 45 yards; Joe Reed, 3 for 13 yards; Sammy Johnson, 2 for 37 yards
Receiving:
STL: Earl Thomas, 4 for 30 yards; Mel Gray, 3 for 124 yards and 2 TDs; Donny Anderson, 2 for 11 yards and 1 TD; J.V. Cain, 1 for 15 yards; Terry Metcalf, 1 for 4 yards SF: Gene Washington, 2 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Terry Beasley, 1 for 25 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 1 for 16 yards; Delvin Williams, 1 for 9 yards; Tom Mitchell, 1 for 9 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
STL: Terry Metcalf, 3 for 48 yards SF: Mike Holmes, 4 for 60 yards; Manfred Moore, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Gary Hammond, 3 for 8 yards; Terry Metcalf, 2 for 55 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 7 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Norm Thompson, 1 for 23 yards; Dwayne Crump, 1 for 10 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 1 for 14 yards; Jimmy Johnson, 1 for 13 yards
Punting:
STL: Hal Roberts, 3 for 136 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 7 for 294 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 2/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/1
STL: Jim Hart, 11 of 19 for 184 yards and 3 TDs (2 int) SF: Dennis Morrison, 4 of 8 for 56 yards (1 int); Joe Reed, 2 of 7 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Tom Owen, 1 of 5 for 9 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
STL: Terry Metcalf, 14 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Jim Otis, 12 for 41 yards; Willie Belton, 9 for 30 yards; Ken Willard, 5 for 23 yards; Donny Anderson, 5 for 21 yards; Eddie Moss, 4 for 13 yards SF: Wilbur Jackson, 14 for 91 yards; Larry Schreiber, 9 for 45 yards; Joe Reed, 3 for 13 yards; Sammy Johnson, 2 for 37 yards
Receiving:
STL: Earl Thomas, 4 for 30 yards; Mel Gray, 3 for 124 yards and 2 TDs; Donny Anderson, 2 for 11 yards and 1 TD; J.V. Cain, 1 for 15 yards; Terry Metcalf, 1 for 4 yards SF: Gene Washington, 2 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Terry Beasley, 1 for 25 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 1 for 16 yards; Delvin Williams, 1 for 9 yards; Tom Mitchell, 1 for 9 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
STL: Terry Metcalf, 3 for 48 yards SF: Mike Holmes, 4 for 60 yards; Manfred Moore, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Gary Hammond, 3 for 8 yards; Terry Metcalf, 2 for 55 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 7 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Norm Thompson, 1 for 23 yards; Dwayne Crump, 1 for 10 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 1 for 14 yards; Jimmy Johnson, 1 for 13 yards
Punting:
STL: Hal Roberts, 3 for 136 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 7 for 294 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 2/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/1