NFL game summary for 12/08/1974:
Saints' rookie running back Alvin Maxson set club records with a 66-yard touchdown gallop and a rushing total of 148 yards, and the defense produced the second shutout victory in New Orleans history as the playoff-bound Cardinals lost their second in a row. New Orleans' Tom Blanchard, with eight punts for 338 yards, moved into the NFC punting lead.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 145.0 (10) | 170.3 (8) | 315.3 (8) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 126.0 (11) | 178.7 (22) | 304.7 (18) | 20 | |
 | OFFENSE | 136.2 (14) | 123.1 (23) | 259.2 (21) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 127.8 (12) | 142.6 (9) | 270.4 (9) | 31 |
Line: Cardinals by 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals (9-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints (5-8-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 0- 7) NO Alvin Maxson 66 yard rush (Bill McClard kick)
( 0-14) NO Paul Seal 6 yard rush (Bill McClard kick)
STL NO
First Downs: 12 17
Rushes-yards: 23-64 48-228
Yards/rush: 2.8 4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-39-181-0 7-17-93-0
Sacked-yards: 4-31 1-6
Net pass yards: 150 87
Net yards/pass: 3.5 4.8
Total net yards: 214 315
Total plays: 66 (34% run) 66 (72% run)
Yards/play: 3.2 4.8
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 3-1
Turnovers: 1 1
Penalties-yards: 3-15 4-30
Attendance: 47,172
Passing:
STL: Jim Hart, 16 of 39 for 181 yards NO: Larry Cipa, 7 of 17 for 93 yards
Rushing:
STL: Donny Anderson, 10 for 29 yards; Jim Otis, 5 for 21 yards; Terry Metcalf, 5 for 9 yards; Ken Willard, 3 for 5 yards NO: Alvin Maxson, 22 for 148 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 9 for 32 yards; Rod McNeill, 7 for 22 yards; Larry Cipa, 7 for 11 yards; Howard Stevens, 2 for 9 yards; Paul Seal, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
STL: Earl Thomas, 4 for 80 yards; Terry Metcalf, 4 for 41 yards; Jim Otis, 3 for 8 yards; Donny Anderson, 2 for 5 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 24 yards; Ken Willard, 1 for 17 yards; Mel Gray, 1 for 6 yards NO: Alvin Maxson, 4 for 36 yards; Paul Seal, 2 for 27 yards; Rod McNeill, 1 for 30 yards
Kick returns:
STL: Eddie Moss, 3 for 49 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Gary Hammond, 3 for 45 yards; Terry Metcalf, 2 for 22 yards NO: Howard Stevens, 1 for 12 yards; Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
STL: Hal Roberts, 8 for 325 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 8 for 338 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 0/1
STL: Jim Hart, 16 of 39 for 181 yards NO: Larry Cipa, 7 of 17 for 93 yards
Rushing:
STL: Donny Anderson, 10 for 29 yards; Jim Otis, 5 for 21 yards; Terry Metcalf, 5 for 9 yards; Ken Willard, 3 for 5 yards NO: Alvin Maxson, 22 for 148 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 9 for 32 yards; Rod McNeill, 7 for 22 yards; Larry Cipa, 7 for 11 yards; Howard Stevens, 2 for 9 yards; Paul Seal, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
STL: Earl Thomas, 4 for 80 yards; Terry Metcalf, 4 for 41 yards; Jim Otis, 3 for 8 yards; Donny Anderson, 2 for 5 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 24 yards; Ken Willard, 1 for 17 yards; Mel Gray, 1 for 6 yards NO: Alvin Maxson, 4 for 36 yards; Paul Seal, 2 for 27 yards; Rod McNeill, 1 for 30 yards
Kick returns:
STL: Eddie Moss, 3 for 49 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Gary Hammond, 3 for 45 yards; Terry Metcalf, 2 for 22 yards NO: Howard Stevens, 1 for 12 yards; Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
STL: Hal Roberts, 8 for 325 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 8 for 338 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 0/1