All NFL game summaries for 12/15/1974:

The Falcons used a five-yard touchdown run by Dave Hampton and a 47-yard field goal by Nick Mike-Mayer to snap an eight-game losing streak. Strong safety Ray Brown had his eighth interception, tops in the NFC. Chester Marcol's field goal gave him 94 points and the NFL scoring title by one point over Pittsburgh's Roy Gerela. The actual attendance of 10,020 was the smallest of the season in the NFL, and the 48,830 no-shows was the largest ever recorded.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Packers by 5

( 0- 7) ATL Dave Hampton 5 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
( 0-10) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 47 yard field goal
( 3-10) GB  Chester Marcol 43 yard field goal

                     GB              ATL
First Downs:         14              10
Rushes-yards:        30-125          38-129
Yards/rush:          4.2             3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-38-138-2     7-20-68-3
Sacked-yards:        0-0             0-0
Net pass yards:      138             68
Net yards/pass:      3.6             3.4
Total net yards:     263             197
Total plays:         68 (44% run)    58 (65% run)  
Yards/play:          3.9             3.4
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             1-1
Turnovers:           3               4
Penalties-yards:     3-35            7-38

Attendance: 10,020

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The Jets closed out the season with a six-game winning streak as Joe Namath threw for two touchdowns and John Riggins ran for 107 yards on 21 carries and scored twice. Bert Jones staged a spectacular show, completing an NFL-record 17 consecutive passes and 36 of 53 for 385 yards and four touchdowns for the Colts while wiping a flock of John Unitas marks out of the Colts' record book. Lydell Mitchell caught 13 passes for an AFC-leading total of 72, the first running back to win since Shipwreck Kelly of Brooklyn in 1933. Mitchell's 13 also tied the most ever by a running back in a game.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Jets by 7

( 7- 0) NYJ Jerome Barkum 25 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick)
( 7- 7) BAL Lydell Mitchell 5 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)
(14- 7) NYJ John Riggins 1 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
(21- 7) NYJ John Riggins 2 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
(28- 7) NYJ Burgess Owens 29 yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick)
(28-10) BAL Toni Linhart 26 yard field goal
(28-17) BAL Raymond Chester 9 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)
(35-17) NYJ Rich Caster 39 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick)
(35-24) BAL Lydell Mitchell 16 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)
(38-24) NYJ Pat Leahy 25 yard field goal
(45-24) NYJ Mike Adamle 3 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
(45-31) BAL Bert Jones 1 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)
(45-38) BAL Don McCauley 10 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)

                     NYJ             BAL
First Downs:         24              33
Rushes-yards:        32-130          18-82
Yards/rush:          4.1             4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     19-29-281-0     36-54-385-4
Sacked-yards:        2-21            1-12
Net pass yards:      260             373
Net yards/pass:      8.4             6.8
Total net yards:     390             455
Total plays:         63 (50% run)    73 (24% run)  
Yards/play:          6.2             6.2
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             0-0
Turnovers:           0               4
Penalties-yards:     6-58            5-52

Attendance: 31,651

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Houston won its sixth in the last seven games to finish at .500 after two seasons at 1-13. The Oilers beat the Browns for the first time ever after losing to them nine straight times. Second-half touchdowns by Willie Rodgers, Fred Willis and Billy Johnson gave Houston its first non-losing season since 1969. Greg Pruitt, the AFC kickoff return champ, led the rushers with 102 yards on 15 carries.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Oilers by 6

( 7- 0) CLE Steve Holden 41 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)
( 7- 7) HOU Mack Alston 7 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
( 7-14) HOU Billy Johnson 6 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
(14-14) CLE Greg Pruitt 4 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(17-14) CLE Don Cockroft 37 yard field goal
(17-21) HOU Fred Willis 5 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
(17-28) HOU Willie Rodgers 20 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
(24-28) CLE Fair Hooker 9 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)

                     CLE             HOU
First Downs:         20              20
Rushes-yards:        34-142          42-182
Yards/rush:          4.2             4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     16-29-227-2     12-25-121-2
Sacked-yards:        3-38            2-20
Net pass yards:      189             101
Net yards/pass:      5.9             3.7
Total net yards:     331             283
Total plays:         66 (51% run)    69 (60% run)  
Yards/play:          5.0             4.1
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             1-1
Turnovers:           4               3
Penalties-yards:     13-134          8-74

Attendance: 33,299

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The Rams rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Bills in a meeting of playoff-bound teams -- Los Angeles as NFC West champion and Buffalo as the AFC wild card. Lawrence McCutcheon of the Rams rushed 45 yards in the first period and left the game with the NFC rushing title and a new club record of 1,109 yards, breaking his own mark of 1,097 set in 1973. Buffalo's O. J. Simpson ran for 73 and a season total of 1,125, third highest in the AFC.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Rams by 7

( 7- 0) BUF Ahmad Rashad 0 yard fumble return (John Leypoldt kick)
( 7- 7) LA  Rob Scribner 14 yard pass from James Harris (Mike Burke kick)
( 7-13) LA  James Harris 1 yard rush (kick failed)
( 7-19) LA  Ron Jaworski 1 yard rush (kick failed)
(14-19) BUF J.D. Hill 55 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick)

                     BUF             LA
First Downs:         8               21
Rushes-yards:        21-109          54-177
Yards/rush:          5.2             3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     9-20-136-3      11-21-180-0
Sacked-yards:        4-27            4-36
Net pass yards:      109             144
Net yards/pass:      4.5             5.8
Total net yards:     218             321
Total plays:         45 (46% run)    79 (68% run)  
Yards/play:          4.8             4.1
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             1-1
Turnovers:           3               1
Penalties-yards:     5-80            3-18

Attendance: 78,967

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Mack Herron set the NFL record for combined net yardage with 2,444 yards on runs (824), receptions (474), kickoff returns (629) and punt returns (517), breaking the old mark set by Gale Sayers of Chicago in 1966. Although the Patriots rolled to an early 24-0 lead, the playoff-bound Dolphins came back to win with backup quarterback Earl Morrall throwing two touchdown passes to rookie Melvin Baker and Don Nottingham scoring twice. Bob Griese, Larry Csonka and several other Dolphin regulars did not play.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Dolphins by 8

( 7- 0) NE  John Hannah 0 yard fumble return (John Smith kick)
(14- 0) NE  John Sanders 23 yard interception return (John Smith kick)
(21- 0) NE  Mack Herron 4 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick)
(24- 0) NE  John Smith 46 yard field goal
(24- 7) MIA Don Nottingham 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(24-14) MIA Melvin Baker 37 yard pass from Earl Morrall (Garo Yepremian kick)
(24-17) MIA Garo Yepremian 28 yard field goal
(24-24) MIA Melvin Baker 46 yard pass from Earl Morrall (Garo Yepremian kick)
(27-24) NE  John Smith 34 yard field goal
(27-31) MIA Don Nottingham 2 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(27-34) MIA Garo Yepremian 40 yard field goal

                     NE              MIA
First Downs:         18              18
Rushes-yards:        30-114          33-61
Yards/rush:          3.8             1.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-41-234-0     15-23-288-3
Sacked-yards:        1-15            3-16
Net pass yards:      219             272
Net yards/pass:      5.2             10.5
Total net yards:     333             333
Total plays:         72 (41% run)    59 (55% run)  
Yards/play:          4.6             5.6
Fumbles-lost:        6-3             3-1
Turnovers:           3               4
Penalties-yards:     9-89            6-30

Attendance: 56,920

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The Eagles, with rookie Mike Boryla at quarterback for the third straight game, finished with three victories in a row to achieve a 7-7 record, their best since 1966. Boryla completed 20 of 34 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Charle Young caught seven passes to boost his total to 63 which earned him the NFC receiving title.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Even

( 0- 7) PHI Po James 1 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 0-14) PHI Harold Carmichael 6 yard pass from Mike Boryla (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 3-14) DET Errol Mann 38 yard field goal
(10-14) DET Greg Landry 1 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
(10-21) PHI Charle Young 1 yard pass from Mike Boryla (Tom Dempsey kick)
(10-28) PHI Tom Sullivan 4 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
(17-28) DET Ron Jessie 21 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)

                     DET             PHI
First Downs:         15              19
Rushes-yards:        27-78           32-87
Yards/rush:          2.9             2.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     21-32-182-0     20-34-181-1
Sacked-yards:        2-12            1-11
Net pass yards:      170             170
Net yards/pass:      5.0             4.9
Total net yards:     248             257
Total plays:         61 (44% run)    67 (47% run)  
Yards/play:          4.1             3.8
Fumbles-lost:        4-3             1-0
Turnovers:           3               1
Penalties-yards:     6-47            5-40

Attendance: 57,157

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The Chargers' Don Woods gained 105 yards for a rookie record total of 1,162 yards and Denver's Otis Armstrong clinched the AFC rushing title by boosting his total to 1,407 yards with 142 in 18 carries. Rookie quarterback Jesse Freitas completed 16 of 29 for 201 yards in the Chargers first shutout since 1967. It was Denver's first shutout loss since 1970. Woods also broke the club rushing record set by Paul Lowe in 1965.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Broncos by 7

( 0- 7) SD  Don Woods 6 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
( 0-14) SD  Bo Matthews 1 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
( 0-17) SD  Ray Wersching 37 yard field goal

                     DEN             SD
First Downs:         13              21
Rushes-yards:        27-173          43-163
Yards/rush:          6.4             3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     12-19-146-2     16-30-201-2
Sacked-yards:        4-32            2-11
Net pass yards:      114             190
Net yards/pass:      5.0             5.9
Total net yards:     287             353
Total plays:         50 (54% run)    75 (57% run)  
Yards/play:          5.7             4.7
Fumbles-lost:        4-3             0-0
Turnovers:           5               2
Penalties-yards:     4-35            6-52

Attendance: 35,756

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The 49ers broke away from a tight 14-7 lead on the first play of the final period when Gene Washington took a 17-yard touchdown pass from rookie Tom Owen and 23 seconds later defensive tackle Bill Belk picked up a Saints' fumble and ran 19 yards to score. The victory, San Francisco's fourth in its last five games, gave the 49ers second place in the NFC West.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: 49ers by 8

( 0- 7) SF  Larry Schreiber 5 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 7- 7) NO  Larry Cipa 1 yard rush (Bill McClard kick)
( 7-14) SF  Larry Schreiber 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 7-21) SF  Gene Washington 17 yard pass from Tom Owen (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 7-28) SF  Bill Belk 19 yard fumble return (Bruce Gossett kick)
(14-28) NO  Paul Seal 7 yard pass from Bobby Scott (Bill McClard kick)
(21-28) NO  Bob Newland 10 yard pass from Bobby Scott (Bill McClard kick)
(21-35) SF  Dave Wilcox 21 yard interception return (Bruce Gossett kick)

                     NO              SF
First Downs:         23              18
Rushes-yards:        35-121          37-160
Yards/rush:          3.5             4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     21-44-235-2     13-23-186-1
Sacked-yards:        4-38            1-8
Net pass yards:      197             178
Net yards/pass:      4.1             7.4
Total net yards:     318             338
Total plays:         83 (42% run)    61 (60% run)  
Yards/play:          3.8             5.5
Fumbles-lost:        4-2             2-2
Turnovers:           4               3
Penalties-yards:     8-64            5-59

Attendance: 40,418

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Needing a victory to win the first title in its 15-year history in St. Louis, the Cardinals had to rally from a 14-0 halftime deficit to score victory number 10 and enter the NFC playoffs as Eastern division champion. A four-yard pass from Jim Hart to Ken Willard produced the first St. Louis score, then 57 seconds later, following Jim Tolbert's interception, Hart connected 28 yards to Jackie Smith for another touchdown, slicing New York's lead to 14-13. Roger Wehrli picked off another Giants' pass on the next series which led to the first of Terry Metcalf's two touchdowns and gave the Cardinals their winning margin.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cardinals by 8

( 7- 0) NYG Ron Johnson 2 yard rush (Pete Gogolak kick)
(14- 0) NYG Joe Dawkins 1 yard rush (Pete Gogolak kick)
(14- 6) STL Ken Willard 4 yard pass from Jim Hart (kick failed)
(14-13) STL Jackie Smith 28 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(14-20) STL Terry Metcalf 1 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
(14-26) STL Terry Metcalf 16 yard rush (kick failed)

                     NYG             STL
First Downs:         18              22
Rushes-yards:        36-148          36-152
Yards/rush:          4.1             4.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-31-139-4     17-37-172-1
Sacked-yards:        1-7             2-8
Net pass yards:      132             164
Net yards/pass:      4.1             4.2
Total net yards:     280             316
Total plays:         68 (52% run)    75 (48% run)  
Yards/play:          4.1             4.2
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             1-0
Turnovers:           4               1
Penalties-yards:     9-60            6-48

Attendance: 47,414

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With Sonny Jurgensen throwing 14 completions for 205 yards including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Charley Taylor in the QB's first action in five weeks, the Redskins ran up their highest point total since 1966, giving them the NFC scoring title with 320 points. Washington's four interceptions brought their conference-leading total to 25. Jurgensen finished as the NFC passing champion.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Redskins by 13

( 0- 7) WAS Larry Brown 1 yard rush (Mike Bragg kick)
( 0-14) WAS Larry Brown 4 yard rush (Mike Bragg kick)
( 0-21) WAS Charley Taylor 11 yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Mike Bragg kick)
( 0-28) WAS Charley Taylor 13 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mike Bragg kick)
( 0-35) WAS Duane Thomas 14 yard rush (Mike Bragg kick)
( 0-42) WAS Charlie Evans 1 yard rush (Deacon Jones kick)

                     CHI             WAS
First Downs:         10              27
Rushes-yards:        16-73           40-182
Yards/rush:          4.6             4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     12-36-90-4      21-30-344-0
Sacked-yards:        4-37            2-15
Net pass yards:      53              329
Net yards/pass:      1.3             10.3
Total net yards:     126             511
Total plays:         56 (28% run)    72 (55% run)  
Yards/play:          2.2             7.1
Fumbles-lost:        2-0             2-1
Turnovers:           4               1
Penalties-yards:     5-46            6-79

Attendance: 52,085

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