NFL game summary for 12/15/1974:
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):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 103.7 (23) | 158.5 (12) | 262.2 (17) | 32 |
| DEFENSE | 135.7 (16) | 182.8 (23) | 318.5 (23) | 24 | |
 | OFFENSE | 138.8 (13) | 168.8 (7) | 307.5 (10) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 133.8 (15) | 171.6 (21) | 305.5 (18) | 21 |
Line: Cardinals by 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants (2-12-0) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (10-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | 26 |
( 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
Passing:
NYG: Craig Morton, 13 of 31 for 139 yards (4 int) STL: Jim Hart, 17 of 36 for 172 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Terry Metcalf, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NYG: Joe Dawkins, 19 for 74 yards and 1 TD; Ron Johnson, 17 for 74 yards and 1 TD STL: Terry Metcalf, 16 for 76 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Otis, 8 for 37 yards; Donny Anderson, 5 for 21 yards; Ken Willard, 4 for 11 yards; Jim Hart, 3 for 7 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Walker Gillette, 4 for 44 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 14 yards; Ray Rhodes, 2 for 42 yards; Leon McQuay, 1 for 16 yards; Ron Johnson, 1 for 12 yards; Chip Glass, 1 for 11 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 5 for 31 yards; Mel Gray, 4 for 55 yards; Jackie Smith, 3 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Earl Thomas, 3 for 30 yards; Jim Otis, 1 for 4 yards; Ken Willard, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
NYG: Leon McQuay, 3 for 99 yards; Doug Kotar, 2 for 42 yards STL: Gary Hammond, 1 for 25 yards; Terry Metcalf, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Pete Athas, 6 for 63 yards; Ray Rhodes, 2 for 44 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 5 for 73 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Chuck Crist, 1 for 0 yards STL: Norm Thompson, 1 for 49 yards; Jim Tolbert, 1 for 22 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 1 yard; Larry Stallings, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NYG: Dave Jennings, 6 for 250 yards STL: Hal Roberts, 8 for 293 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 0/1
NYG: Craig Morton, 13 of 31 for 139 yards (4 int) STL: Jim Hart, 17 of 36 for 172 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Terry Metcalf, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NYG: Joe Dawkins, 19 for 74 yards and 1 TD; Ron Johnson, 17 for 74 yards and 1 TD STL: Terry Metcalf, 16 for 76 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Otis, 8 for 37 yards; Donny Anderson, 5 for 21 yards; Ken Willard, 4 for 11 yards; Jim Hart, 3 for 7 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Walker Gillette, 4 for 44 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 14 yards; Ray Rhodes, 2 for 42 yards; Leon McQuay, 1 for 16 yards; Ron Johnson, 1 for 12 yards; Chip Glass, 1 for 11 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 5 for 31 yards; Mel Gray, 4 for 55 yards; Jackie Smith, 3 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Earl Thomas, 3 for 30 yards; Jim Otis, 1 for 4 yards; Ken Willard, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
NYG: Leon McQuay, 3 for 99 yards; Doug Kotar, 2 for 42 yards STL: Gary Hammond, 1 for 25 yards; Terry Metcalf, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Pete Athas, 6 for 63 yards; Ray Rhodes, 2 for 44 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 5 for 73 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Chuck Crist, 1 for 0 yards STL: Norm Thompson, 1 for 49 yards; Jim Tolbert, 1 for 22 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 1 yard; Larry Stallings, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NYG: Dave Jennings, 6 for 250 yards STL: Hal Roberts, 8 for 293 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 0/1