NFL game summary for 09/21/1975:
Jim Bakken kicked a 25-yard field goal as time ran out to provide the fourth straight opening game victory for the Cardinals, who trailed 13-20 with five minutes left. An eight-yard touchdown pass from Jim Hart to Earl Thomas tied the score, then Hart directed a 72-yard drive in the final 1:49 to set up Bakken's third and decisive field goal. Atlanta's Dave Hampton ran 23 times for 135 yards and two TDs.
Line: Cardinals by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Atlanta Falcons (0-1-0) | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
 St. Louis Cardinals (1-0-0) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
( 0- 7) STL Terry Metcalf 39 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
( 7- 7) ATL Steve Bartkowski 1 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
( 7-10) STL Jim Bakken 22 yard field goal
(13-10) ATL Dave Hampton 6 yard rush (kick failed)
(13-13) STL Jim Bakken 39 yard field goal
(20-13) ATL Dave Hampton 1 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
(20-20) STL Earl Thomas 8 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(20-23) STL Jim Bakken 25 yard field goal
ATL STL
First Downs: 19 18
Rushes-yards: 51-236 36-167
Yards/rush: 4.6 4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-16-81-1 12-23-150-2
Sacked-yards: 3-23 0-0
Net pass yards: 58 150
Net yards/pass: 3.1 6.5
Total net yards: 294 317
Total plays: 70 (72% run) 59 (61% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 5.4
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-1
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 6-40 1-8
Attendance: 42,172
Passing:
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 8 of 16 for 81 yards (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 12 of 23 for 150 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 23 for 135 yards and 2 TDs; Woody Thompson, 13 for 42 yards; Haskel Stanback, 9 for 50 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 5 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 1 for 4 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 20 for 99 yards and 1 TD; Jim Otis, 16 for 68 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Woody Thompson, 3 for 29 yards; Oscar Reed, 2 for 1 yard; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 25 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 13 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 13 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 4 for 37 yards; Mel Gray, 3 for 65 yards; Earl Thomas, 2 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Jim Otis, 2 for 16 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Wallace Francis, 5 for 76 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 2 for 41 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 25 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Ron Mabra, 2 for 3 yards; Gerald Tinker, 1 for 0 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 4 for 30 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Ray Brown, 1 for 38 yards; Tom Hayes, 1 for 6 yards STL: Pete Barnes, 1 for 23 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 6 for 233 yards STL: Jeff West, 4 for 164 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 0/1 STL: Jim Bakken, 3/3
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 8 of 16 for 81 yards (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 12 of 23 for 150 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 23 for 135 yards and 2 TDs; Woody Thompson, 13 for 42 yards; Haskel Stanback, 9 for 50 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 5 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 1 for 4 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 20 for 99 yards and 1 TD; Jim Otis, 16 for 68 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Woody Thompson, 3 for 29 yards; Oscar Reed, 2 for 1 yard; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 25 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 13 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 13 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 4 for 37 yards; Mel Gray, 3 for 65 yards; Earl Thomas, 2 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Jim Otis, 2 for 16 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Wallace Francis, 5 for 76 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 2 for 41 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 25 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Ron Mabra, 2 for 3 yards; Gerald Tinker, 1 for 0 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 4 for 30 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Ray Brown, 1 for 38 yards; Tom Hayes, 1 for 6 yards STL: Pete Barnes, 1 for 23 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 6 for 233 yards STL: Jeff West, 4 for 164 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 0/1 STL: Jim Bakken, 3/3