NFL game summary for 10/03/1976:
Steve Jones, subbing the second half for injured Terry Metcalf, scored touchdowns on a three-yard pass from Jim Hart and ran over from the 3 to help keep the Cardinals just one game behind Dallas in the NFC East. Mike Sensibaugh got his first NFL touchdown on the second play of the game after intercepting Craig Morton at the Giants' 35 and taking it for a score. Giants' halfback Doug Kotar caught 11 passes in the game to tie Washington's Frank Grant for the best receiving performance in 1976 in the NFC.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 115.3 (24) | 157.3 (15) | 272.7 (21) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 163.0 (20) | 167.0 (17) | 330.0 (18) | 7 | |
 | OFFENSE | 204.3 (3) | 209.0 (5) | 413.3 (3) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 113.7 (6) | 197.7 (23) | 311.3 (14) | 10 |
Line: Cardinals by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants (0-4-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (3-1-0) | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
( 0- 7) STL Mike Sensibaugh 35 yard interception return (Jim Bakken kick)
( 7- 7) NYG Larry Csonka 5 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)
( 7-10) STL Jim Bakken 22 yard field goal
( 7-17) STL Steve Jones 3 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
( 7-20) STL Jim Bakken 34 yard field goal
(14-20) NYG Larry Csonka 1 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)
(14-27) STL Steve Jones 3 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
(21-27) NYG Marsh White 2 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)
NYG STL
First Downs: 23 25
Rushes-yards: 33-137 45-187
Yards/rush: 4.2 4.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-28-215-1 16-22-117-0
Sacked-yards: 1-8 0-0
Net pass yards: 207 117
Net yards/pass: 7.1 5.3
Total net yards: 344 304
Total plays: 62 (53% run) 67 (67% run)
Yards/play: 5.5 4.5
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 0-0
Turnovers: 1 0
Penalties-yards: 10-65 9-80
Attendance: 48,039
Passing:
NYG: Craig Morton, 18 of 28 for 215 yards (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 16 of 22 for 117 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NYG: Larry Csonka, 13 for 56 yards and 2 TDs; Doug Kotar, 10 for 40 yards; Gordon Bell, 6 for 37 yards; Marsh White, 3 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Craig Morton, 1 for 0 yards STL: Steve Jones, 17 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Morris, 15 for 70 yards; Jim Otis, 7 for 20 yards; Terry Metcalf, 6 for 12 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Doug Kotar, 11 for 132 yards; Gordon Bell, 3 for 26 yards; Bob Tucker, 3 for 26 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 31 yards STL: Ike Harris, 5 for 44 yards; Terry Metcalf, 3 for 26 yards; Steve Jones, 3 for 4 yards and 1 TD; J.V. Cain, 2 for 19 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 19 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Jim Robinson, 4 for 98 yards; Gordon Bell, 2 for 45 yards STL: Jerry Latin, 3 for 70 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Jim Robinson, 2 for 5 yards STL: Pat Tilley, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Mike Sensibaugh, 1 for 35 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
NYG: Dave Jennings, 4 for 134 yards STL: Terry Joyce, 4 for 172 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 2/2
NYG: Craig Morton, 18 of 28 for 215 yards (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 16 of 22 for 117 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NYG: Larry Csonka, 13 for 56 yards and 2 TDs; Doug Kotar, 10 for 40 yards; Gordon Bell, 6 for 37 yards; Marsh White, 3 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Craig Morton, 1 for 0 yards STL: Steve Jones, 17 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Morris, 15 for 70 yards; Jim Otis, 7 for 20 yards; Terry Metcalf, 6 for 12 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Doug Kotar, 11 for 132 yards; Gordon Bell, 3 for 26 yards; Bob Tucker, 3 for 26 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 31 yards STL: Ike Harris, 5 for 44 yards; Terry Metcalf, 3 for 26 yards; Steve Jones, 3 for 4 yards and 1 TD; J.V. Cain, 2 for 19 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 19 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Jim Robinson, 4 for 98 yards; Gordon Bell, 2 for 45 yards STL: Jerry Latin, 3 for 70 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Jim Robinson, 2 for 5 yards STL: Pat Tilley, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Mike Sensibaugh, 1 for 35 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
NYG: Dave Jennings, 4 for 134 yards STL: Terry Joyce, 4 for 172 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 2/2