NFL game summary for 10/10/1976:
Jim Merlo picked off an Atlanta pass at the Saints' 17-yard line, one of four first half Falcons turnovers, and raced 83 yards for the Saints' initial score, the longest interception return in the NFC in 1976. Maurice Spencer picked up two fumbles, both deep in New Orleans territory, the second leading to a 79-yard drive culminated by Mike Strachan's two-yard touchdown run. Bobby Scott led the Saints by completing 19 of 31 passes for 182 yards, scoring himself on a one-yard run and throwing a 25-yard pass to James Thaxton for the final New Orleans score.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 125.5 (23) | 125.5 (22) | 251.0 (25) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 175.8 (21) | 99.2 (2) | 275.0 (8) | 11 | |
 | OFFENSE | 130.8 (21) | 143.0 (19) | 273.8 (23) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 155.8 (18) | 193.5 (25) | 349.2 (21) | 6 |
Line: Falcons by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (1-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints (2-3-0) | 6 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
( 0- 6) NO Jim Merlo 83 yard interception return (kick failed) ( 0-13) NO Mike Strachan 2 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick) ( 0-20) NO Bobby Scott 1 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick) ( 0-23) NO Rich Szaro 18 yard field goal ( 0-30) NO Jim Thaxton 25 yard pass from Bobby Scott (Rich Szaro kick)
ATL NO
First Downs: 12 20
Rushes-yards: 29-100 39-144
Yards/rush: 3.4 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-31-117-2 19-31-182-1
Sacked-yards: 5-49 3-14
Net pass yards: 68 168
Net yards/pass: 1.9 4.9
Total net yards: 168 312
Total plays: 65 (44% run) 73 (53% run)
Yards/play: 2.6 4.3
Fumbles-lost: 6-5 2-1
Turnovers: 7 2
Penalties-yards: 9-59 9-70
Attendance: 51,521
Passing:
ATL: Kim McQuilken, 7 of 24 for 68 yards (1 int); Steve Bartkowski, 4 of 7 for 49 yards (1 int) NO: Bobby Scott, 19 of 31 for 182 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Bubba Bean, 14 for 42 yards; Woody Thompson, 6 for 32 yards; Haskel Stanback, 6 for 10 yards; Kim McQuilken, 2 for 16 yards; Sonny Collins, 1 for 0 yards NO: Mike Strachan, 14 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Alvin Maxson, 12 for 57 yards; Tony Galbreath, 6 for 17 yards; Bobby Scott, 4 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Kim Jones, 3 for 8 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Woody Thompson, 5 for 53 yards; Bubba Bean, 2 for 10 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 21 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 18 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 10 yards; Sonny Collins, 1 for 5 yards NO: Mike Strachan, 4 for 28 yards; Jim Thaxton, 3 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Henry Childs, 3 for 22 yards; Alvin Maxson, 3 for 10 yards; Larry Burton, 2 for 29 yards; Don Herrmann, 2 for 28 yards; Tinker Owens, 2 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 5 for 128 yards; Rick Byas, 1 for 44 yards NO: Tony Galbreath, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 6 for 87 yards NO: Pete Athas, 5 for 39 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 22 yards NO: Jim Merlo, 1 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Pete Athas, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 9 for 400 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 9 for 371 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 1/1
ATL: Kim McQuilken, 7 of 24 for 68 yards (1 int); Steve Bartkowski, 4 of 7 for 49 yards (1 int) NO: Bobby Scott, 19 of 31 for 182 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Bubba Bean, 14 for 42 yards; Woody Thompson, 6 for 32 yards; Haskel Stanback, 6 for 10 yards; Kim McQuilken, 2 for 16 yards; Sonny Collins, 1 for 0 yards NO: Mike Strachan, 14 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Alvin Maxson, 12 for 57 yards; Tony Galbreath, 6 for 17 yards; Bobby Scott, 4 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Kim Jones, 3 for 8 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Woody Thompson, 5 for 53 yards; Bubba Bean, 2 for 10 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 21 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 18 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 10 yards; Sonny Collins, 1 for 5 yards NO: Mike Strachan, 4 for 28 yards; Jim Thaxton, 3 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Henry Childs, 3 for 22 yards; Alvin Maxson, 3 for 10 yards; Larry Burton, 2 for 29 yards; Don Herrmann, 2 for 28 yards; Tinker Owens, 2 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 5 for 128 yards; Rick Byas, 1 for 44 yards NO: Tony Galbreath, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 6 for 87 yards NO: Pete Athas, 5 for 39 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 22 yards NO: Jim Merlo, 1 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Pete Athas, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 9 for 400 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 9 for 371 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 1/1