All NFL game summaries for 12/04/1976:
Lawrence McCutcheon rushed for 121 yards and three of the Rams' NFL-record seven rushing touchdowns as Los Angeles scored its most points since 1950 in clinching its fourth straight NFC Western title. The lone touchdown pass of the game came in the fourth quarter on an 80-yard play from James Harris to Dwight Scales. The Rams' defense picked up six sacks and did not allow the Falcons to cross midfield in limiting them to 81 net yards total offense.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 123.8 (24) | 107.0 (27) | 230.8 (27) | 36 |
| DEFENSE | 180.9 (25) | 124.0 (4) | 304.9 (18) | 36 | |
 | OFFENSE | 183.4 (3) | 154.2 (14) | 337.6 (7) | 32 |
| DEFENSE | 117.8 (3) | 162.3 (20) | 280.2 (8) | 41 |
Line: Rams by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (4-9-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams (9-3-1) | 9 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 59 |
( 0- 3) LA Tom Dempsey 42 yard field goal
( 0- 9) LA Lawrence McCutcheon 4 yard rush (kick failed)
( 0-15) LA Pat Haden 1 yard rush (kick failed)
( 0-21) LA Lawrence McCutcheon 1 yard rush (kick failed)
( 0-24) LA Tom Dempsey 29 yard field goal
( 0-31) LA Lawrence McCutcheon 1 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 0-38) LA Rod Phillips 9 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 0-45) LA James Harris 2 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 0-52) LA Dwight Scales 80 yard pass from James Harris (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 0-59) LA Cullen Bryant 3 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
ATL LA
First Downs: 8 30
Rushes-yards: 21-59 41-210
Yards/rush: 2.8 5.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-22-72-2 18-31-369-1
Sacked-yards: 6-50 1-10
Net pass yards: 22 359
Net yards/pass: 0.8 11.2
Total net yards: 81 569
Total plays: 49 (42% run) 73 (56% run)
Yards/play: 1.7 7.8
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 0-0
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 2-10 8-78
Attendance: 57,336
Passing:
ATL: Kim McQuilken, 7 of 13 for 55 yards (2 int); Scott Hunter, 4 of 9 for 17 yards LA: Pat Haden, 13 of 21 for 214 yards; James Harris, 4 of 9 for 130 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Ron Jaworski, 1 of 1 for 25 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Mike Esposito, 13 for 49 yards; Sonny Collins, 4 for 5 yards; Haskel Stanback, 3 for 5 yards; Bubba Bean, 1 for 0 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 20 for 121 yards and 3 TDs; Rod Phillips, 6 for 38 yards and 1 TD; John Cappelletti, 5 for 5 yards; Cullen Bryant, 2 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Pat Haden, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Jim Bertelsen, 2 for 0 yards; Rob Scribner, 1 for 11 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 10 yards; Tom Geredine, 1 for 8 yards; James Harris, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
ATL: Mike Esposito, 5 for 23 yards; Haskel Stanback, 2 for 15 yards; Bob Adams, 1 for 15 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 11 yards; Sonny Collins, 1 for 8 yards; Bubba Bean, 1 for 0 yards LA: Ron Jessie, 4 for 112 yards; John Cappelletti, 4 for 42 yards; Dwight Scales, 2 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 2 for 39 yards; Harold Jackson, 2 for 31 yards; Cullen Bryant, 1 for 25 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 14 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for 6 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for -2 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Sonny Collins, 2 for 46 yards; Rick Byas, 2 for 38 yards; Wallace Francis, 2 for 15 yards; Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 19 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 18 yards; Ron Mabra, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 6 for 73 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 17 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Guy Roberts, 1 for 7 yards LA: Bill Simpson, 1 for 28 yards; Rod Perry, 1 for 16 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 8 for 346 yards LA: Rusty Jackson, 2 for 76 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Tom Dempsey, 2/2
ATL: Kim McQuilken, 7 of 13 for 55 yards (2 int); Scott Hunter, 4 of 9 for 17 yards LA: Pat Haden, 13 of 21 for 214 yards; James Harris, 4 of 9 for 130 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Ron Jaworski, 1 of 1 for 25 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Mike Esposito, 13 for 49 yards; Sonny Collins, 4 for 5 yards; Haskel Stanback, 3 for 5 yards; Bubba Bean, 1 for 0 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 20 for 121 yards and 3 TDs; Rod Phillips, 6 for 38 yards and 1 TD; John Cappelletti, 5 for 5 yards; Cullen Bryant, 2 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Pat Haden, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Jim Bertelsen, 2 for 0 yards; Rob Scribner, 1 for 11 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 10 yards; Tom Geredine, 1 for 8 yards; James Harris, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
ATL: Mike Esposito, 5 for 23 yards; Haskel Stanback, 2 for 15 yards; Bob Adams, 1 for 15 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 11 yards; Sonny Collins, 1 for 8 yards; Bubba Bean, 1 for 0 yards LA: Ron Jessie, 4 for 112 yards; John Cappelletti, 4 for 42 yards; Dwight Scales, 2 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 2 for 39 yards; Harold Jackson, 2 for 31 yards; Cullen Bryant, 1 for 25 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 14 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for 6 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for -2 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Sonny Collins, 2 for 46 yards; Rick Byas, 2 for 38 yards; Wallace Francis, 2 for 15 yards; Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 19 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 18 yards; Ron Mabra, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 6 for 73 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 17 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Guy Roberts, 1 for 7 yards LA: Bill Simpson, 1 for 28 yards; Rod Perry, 1 for 16 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 8 for 346 yards LA: Rusty Jackson, 2 for 76 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Tom Dempsey, 2/2
Jim Hart passed for two touchdowns and Jim Otis had his fourth 100-yard day, rushing for 107, as the Cardinals won to stay in playoff contention. Hart put St. Louis in the lead for good with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Terry Metcalf after the Colts had tied the score 7-7 on a one-yard run by Lydell Mitchell. The Cardinals forced three Baltimore turnovers in the fourth quarter to kill any comeback, one of two fumble recoveries leading to Jim Bakken's 22-yard field goal, and Ken Reaves' interception with 1:11 left stopping the Colts' final drive.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 175.7 (4) | 204.4 (5) | 380.1 (1) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 116.3 (2) | 171.8 (22) | 288.1 (11) | 30 | |
 | OFFENSE | 157.8 (10) | 213.9 (2) | 371.8 (2) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 144.5 (15) | 152.2 (14) | 296.7 (15) | 32 |
Line: Colts by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts (10-3-0) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (9-4-0) | 14 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
( 0- 7) STL J.V. Cain 5 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
( 7- 7) BAL Lydell Mitchell 1 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)
( 7-14) STL Terry Metcalf 41 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(10-14) BAL Toni Linhart 22 yard field goal
(10-21) STL Steve Jones 4 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
(17-21) BAL Raymond Chester 30 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)
(17-24) STL Jim Bakken 22 yard field goal
BAL STL
First Downs: 12 20
Rushes-yards: 20-62 51-177
Yards/rush: 3.1 3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-23-241-1 13-22-206-0
Sacked-yards: 3-24 1-8
Net pass yards: 217 198
Net yards/pass: 8.3 8.6
Total net yards: 279 375
Total plays: 46 (43% run) 74 (68% run)
Yards/play: 6.1 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 4-4 2-1
Turnovers: 5 1
Penalties-yards: 4-20 4-29
Attendance: 48,282
Passing:
BAL: Bert Jones, 13 of 23 for 241 yards and 1 TD (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 13 of 22 for 206 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 15 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 4 for 4 yards; Bert Jones, 1 for 4 yards STL: Jim Otis, 29 for 107 yards; Terry Metcalf, 14 for 37 yards; Steve Jones, 7 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Jim Hart, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Roger Carr, 5 for 84 yards; Glenn Doughty, 4 for 81 yards; Raymond Chester, 2 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 2 for 29 yards STL: J.V. Cain, 3 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Ike Harris, 3 for 57 yards; Terry Metcalf, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Steve Jones, 2 for 3 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 17 yards; Mel Gray, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Howard Stevens, 4 for 151 yards; Jackie Wallace, 1 for 23 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 2 for 26 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 35 yards; Mike McGraw, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Howard Stevens, 4 for 36 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Ken Reaves, 1 for 25 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 5 for 186 yards STL: Terry Joyce, 6 for 218 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/1 STL: Jim Bakken, 1/1
BAL: Bert Jones, 13 of 23 for 241 yards and 1 TD (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 13 of 22 for 206 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 15 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 4 for 4 yards; Bert Jones, 1 for 4 yards STL: Jim Otis, 29 for 107 yards; Terry Metcalf, 14 for 37 yards; Steve Jones, 7 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Jim Hart, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Roger Carr, 5 for 84 yards; Glenn Doughty, 4 for 81 yards; Raymond Chester, 2 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 2 for 29 yards STL: J.V. Cain, 3 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Ike Harris, 3 for 57 yards; Terry Metcalf, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Steve Jones, 2 for 3 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 17 yards; Mel Gray, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Howard Stevens, 4 for 151 yards; Jackie Wallace, 1 for 23 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 2 for 26 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 35 yards; Mike McGraw, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Howard Stevens, 4 for 36 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Ken Reaves, 1 for 25 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 5 for 186 yards STL: Terry Joyce, 6 for 218 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/1 STL: Jim Bakken, 1/1