NFL game summary for 09/18/1977:
Touchdown runs by Haskel Stanback and Scott Hunter helped the Falcons wipe out an early 6-0 Rams lead and break a six-game Los Angeles win streak in the series. Leeman Bennett earned a victory in his head coaching debut with Atlanta. Joe Namath, starting his first regular season game with the Rams, connected with Harold Jackson on a 27-yard scoring pass, but Rick Byas broke through to block the point-after try. Taking advantage of a 10-yard punt, the Falcons drove 37 yards in the second period for their first score and added a 33-yard Nick Mike-Mayer field goal for a 10-6 halftime lead. Hunter, 10 of 17 for 121 yards and no interceptions, led a 74-yard third- quarter scoring drive that was capped by his one-yard plunge. The Falcons' defense held the Rams in check with three sacks of Namath and three fumble recoveries.
Line: Rams by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Los Angeles Rams (0-1-0) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
 Atlanta Falcons (1-0-0) | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
( 6- 0) LA Harold Jackson 27 yard pass from Joe Namath (kick failed) ( 6- 7) ATL Haskel Stanback 1 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) ( 6-10) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 33 yard field goal ( 6-17) ATL Scott Hunter 1 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
LA ATL
First Downs: 9 14
Rushes-yards: 21-59 52-156
Yards/rush: 2.8 3.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-30-141-0 10-17-121-0
Sacked-yards: 3-33 2-13
Net pass yards: 108 108
Net yards/pass: 3.3 5.7
Total net yards: 167 264
Total plays: 54 (38% run) 71 (73% run)
Yards/play: 3.1 3.7
Fumbles-lost: 3-3 0-0
Turnovers: 3 0
Penalties-yards: 7-60 6-53
Attendance: 55,956
Passing:
LA: Joe Namath, 15 of 30 for 141 yards and 1 TD ATL: Scott Hunter, 10 of 17 for 121 yards
Rushing:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 14 for 43 yards; John Cappelletti, 7 for 16 yards ATL: Monroe Eley, 21 for 60 yards; Haskel Stanback, 18 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Mike Esposito, 9 for 16 yards; Scott Hunter, 4 for 7 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
LA: Ron Jessie, 3 for 47 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Charle Young, 3 for 16 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 3 for 11 yards; Dwight Scales, 1 for 16 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 4 yards; John Cappelletti, 1 for 2 yards ATL: Wallace Francis, 5 for 69 yards; Haskel Stanback, 2 for 15 yards; Monroe Eley, 2 for 8 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 29 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Wendell Tyler, 3 for 76 yards; Rod Phillips, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Billy Waddy, 5 for 58 yards; Cullen Bryant, 3 for 27 yards ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 3 for 3 yards; Billy Ryckman, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
LA: Glen Walker, 10 for 356 yards ATL: John James, 10 for 418 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 1/2
LA: Joe Namath, 15 of 30 for 141 yards and 1 TD ATL: Scott Hunter, 10 of 17 for 121 yards
Rushing:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 14 for 43 yards; John Cappelletti, 7 for 16 yards ATL: Monroe Eley, 21 for 60 yards; Haskel Stanback, 18 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Mike Esposito, 9 for 16 yards; Scott Hunter, 4 for 7 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
LA: Ron Jessie, 3 for 47 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Charle Young, 3 for 16 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 3 for 11 yards; Dwight Scales, 1 for 16 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 4 yards; John Cappelletti, 1 for 2 yards ATL: Wallace Francis, 5 for 69 yards; Haskel Stanback, 2 for 15 yards; Monroe Eley, 2 for 8 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 29 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Wendell Tyler, 3 for 76 yards; Rod Phillips, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Billy Waddy, 5 for 58 yards; Cullen Bryant, 3 for 27 yards ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 3 for 3 yards; Billy Ryckman, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
LA: Glen Walker, 10 for 356 yards ATL: John James, 10 for 418 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 1/2