NFL game summary for 10/16/1977:
Pat Haden hit Terry Nelson with a 46-yard bomb in the third quarter to set up the winning touchdown, a one-yard run by Lawrence McCutcheon. The victory raised the Rams' record to 3-2 and gave them a share of the NFC West lead with Atlanta. McCutcheon rushed for 126 yards and John Cappelletti and Wendell Tyler combined for 121 yards on the ground. Tyler scored the Rams' first touchdown on a 16-yard run in the first quarter. Archie Manning tossed a 17-yard pass to Henry Childs for the Saints' only score.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 123.8 (18) | 106.5 (26) | 230.2 (24) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 179.0 (26) | 150.2 (14) | 329.2 (24) | 7 | |
 | OFFENSE | 151.5 (10) | 144.5 (17) | 296.0 (13) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 108.8 (5) | 150.8 (15) | 259.5 (9) | 10 |
Line: Rams by 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (1-4-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Los Angeles Rams (3-2-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
( 0- 7) LA Wendell Tyler 16 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
( 7- 7) NO Henry Childs 17 yard pass from Archie Manning (Rich Szaro kick)
( 7-14) LA Lawrence McCutcheon 1 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
NO LA
First Downs: 12 24
Rushes-yards: 23-77 61-243
Yards/rush: 3.3 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-34-155-0 9-16-180-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-15
Net pass yards: 155 165
Net yards/pass: 4.6 8.7
Total net yards: 232 408
Total plays: 57 (40% run) 80 (76% run)
Yards/play: 4.1 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 3-2
Turnovers: 0 3
Penalties-yards: 5-76 7-55
Attendance: 46,045
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 14 of 30 for 147 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Douglass, 1 of 4 for 8 yards LA: Pat Haden, 9 of 16 for 180 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 11 for 27 yards; Tony Galbreath, 8 for 22 yards; Archie Manning, 4 for 28 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 30 for 126 yards and 1 TD; John Cappelletti, 20 for 77 yards; Wendell Tyler, 9 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Pat Haden, 2 for -4 yards
Receiving:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 6 for 28 yards; Chuck Muncie, 5 for 67 yards; Henry Childs, 3 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Don Herrmann, 1 for 28 yards LA: Harold Jackson, 4 for 57 yards; Billy Waddy, 2 for 51 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 46 yards; John Cappelletti, 1 for 17 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Leonard Willis, 2 for 47 yards; Rich Mauti, 1 for 28 yards LA: Wendell Tyler, 2 for 57 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Billy Waddy, 5 for 43 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Clarence Chapman, 1 for 16 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 9 for 370 yards LA: Glen Walker, 4 for 129 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 0/1 LA: Rafael Septien, 0/1
NO: Archie Manning, 14 of 30 for 147 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Douglass, 1 of 4 for 8 yards LA: Pat Haden, 9 of 16 for 180 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 11 for 27 yards; Tony Galbreath, 8 for 22 yards; Archie Manning, 4 for 28 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 30 for 126 yards and 1 TD; John Cappelletti, 20 for 77 yards; Wendell Tyler, 9 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Pat Haden, 2 for -4 yards
Receiving:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 6 for 28 yards; Chuck Muncie, 5 for 67 yards; Henry Childs, 3 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Don Herrmann, 1 for 28 yards LA: Harold Jackson, 4 for 57 yards; Billy Waddy, 2 for 51 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 46 yards; John Cappelletti, 1 for 17 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Leonard Willis, 2 for 47 yards; Rich Mauti, 1 for 28 yards LA: Wendell Tyler, 2 for 57 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Billy Waddy, 5 for 43 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Clarence Chapman, 1 for 16 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 9 for 370 yards LA: Glen Walker, 4 for 129 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 0/1 LA: Rafael Septien, 0/1