NFL game summary for 10/23/1977:
Wayne Morris scored four touchdowns as the Cardinals outlasted the Saints 49-31 in a game that saw the teams roll up a combined total of 927 yards. The Cardinals jumped out to an early 21-0 lead that evaporated into a 21-21 halftime tie. The Cardinals exploded for three fourth-quarter touchdowns including Morris' fourth of the day and a Terry Metcalf-to-Mel Gray pass that covered 11 yards and put the Cardinals on top 35-24. Metcalf, in a brilliant display of versatility, returned punts and kickoffs 128 yards, rushed for 78 and caught five for 62 for a total of 268 yards. Bobby Scott and Chuck Muncie were the Saints' chief threats. Scott threw for three touchdowns and Muncie gained 102 yards on 13 carries.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 114.4 (22) | 116.2 (24) | 230.6 (24) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 191.8 (27) | 153.2 (16) | 345.0 (25) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 116.4 (21) | 205.0 (1) | 321.4 (8) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 152.0 (22) | 177.2 (25) | 329.2 (24) | 13 |
Line: Cardinals by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (1-5-0) | 0 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (3-3-0) | 14 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 49 |
( 0- 7) STL Mel Gray 38 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick) ( 0-14) STL Wayne Morris 2 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) ( 0-21) STL Wayne Morris 9 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) ( 7-21) NO Chuck Muncie 19 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick) (14-21) NO Jim Thaxton 25 yard pass from Bobby Scott (Rich Szaro kick) (21-21) NO Henry Childs 53 yard pass from Bobby Scott (Rich Szaro kick) (21-28) STL Wayne Morris 1 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) (24-28) NO Rich Szaro 22 yard field goal (24-35) STL Mel Gray 11 yard pass from Terry Metcalf (Jim Bakken kick) (31-35) NO Henry Childs 29 yard pass from Bobby Scott (Rich Szaro kick) (31-42) STL Steve Jones 1 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) (31-49) STL Wayne Morris 12 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
NO STL
First Downs: 23 31
Rushes-yards: 26-165 52-244
Yards/rush: 6.3 4.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-35-285-2 19-26-243-0
Sacked-yards: 1-10 0-0
Net pass yards: 275 243
Net yards/pass: 7.6 9.3
Total net yards: 440 487
Total plays: 62 (41% run) 78 (66% run)
Yards/play: 7.1 6.2
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-2
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 4-34 7-67
Attendance: 48,417
Passing:
NO: Bobby Scott, 16 of 35 for 285 yards and 3 TDs (2 int) STL: Jim Hart, 17 of 24 for 225 yards and 1 TD; Terry Metcalf, 2 of 2 for 18 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 13 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 9 for 39 yards; Mike Strachan, 4 for 24 yards STL: Wayne Morris, 25 for 95 yards and 4 TDs; Terry Metcalf, 17 for 78 yards; Jerry Latin, 5 for 38 yards; Jim Otis, 2 for 12 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 19 yards; Jim Hart, 1 for 1 yard; Steve Jones, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
NO: Jim Thaxton, 4 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Henry Childs, 3 for 79 yards and 2 TDs; Don Herrmann, 3 for 30 yards; John Gilliam, 2 for 38 yards; Rich Mauti, 1 for 23 yards; Chuck Muncie, 1 for 14 yards; Mike Strachan, 1 for 10 yards; Tony Galbreath, 1 for 8 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 5 for 62 yards; J.V. Cain, 4 for 42 yards; Wayne Morris, 4 for 27 yards; Mel Gray, 3 for 62 yards and 2 TDs; Ike Harris, 1 for 23 yards; Jerry Latin, 1 for 14 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 13 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Rich Mauti, 5 for 89 yards; Greg Boykin, 1 for 20 yards; Leonard Willis, 1 for 17 yards; Rick Kingrea, 1 for 0 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 3 for 99 yards; Jerry Latin, 3 for 79 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Terry Metcalf, 2 for 29 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Roger Wehrli, 1 for 12 yards; Lee Nelson, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 2 for 97 yards STL: Duane Carrell, 2 for 80 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 1/2 STL: Jim Bakken, 0/1
NO: Bobby Scott, 16 of 35 for 285 yards and 3 TDs (2 int) STL: Jim Hart, 17 of 24 for 225 yards and 1 TD; Terry Metcalf, 2 of 2 for 18 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 13 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 9 for 39 yards; Mike Strachan, 4 for 24 yards STL: Wayne Morris, 25 for 95 yards and 4 TDs; Terry Metcalf, 17 for 78 yards; Jerry Latin, 5 for 38 yards; Jim Otis, 2 for 12 yards; Roger Wehrli, 1 for 19 yards; Jim Hart, 1 for 1 yard; Steve Jones, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
NO: Jim Thaxton, 4 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Henry Childs, 3 for 79 yards and 2 TDs; Don Herrmann, 3 for 30 yards; John Gilliam, 2 for 38 yards; Rich Mauti, 1 for 23 yards; Chuck Muncie, 1 for 14 yards; Mike Strachan, 1 for 10 yards; Tony Galbreath, 1 for 8 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 5 for 62 yards; J.V. Cain, 4 for 42 yards; Wayne Morris, 4 for 27 yards; Mel Gray, 3 for 62 yards and 2 TDs; Ike Harris, 1 for 23 yards; Jerry Latin, 1 for 14 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 13 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Rich Mauti, 5 for 89 yards; Greg Boykin, 1 for 20 yards; Leonard Willis, 1 for 17 yards; Rick Kingrea, 1 for 0 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 3 for 99 yards; Jerry Latin, 3 for 79 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Terry Metcalf, 2 for 29 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Roger Wehrli, 1 for 12 yards; Lee Nelson, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 2 for 97 yards STL: Duane Carrell, 2 for 80 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 1/2 STL: Jim Bakken, 0/1