NFL game summary for 12/11/1977:
Lawrence McCutcheon set team records for career and single-season rushing as the Rams clinched a home-field site for the opening round of the playoffs. McCutcheon gained 152 yards in 17 carries to boost his career total to 5,491, surpassing the 5,417-yard record by Dick Bass. McCutcheon also ran his season yardage to 1,206, bettering his previous club mark of 1,168 in 1976.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 132.5 (17) | 91.6 (26) | 224.1 (26) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 121.5 (3) | 94.1 (1) | 215.6 (1) | 40 | |
 | OFFENSE | 176.3 (3) | 149.7 (14) | 326.0 (6) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 125.1 (6) | 134.2 (10) | 259.2 (7) | 37 |
Line: Rams by 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (6-7-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Los Angeles Rams (10-3-0) | 9 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
( 0- 6) LA John Cappelletti 25 yard pass from Pat Haden (kick failed)
( 0- 9) LA Rafael Septien 36 yard field goal
( 0-16) LA Pat Haden 13 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
( 0-23) LA Rod Phillips 2 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
( 7-23) ATL Alfred Jenkins 73 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Fred Steinfort kick)
ATL LA
First Downs: 10 20
Rushes-yards: 23-64 46-265
Yards/rush: 2.8 5.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-28-230-1 15-25-152-1
Sacked-yards: 7-81 2-31
Net pass yards: 149 121
Net yards/pass: 4.3 4.5
Total net yards: 213 386
Total plays: 58 (39% run) 73 (63% run)
Yards/play: 3.7 5.3
Fumbles-lost: 5-1 4-2
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 5-35 3-30
Attendance: 52,574
Passing:
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 15 of 28 for 230 yards and 1 TD (1 int) LA: Pat Haden, 15 of 25 for 152 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 14 for 55 yards; Woody Thompson, 7 for 9 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 0 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 17 for 152 yards; John Cappelletti, 14 for 56 yards; Wendell Tyler, 6 for 30 yards; Rod Phillips, 5 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Pat Haden, 4 for 7 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
ATL: Alfred Jenkins, 4 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Woody Thompson, 4 for 18 yards; Wallace Francis, 3 for 64 yards; Haskel Stanback, 2 for 36 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 17 yards LA: Harold Jackson, 7 for 67 yards; Terry Nelson, 6 for 44 yards; John Cappelletti, 2 for 41 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
ATL: Karl Farmer, 5 for 84 yards LA: Wendell Tyler, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for -1 yards LA: Billy Waddy, 4 for 33 yards; Cullen Bryant, 2 for 22 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rick Byas, 1 for 33 yards LA: Bill Simpson, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 8 for 354 yards LA: Glen Walker, 4 for 122 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Fred Steinfort, 0/2 LA: Rafael Septien, 1/1
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 15 of 28 for 230 yards and 1 TD (1 int) LA: Pat Haden, 15 of 25 for 152 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 14 for 55 yards; Woody Thompson, 7 for 9 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 0 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 17 for 152 yards; John Cappelletti, 14 for 56 yards; Wendell Tyler, 6 for 30 yards; Rod Phillips, 5 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Pat Haden, 4 for 7 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
ATL: Alfred Jenkins, 4 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Woody Thompson, 4 for 18 yards; Wallace Francis, 3 for 64 yards; Haskel Stanback, 2 for 36 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 17 yards LA: Harold Jackson, 7 for 67 yards; Terry Nelson, 6 for 44 yards; John Cappelletti, 2 for 41 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
ATL: Karl Farmer, 5 for 84 yards LA: Wendell Tyler, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for -1 yards LA: Billy Waddy, 4 for 33 yards; Cullen Bryant, 2 for 22 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rick Byas, 1 for 33 yards LA: Bill Simpson, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 8 for 354 yards LA: Glen Walker, 4 for 122 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Fred Steinfort, 0/2 LA: Rafael Septien, 1/1