NFL game summary for 09/02/1979:
Rookie James Mayberry intercepted a pass by New Orleans punter Russell Erxleben and returned it six yards for a touchdown to give Atlanta an overtime victory. Atlanta's winning score came 8:22 into overtime when a snap from center sailed over Erxleben's head and landed inside New Orleans' 5 yard line. Erxleben recovered the ball and tried a desperation pass that was intercepted by Mayberry. Atlanta quarterback Steve Bartkowski completed 22 of 38 passes for a club record 312 yards and three touchdowns.
Line: Saints by 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Atlanta Falcons (1-0-0) | 0 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 40 |
 New Orleans Saints (0-1-0) | 7 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 34 |
( 0- 7) NO Ike Harris 5 yard pass from Archie Manning (Russell Erxleben kick)
( 0-14) NO Wes Chandler 40 yard pass from Chuck Muncie (Russell Erxleben kick)
( 3-14) ATL Tim Mazzetti 27 yard field goal
(10-14) ATL Alfred Jenkins 20 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick)
(10-21) NO Chuck Muncie 69 yard rush (Russell Erxleben kick)
(17-21) ATL Wallace Francis 20 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick)
(17-28) NO Chuck Muncie 4 yard rush (Russell Erxleben kick)
(20-28) ATL Tim Mazzetti 43 yard field goal
(20-31) NO Russell Erxleben 37 yard field goal
(27-31) ATL Wallace Francis 21 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick)
(34-31) ATL William Andrews 4 yard rush (Tim Mazzetti kick)
(34-34) NO Russell Erxleben 38 yard field goal
(40-34) ATL James Mayberry 6 yard interception return
ATL NO
First Downs: 35 23
Rushes-yards: 47-257 32-188
Yards/rush: 5.5 5.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 22-38-312-1 15-31-324-2
Sacked-yards: 2-17 0-0
Net pass yards: 295 324
Net yards/pass: 7.4 10.5
Total net yards: 552 512
Total plays: 87 (54% run) 63 (50% run)
Yards/play: 6.3 8.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 0-0
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 7-84 3-27
Attendance: 70,940
Passing:
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 22 of 38 for 312 yards and 3 TDs (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 14 of 29 for 284 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Chuck Muncie, 1 of 1 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Russell Erxleben, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: William Andrews, 30 for 167 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 14 for 65 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 19 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 6 yards NO: Chuck Muncie, 22 for 161 yards and 2 TDs; Tony Galbreath, 10 for 27 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Alfred Jenkins, 7 for 131 yards and 1 TD; Wallace Francis, 5 for 65 yards and 2 TDs; Bubba Bean, 3 for 43 yards; William Andrews, 3 for 22 yards; Alfred Jackson, 2 for 38 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 10 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 3 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 6 for 205 yards and 1 TD; Ike Harris, 5 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Henry Childs, 4 for 51 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 7 for 115 yards; Lynn Cain, 1 for 5 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 3 for 67 yards; Rich Mauti, 2 for 35 yards; Jack Holmes, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 2 for 16 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 6 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 2 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: James Mayberry, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Frank Reed, 1 for 0 yards NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 4 for 144 yards NO: Russell Erxleben, 4 for 148 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 2/3 NO: Russell Erxleben, 2/2
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 22 of 38 for 312 yards and 3 TDs (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 14 of 29 for 284 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Chuck Muncie, 1 of 1 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Russell Erxleben, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: William Andrews, 30 for 167 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 14 for 65 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 19 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 6 yards NO: Chuck Muncie, 22 for 161 yards and 2 TDs; Tony Galbreath, 10 for 27 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Alfred Jenkins, 7 for 131 yards and 1 TD; Wallace Francis, 5 for 65 yards and 2 TDs; Bubba Bean, 3 for 43 yards; William Andrews, 3 for 22 yards; Alfred Jackson, 2 for 38 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 10 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 3 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 6 for 205 yards and 1 TD; Ike Harris, 5 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Henry Childs, 4 for 51 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 7 for 115 yards; Lynn Cain, 1 for 5 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 3 for 67 yards; Rich Mauti, 2 for 35 yards; Jack Holmes, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 2 for 16 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 6 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 2 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: James Mayberry, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Frank Reed, 1 for 0 yards NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 4 for 144 yards NO: Russell Erxleben, 4 for 148 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 2/3 NO: Russell Erxleben, 2/2