NFL game summary for 12/12/1971:
Browns' defensive tackle Walter Johnson fell on a ball fumbled by Saints' quarterback Archie Manning in the end zone to provide Cleveland with its decisive touchdown in the fourth period. The Browns lost five fumbles and had two passes intercepted, but New Orleans was unable to take advantage.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 113.1 (20) | 166.1 (8) | 279.2 (17) | 36 |
| DEFENSE | 162.6 (22) | 139.3 (5) | 301.9 (18) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 115.6 (18) | 146.2 (15) | 261.8 (19) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 167.6 (24) | 152.0 (15) | 319.6 (22) | 37 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns (8-5-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| New Orleans Saints (4-7-2) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
( 7- 0) CLE Bo Scott 2 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
( 7- 3) NO Charlie Durkee 28 yard field goal
( 7-10) NO Virgil Robinson 4 yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)
(14-10) CLE Leroy Kelly 1 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(21-10) CLE Walter Johnson 0 yard fumble return (Don Cockroft kick)
(21-17) NO Jim Strong 7 yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)
CLE NO
First Downs: 20 18
Rushes-yards: 42-132 33-159
Yards/rush: 3.1 4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-21-177-2 7-23-101-0
Sacked-yards: 2-25 3-35
Net pass yards: 152 66
Net yards/pass: 6.6 2.5
Total net yards: 284 225
Total plays: 65 (64% run) 59 (55% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 3.8
Fumbles-lost: 7-5 6-3
Turnovers: 7 3
Penalties-yards: 5-65 8-69
Attendance: 72,794
Passing:
CLE: Bill Nelsen, 9 of 18 for 130 yards (2 int); Mike Phipps, 1 of 2 for 24 yards; Leroy Kelly, 1 of 1 for 23 yards NO: Edd Hargett, 1 of 12 for 10 yards; Archie Manning, 6 of 11 for 91 yards
Rushing:
CLE: Bo Scott, 14 for 46 yards and 1 TD; Leroy Kelly, 11 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Ken Brown, 8 for 55 yards; Mike Phipps, 5 for 20 yards; Bo Cornell, 3 for -2 yards; Bill Nelsen, 1 for 0 yards NO: Bob Gresham, 16 for 60 yards; Jim Strong, 14 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Edd Hargett, 1 for 11 yards; Virgil Robinson, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 1 for -4 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Frank Pitts, 4 for 50 yards; Fair Hooker, 3 for 52 yards; Bo Scott, 3 for 51 yards; Milt Morin, 1 for 24 yards NO: Bob Newland, 2 for 63 yards; Dave Parks, 2 for 29 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 1 for 11 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for 5 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for -7 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Stan Brown, 2 for 44 yards NO: Virgil Robinson, 2 for 32 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Dave Jones, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Dee Martin, 1 for 26 yards; Dick Absher, 1 for 21 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 3 for 101 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 238 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 0/1 NO: Charlie Durkee, 1/3
CLE: Bill Nelsen, 9 of 18 for 130 yards (2 int); Mike Phipps, 1 of 2 for 24 yards; Leroy Kelly, 1 of 1 for 23 yards NO: Edd Hargett, 1 of 12 for 10 yards; Archie Manning, 6 of 11 for 91 yards
Rushing:
CLE: Bo Scott, 14 for 46 yards and 1 TD; Leroy Kelly, 11 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Ken Brown, 8 for 55 yards; Mike Phipps, 5 for 20 yards; Bo Cornell, 3 for -2 yards; Bill Nelsen, 1 for 0 yards NO: Bob Gresham, 16 for 60 yards; Jim Strong, 14 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Edd Hargett, 1 for 11 yards; Virgil Robinson, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 1 for -4 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Frank Pitts, 4 for 50 yards; Fair Hooker, 3 for 52 yards; Bo Scott, 3 for 51 yards; Milt Morin, 1 for 24 yards NO: Bob Newland, 2 for 63 yards; Dave Parks, 2 for 29 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 1 for 11 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for 5 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for -7 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Stan Brown, 2 for 44 yards NO: Virgil Robinson, 2 for 32 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Dave Jones, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Dee Martin, 1 for 26 yards; Dick Absher, 1 for 21 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 3 for 101 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 238 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 0/1 NO: Charlie Durkee, 1/3