NFL game summary for 09/19/1971:
A record crowd witnessed a second-half surge which enabled San Diego to overcome a 14-0 deficit and win its opener over the Chiefs behind the passing of John Hadl and the rushing of Mike Garrett. Hadl's 260 yards on 17 completions included a 37-yard TD pass to Jerry LeVias while Garrett provided the clinching TD with a 26-yard run.
Line: Chiefs by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kansas City Chiefs (0-1-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
 San Diego Chargers (1-0-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
( 7- 0) KC Warren McVea 6 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) (14- 0) KC Ed Podolak 1 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) (14- 7) SD Mike Montgomery 39 yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick) (14-14) SD Jerry LeVias 37 yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick) (14-21) SD Mike Garrett 26 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
KC SD
First Downs: 17 21
Rushes-yards: 34-116 26-102
Yards/rush: 3.4 3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-23-171-2 18-38-286-1
Sacked-yards: 4-56 4-32
Net pass yards: 115 254
Net yards/pass: 4.3 6.0
Total net yards: 231 356
Total plays: 61 (55% run) 68 (38% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 5.2
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 0-0
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 8-72 7-85
Attendance: 54,061
Passing:
KC: Len Dawson, 11 of 22 for 152 yards (2 int); Ed Podolak, 1 of 1 for 19 yards SD: John Hadl, 17 of 37 for 260 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Mike Montgomery, 1 of 1 for 26 yards
Rushing:
KC: Ed Podolak, 17 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Warren McVea, 8 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Wendell Hayes, 6 for 9 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 8 yards; Len Dawson, 1 for 3 yards SD: Mike Garrett, 15 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Queen, 7 for 32 yards; Mike Montgomery, 3 for 9 yards; John Hadl, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
KC: Otis Taylor, 3 for 76 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 16 yards; Ed Podolak, 2 for 15 yards; Dennis Homan, 1 for 18 yards; Wendell Hayes, 1 for 15 yards; Elmo Wright, 1 for 13 yards; Warren McVea, 1 for 10 yards; Morris Stroud, 1 for 8 yards SD: Gary Garrison, 4 for 72 yards; Billy Parks, 4 for 50 yards; Mike Montgomery, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 3 for 18 yards; Chuck Dicus, 2 for 34 yards; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Walker Gillette, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
KC: Bruce Bergey, 1 for 15 yards; Wendell Hayes, 1 for 9 yards SD: Jerry LeVias, 2 for 54 yards
Punt returns:
KC: Mike Sensibaugh, 3 for -2 yards; Ed Podolak, 2 for 9 yards SD: Jerry LeVias, 5 for 31 yards; Chris Fletcher, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
KC: Emmitt Thomas, 1 for 31 yards SD: Jim Hill, 1 for 7 yards; Bob Howard, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
KC: Jerrel Wilson, 8 for 367 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 6 for 263 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 0/2
KC: Len Dawson, 11 of 22 for 152 yards (2 int); Ed Podolak, 1 of 1 for 19 yards SD: John Hadl, 17 of 37 for 260 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Mike Montgomery, 1 of 1 for 26 yards
Rushing:
KC: Ed Podolak, 17 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Warren McVea, 8 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Wendell Hayes, 6 for 9 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 8 yards; Len Dawson, 1 for 3 yards SD: Mike Garrett, 15 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Queen, 7 for 32 yards; Mike Montgomery, 3 for 9 yards; John Hadl, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
KC: Otis Taylor, 3 for 76 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 16 yards; Ed Podolak, 2 for 15 yards; Dennis Homan, 1 for 18 yards; Wendell Hayes, 1 for 15 yards; Elmo Wright, 1 for 13 yards; Warren McVea, 1 for 10 yards; Morris Stroud, 1 for 8 yards SD: Gary Garrison, 4 for 72 yards; Billy Parks, 4 for 50 yards; Mike Montgomery, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 3 for 18 yards; Chuck Dicus, 2 for 34 yards; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Walker Gillette, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
KC: Bruce Bergey, 1 for 15 yards; Wendell Hayes, 1 for 9 yards SD: Jerry LeVias, 2 for 54 yards
Punt returns:
KC: Mike Sensibaugh, 3 for -2 yards; Ed Podolak, 2 for 9 yards SD: Jerry LeVias, 5 for 31 yards; Chris Fletcher, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
KC: Emmitt Thomas, 1 for 31 yards SD: Jim Hill, 1 for 7 yards; Bob Howard, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
KC: Jerrel Wilson, 8 for 367 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 6 for 263 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 0/2