NFL game summary for 10/03/1971:
Pittsburgh turned two San Diego mistakes, a fumble and an interception, into TDs and then stopped three scoring threats inside the six-yard line in the final 4:47 for a victory. The Steelers, playing with four rookies on defense, turned the Chargers back after they had driven to first downs on the 7, 17 and 8, all in the final period.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 87.5 (20) | 203.5 (7) | 291.0 (15) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 164.0 (20) | 139.0 (8) | 303.0 (17) | 3 | |
 | OFFENSE | 151.5 (9) | 168.5 (13) | 320.0 (9) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 36.5 (1) | 160.5 (14) | 197.0 (2) | 5 |
Line: Steelers by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (1-2-0) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
( 3- 0) SD Dennis Partee 21 yard field goal
( 3- 7) PIT Frenchy Fuqua 5 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(10- 7) SD Billy Parks 16 yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick)
(10-14) PIT Frenchy Fuqua 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(17-14) SD Mike Garrett 4 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
(17-21) PIT Terry Bradshaw 5 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
SD PIT
First Downs: 28 16
Rushes-yards: 39-169 27-125
Yards/rush: 4.3 4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 25-36-283-2 15-24-175-0
Sacked-yards: 2-25 3-18
Net pass yards: 258 157
Net yards/pass: 6.8 5.8
Total net yards: 427 282
Total plays: 77 (50% run) 54 (50% run)
Yards/play: 5.5 5.2
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 2-1
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 8-83 8-85
Attendance: 44,339
Passing:
SD: John Hadl, 25 of 36 for 283 yards and 1 TD (2 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 15 of 24 for 175 yards
Rushing:
SD: Leon Burns, 15 for 65 yards; Mike Garrett, 12 for 72 yards and 1 TD; John Hadl, 5 for 4 yards; Jeff Queen, 3 for 18 yards; Mike Montgomery, 3 for 1 yard; Billy Parks, 1 for 9 yards PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 15 for 60 yards and 2 TDs; Terry Bradshaw, 6 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 5 for 25 yards; Warren Bankston, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
SD: Billy Parks, 8 for 111 yards and 1 TD; Pettis Norman, 7 for 48 yards; Mike Garrett, 3 for 29 yards; Gary Garrison, 2 for 50 yards; Mike Montgomery, 2 for 12 yards; Chuck Dicus, 1 for 16 yards; Walker Gillette, 1 for 11 yards; Art Strozier, 1 for 6 yards PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 5 for 53 yards; Ron Shanklin, 4 for 43 yards; Warren Bankston, 2 for 29 yards; Dave Smith, 2 for 29 yards; Bob Adams, 1 for 15 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Chris Fletcher, 1 for 22 yards PIT: Glen Edwards, 2 for 43 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Chris Fletcher, 2 for 2 yards; Mike Garrett, 2 for 2 yards; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Jon Staggers, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Jack Ham, 1 for 4 yards; Lee Calland, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 2 for 86 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 6 for 270 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 1/1 PIT: Roy Gerela, 0/1
SD: John Hadl, 25 of 36 for 283 yards and 1 TD (2 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 15 of 24 for 175 yards
Rushing:
SD: Leon Burns, 15 for 65 yards; Mike Garrett, 12 for 72 yards and 1 TD; John Hadl, 5 for 4 yards; Jeff Queen, 3 for 18 yards; Mike Montgomery, 3 for 1 yard; Billy Parks, 1 for 9 yards PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 15 for 60 yards and 2 TDs; Terry Bradshaw, 6 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 5 for 25 yards; Warren Bankston, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
SD: Billy Parks, 8 for 111 yards and 1 TD; Pettis Norman, 7 for 48 yards; Mike Garrett, 3 for 29 yards; Gary Garrison, 2 for 50 yards; Mike Montgomery, 2 for 12 yards; Chuck Dicus, 1 for 16 yards; Walker Gillette, 1 for 11 yards; Art Strozier, 1 for 6 yards PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 5 for 53 yards; Ron Shanklin, 4 for 43 yards; Warren Bankston, 2 for 29 yards; Dave Smith, 2 for 29 yards; Bob Adams, 1 for 15 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Chris Fletcher, 1 for 22 yards PIT: Glen Edwards, 2 for 43 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Chris Fletcher, 2 for 2 yards; Mike Garrett, 2 for 2 yards; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Jon Staggers, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Jack Ham, 1 for 4 yards; Lee Calland, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 2 for 86 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 6 for 270 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 1/1 PIT: Roy Gerela, 0/1