NFL game summary for 10/17/1971:
Denver won its first game of the season, holding off a second-half Charger rally. The Bronco running attack, unable to score in the first four games, tallied twice in the first half on TDs by Bobby Anderson and Floyd Little.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 99.5 (19) | 197.5 (6) | 297.0 (12) | 12 |
| DEFENSE | 168.5 (22) | 150.5 (12) | 319.0 (21) | 4 | |
 | OFFENSE | 86.5 (22) | 195.8 (7) | 282.2 (16) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 145.2 (16) | 97.2 (2) | 242.5 (6) | 13 |
Line: Chargers by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (1-4-0) | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
| Denver Broncos (1-3-1) | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
( 0- 7) DEN Bobby Anderson 1 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
( 3- 7) SD Dennis Partee 41 yard field goal
( 3-10) DEN Jim Turner 49 yard field goal
( 6-10) SD Dennis Partee 20 yard field goal
( 6-17) DEN Floyd Little 2 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
( 6-20) DEN Jim Turner 10 yard field goal
(13-20) SD Gary Garrison 21 yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick)
(16-20) SD Dennis Partee 35 yard field goal
SD DEN
First Downs: 15 17
Rushes-yards: 16-76 55-225
Yards/rush: 4.8 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-44-236-1 7-18-71-1
Sacked-yards: 2-24 0-0
Net pass yards: 212 71
Net yards/pass: 4.6 3.9
Total net yards: 288 296
Total plays: 62 (25% run) 73 (75% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 4.1
Fumbles-lost: 5-3 4-1
Turnovers: 4 2
Penalties-yards: 5-50 7-77
Attendance: 51,200
Passing:
SD: John Hadl, 18 of 44 for 236 yards and 1 TD (1 int) DEN: Don Horn, 7 of 17 for 71 yards (1 int); Bobby Anderson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
SD: Mike Garrett, 6 for 3 yards; Mike Montgomery, 5 for 17 yards; Jeff Queen, 3 for -1 yards; Billy Parks, 1 for 54 yards; John Hadl, 1 for 3 yards DEN: Bobby Anderson, 25 for 106 yards and 1 TD; Floyd Little, 17 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Dickie Post, 8 for 29 yards; Don Horn, 2 for 6 yards; Clem Turner, 2 for 6 yards; Dwight Harrison, 1 for 16 yards
Receiving:
SD: Billy Parks, 6 for 69 yards; Gary Garrison, 4 for 105 yards and 1 TD; Mike Montgomery, 3 for 47 yards; Jeff Queen, 2 for 5 yards; Mike Garrett, 2 for -2 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 12 yards DEN: Bobby Anderson, 3 for 43 yards; Floyd Little, 3 for 28 yards; Dave Washington, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Bryant Salter, 2 for 54 yards; Leon Burns, 1 for 4 yards DEN: Clem Turner, 1 for 22 yards; Jay Bachman, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Jerry LeVias, 3 for 9 yards; Chris Fletcher, 2 for 18 yards DEN: Bill Thompson, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Joe Beauchamp, 1 for 4 yards DEN: Chip Myrtle, 1 for 24 yards
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 243 yards DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 7 for 322 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 3/4 DEN: Jim Turner, 2/2
SD: John Hadl, 18 of 44 for 236 yards and 1 TD (1 int) DEN: Don Horn, 7 of 17 for 71 yards (1 int); Bobby Anderson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
SD: Mike Garrett, 6 for 3 yards; Mike Montgomery, 5 for 17 yards; Jeff Queen, 3 for -1 yards; Billy Parks, 1 for 54 yards; John Hadl, 1 for 3 yards DEN: Bobby Anderson, 25 for 106 yards and 1 TD; Floyd Little, 17 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Dickie Post, 8 for 29 yards; Don Horn, 2 for 6 yards; Clem Turner, 2 for 6 yards; Dwight Harrison, 1 for 16 yards
Receiving:
SD: Billy Parks, 6 for 69 yards; Gary Garrison, 4 for 105 yards and 1 TD; Mike Montgomery, 3 for 47 yards; Jeff Queen, 2 for 5 yards; Mike Garrett, 2 for -2 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 12 yards DEN: Bobby Anderson, 3 for 43 yards; Floyd Little, 3 for 28 yards; Dave Washington, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Bryant Salter, 2 for 54 yards; Leon Burns, 1 for 4 yards DEN: Clem Turner, 1 for 22 yards; Jay Bachman, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Jerry LeVias, 3 for 9 yards; Chris Fletcher, 2 for 18 yards DEN: Bill Thompson, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Joe Beauchamp, 1 for 4 yards DEN: Chip Myrtle, 1 for 24 yards
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 243 yards DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 7 for 322 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 3/4 DEN: Jim Turner, 2/2