NFL game summary for 12/19/1971:
Ken Houston returned successive second-half interceptions for TDs to boost his season total to an AFC leading 9. He also set an NFL lifetime mark of 9 TD interception returns, four in 1971. Bob Atkins had another second-half interception TD to give the Oilers five for the season, a club record.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 116.6 (19) | 229.8 (1) | 346.4 (2) | 39 |
| DEFENSE | 166.2 (24) | 157.1 (16) | 323.3 (24) | 27 | |
 | OFFENSE | 74.7 (26) | 168.4 (7) | 243.1 (22) | 46 |
| DEFENSE | 125.8 (13) | 148.1 (10) | 273.8 (12) | 33 |
Line: Even
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (6-8-0) | 0 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 33 |
| Houston Oilers (4-9-1) | 0 | 7 | 28 | 14 | 49 |
( 7- 0) SD Jeff Queen 4 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
(10- 0) SD Dennis Partee 50 yard field goal
(10- 7) HOU Charlie Joiner 14 yard pass from Woody Campbell (Mark Moseley kick)
(17- 7) SD Jeff Queen 5 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
(23- 7) SD Bob Babich 27 yard fumble return (kick failed)
(23-14) HOU Robert Holmes 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)
(30-14) SD Leon Burns 1 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
(30-21) HOU Ken Burrough 62 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Mark Moseley kick)
(30-28) HOU Ken Houston 35 yard interception return (Mark Moseley kick)
(30-35) HOU Ken Houston 29 yard interception return (Mark Moseley kick)
(33-35) SD Dennis Partee 20 yard field goal
(33-42) HOU Robert Holmes 2 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)
(33-49) HOU Bob Atkins 25 yard interception return (Mark Moseley kick)
SD HOU
First Downs: 20 22
Rushes-yards: 31-88 32-135
Yards/rush: 2.8 4.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-29-147-3 15-23-226-3
Sacked-yards: 0-0 1-6
Net pass yards: 147 220
Net yards/pass: 5.1 9.2
Total net yards: 235 355
Total plays: 60 (51% run) 56 (57% run)
Yards/play: 3.9 6.3
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 4-2
Turnovers: 4 5
Penalties-yards: 6-89 7-81
Attendance: 35,959
Passing:
SD: John Hadl, 12 of 29 for 147 yards (3 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 14 of 22 for 212 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Woody Campbell, 1 of 1 for 14 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
SD: Jeff Queen, 13 for 53 yards and 2 TDs; Mike Garrett, 9 for 17 yards; Leon Burns, 8 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Dicus, 1 for -2 yards HOU: Robert Holmes, 16 for 92 yards and 2 TDs; Woody Campbell, 13 for 38 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 3 yards; Andy Hopkins, 1 for 2 yards; Ward Walsh, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
SD: Jerry LeVias, 5 for 68 yards; Pettis Norman, 2 for 30 yards; Gary Garrison, 1 for 31 yards; Chuck Dicus, 1 for 7 yards; Jeff Queen, 1 for 6 yards; Leon Burns, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Garrett, 1 for 1 yard HOU: Ken Burrough, 4 for 122 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Jim Beirne, 3 for 29 yards; Robert Holmes, 3 for 23 yards; Woody Campbell, 1 for 12 yards; Ward Walsh, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Jerry LeVias, 3 for 106 yards; Chris Fletcher, 3 for 62 yards; Walt Sweeney, 1 for 13 yards HOU: Linzy Cole, 6 for 182 yards; Ward Walsh, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Jerry LeVias, 1 for 5 yards; Mike Garrett, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Linzy Cole, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Bob Howard, 1 for 18 yards; Chris Fletcher, 1 for 8 yards; Bryant Salter, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Ken Houston, 2 for 64 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Atkins, 1 for 25 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 225 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 3 for 109 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 2/3
SD: John Hadl, 12 of 29 for 147 yards (3 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 14 of 22 for 212 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Woody Campbell, 1 of 1 for 14 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
SD: Jeff Queen, 13 for 53 yards and 2 TDs; Mike Garrett, 9 for 17 yards; Leon Burns, 8 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Dicus, 1 for -2 yards HOU: Robert Holmes, 16 for 92 yards and 2 TDs; Woody Campbell, 13 for 38 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 3 yards; Andy Hopkins, 1 for 2 yards; Ward Walsh, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
SD: Jerry LeVias, 5 for 68 yards; Pettis Norman, 2 for 30 yards; Gary Garrison, 1 for 31 yards; Chuck Dicus, 1 for 7 yards; Jeff Queen, 1 for 6 yards; Leon Burns, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Garrett, 1 for 1 yard HOU: Ken Burrough, 4 for 122 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Jim Beirne, 3 for 29 yards; Robert Holmes, 3 for 23 yards; Woody Campbell, 1 for 12 yards; Ward Walsh, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Jerry LeVias, 3 for 106 yards; Chris Fletcher, 3 for 62 yards; Walt Sweeney, 1 for 13 yards HOU: Linzy Cole, 6 for 182 yards; Ward Walsh, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Jerry LeVias, 1 for 5 yards; Mike Garrett, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Linzy Cole, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Bob Howard, 1 for 18 yards; Chris Fletcher, 1 for 8 yards; Bryant Salter, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Ken Houston, 2 for 64 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Atkins, 1 for 25 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 225 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 3 for 109 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 2/3