NFL game summary for 09/24/1972:
The Chargers registered their first victory with a strong defensive effort against Denver in which six Bronco passes were intercepted, three by Joe Beauchamp who had been moved the previous week from cornerback to free safety. Denver got off to a fast start when Randy Montgomery returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a TD, but the Denver running attack was limited to eight yards in the first half. The Broncos' Jim Turner failed to kick a successful field goal for the first time in 39 games.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 239.0 (3) | 239.0 (4) | 478.0 (1) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 54.0 (2) | 142.0 (12) | 196.0 (4) | 2 | |
 | OFFENSE | 87.0 (19) | 171.0 (12) | 258.0 (19) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 117.0 (11) | 178.0 (16) | 295.0 (14) | 2 |
Line: Chargers by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (1-1-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| San Diego Chargers (1-1-0) | 13 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 37 |
( 7- 0) DEN Randy Montgomery 94 yard kickoff return (Jim Turner kick)
( 7- 3) SD Dennis Partee 45 yard field goal
( 7- 6) SD Dennis Partee 11 yard field goal
( 7-13) SD Mike Garrett 41 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
( 7-20) SD Gary Garrison 9 yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick)
( 7-27) SD Dave Williams 31 yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick)
( 7-34) SD Joe Beauchamp 47 yard interception return (Dennis Partee kick)
(14-34) DEN Steve Ramsey 8 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
(14-37) SD Bill McClard 47 yard field goal
DEN SD
First Downs: 17 18
Rushes-yards: 20-95 35-142
Yards/rush: 4.8 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-37-258-6 15-32-188-1
Sacked-yards: 5-40 1-13
Net pass yards: 218 175
Net yards/pass: 5.2 5.3
Total net yards: 313 317
Total plays: 62 (32% run) 68 (51% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 4.7
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-1
Turnovers: 6 2
Penalties-yards: 7-58 8-70
Attendance: 49,048
Passing:
DEN: Steve Ramsey, 14 of 25 for 192 yards (3 int); Charley Johnson, 6 of 12 for 66 yards (3 int) SD: John Hadl, 15 of 32 for 188 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 7 for 14 yards; Joe Dawkins, 6 for 37 yards; Fran Lynch, 5 for 43 yards; Steve Ramsey, 1 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Billy Masters, 1 for -7 yards SD: Mike Garrett, 21 for 104 yards and 1 TD; Lee White, 6 for 15 yards; Oscar Dragon, 4 for 15 yards; Jesse Taylor, 4 for 8 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Rod Sherman, 6 for 95 yards; Billy Masters, 4 for 57 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 38 yards; Jerry Simmons, 3 for 44 yards; Riley Odoms, 1 for 13 yards; Floyd Little, 1 for 7 yards; Fran Lynch, 1 for 4 yards SD: Gary Garrison, 6 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Dave Williams, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 3 for 20 yards; John Mackey, 1 for 21 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 17 yards; Lee White, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Randy Montgomery, 6 for 201 yards and 1 TD SD: Lenny Dunlap, 1 for 25 yards; Jesse Taylor, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Jim Krieg, 1 for 3 yards; Charlie Greer, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
DEN: Randy Montgomery, 1 for 20 yards SD: Joe Beauchamp, 3 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Lenny Dunlap, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Babich, 1 for 9 yards; Bryant Salter, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 5 for 118 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 4 for 175 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 2/2; Bill McClard, 1/1
DEN: Steve Ramsey, 14 of 25 for 192 yards (3 int); Charley Johnson, 6 of 12 for 66 yards (3 int) SD: John Hadl, 15 of 32 for 188 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 7 for 14 yards; Joe Dawkins, 6 for 37 yards; Fran Lynch, 5 for 43 yards; Steve Ramsey, 1 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Billy Masters, 1 for -7 yards SD: Mike Garrett, 21 for 104 yards and 1 TD; Lee White, 6 for 15 yards; Oscar Dragon, 4 for 15 yards; Jesse Taylor, 4 for 8 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Rod Sherman, 6 for 95 yards; Billy Masters, 4 for 57 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 38 yards; Jerry Simmons, 3 for 44 yards; Riley Odoms, 1 for 13 yards; Floyd Little, 1 for 7 yards; Fran Lynch, 1 for 4 yards SD: Gary Garrison, 6 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Dave Williams, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 3 for 20 yards; John Mackey, 1 for 21 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 17 yards; Lee White, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Randy Montgomery, 6 for 201 yards and 1 TD SD: Lenny Dunlap, 1 for 25 yards; Jesse Taylor, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Jim Krieg, 1 for 3 yards; Charlie Greer, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
DEN: Randy Montgomery, 1 for 20 yards SD: Joe Beauchamp, 3 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Lenny Dunlap, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Babich, 1 for 9 yards; Bryant Salter, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 5 for 118 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 4 for 175 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 2/2; Bill McClard, 1/1