NFL game summary for 09/23/1973:
Ron Smith returned a punt 72 yards for a score and John Unitas threw two TD passes. Robert Holmes, filling in for injured Cid Edwards, ran for two TDs. O. J. Simpson went over the 100-yard mark again with 103 yards and one TD on 22 carries and J. D. Hill caught 7 passes for 118.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 360.0 (1) | 99.0 (18) | 459.0 (2) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 107.0 (7) | 190.0 (19) | 297.0 (15) | 4 | |
 | OFFENSE | 128.0 (16) | 7.0 (25) | 135.0 (25) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 83.0 (3) | 128.0 (11) | 211.0 (6) | 2 |
Line: Even
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (1-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| San Diego Chargers (1-1-0) | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 34 |
( 0- 7) SD Ron Smith 72 yard punt return (Ray Wersching kick)
( 7- 7) BUF O.J. Simpson 6 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
( 7-14) SD Robert Holmes 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick)
( 7-21) SD Gary Garrison 26 yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Ray Wersching kick)
( 7-28) SD Jim Thaxton 12 yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Ray Wersching kick)
( 7-34) SD Robert Holmes 4 yard rush (kick failed)
BUF SD
First Downs: 16 17
Rushes-yards: 36-148 30-105
Yards/rush: 4.1 3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-32-159-4 14-23-263-1
Sacked-yards: 3-20 2-14
Net pass yards: 139 249
Net yards/pass: 4.0 10.0
Total net yards: 287 354
Total plays: 71 (50% run) 55 (54% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 6.4
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 1-0
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 4-48 7-70
Attendance: 47,588
Passing:
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 5 of 17 for 53 yards (2 int); Dennis Shaw, 7 of 15 for 106 yards (2 int) SD: Johnny Unitas, 10 of 18 for 175 yards and 2 TDs; Wayne Clark, 4 of 5 for 88 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 22 for 103 yards and 1 TD; Larry Watkins, 11 for 25 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 18 yards; Steve Jones, 1 for 7 yards; Joe Ferguson, 1 for -5 yards SD: Robert Holmes, 12 for 29 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Thomas, 9 for 17 yards; Clint Jones, 7 for 42 yards; Cid Edwards, 2 for 17 yards
Receiving:
BUF: J.D. Hill, 7 for 118 yards; Paul Seymour, 2 for 34 yards; Larry Watkins, 2 for -5 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 12 yards SD: Dave Williams, 5 for 86 yards; Gary Garrison, 3 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Jim Thaxton, 2 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Robert Holmes, 2 for 14 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for 37 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 16 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 4 for 114 yards; Willie Parker, 1 for 16 yards SD: Willie McGee, 1 for 28 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Donnie Walker, 2 for 13 yards SD: Ron Smith, 3 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Willie McGee, 1 for 17 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Leon Garror, 1 for 0 yards SD: Mike Stratton, 2 for 45 yards; Tim Rossovich, 1 for 9 yards; Bob Howard, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 6 for 219 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 4 for 199 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 0/1 SD: Ray Wersching, 0/2
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 5 of 17 for 53 yards (2 int); Dennis Shaw, 7 of 15 for 106 yards (2 int) SD: Johnny Unitas, 10 of 18 for 175 yards and 2 TDs; Wayne Clark, 4 of 5 for 88 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 22 for 103 yards and 1 TD; Larry Watkins, 11 for 25 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 18 yards; Steve Jones, 1 for 7 yards; Joe Ferguson, 1 for -5 yards SD: Robert Holmes, 12 for 29 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Thomas, 9 for 17 yards; Clint Jones, 7 for 42 yards; Cid Edwards, 2 for 17 yards
Receiving:
BUF: J.D. Hill, 7 for 118 yards; Paul Seymour, 2 for 34 yards; Larry Watkins, 2 for -5 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 12 yards SD: Dave Williams, 5 for 86 yards; Gary Garrison, 3 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Jim Thaxton, 2 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Robert Holmes, 2 for 14 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for 37 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 16 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 4 for 114 yards; Willie Parker, 1 for 16 yards SD: Willie McGee, 1 for 28 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Donnie Walker, 2 for 13 yards SD: Ron Smith, 3 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Willie McGee, 1 for 17 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Leon Garror, 1 for 0 yards SD: Mike Stratton, 2 for 45 yards; Tim Rossovich, 1 for 9 yards; Bob Howard, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 6 for 219 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 4 for 199 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 0/1 SD: Ray Wersching, 0/2