NFL game summary for 09/30/1973:
After John Unitas became the first QB to pass for more than 40,000 yards with a first-quarter toss to Mike Garrett, Essex Johnson of the Bengals took over for the day. Johnson turned short passes from Ken Anderson into 78 and 38-yard TDs and carried 21 times for 121 yards, his second straight 100-yard game.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 175.5 (8) | 182.5 (8) | 358.0 (5) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 155.0 (15) | 123.5 (8) | 278.5 (13) | 3 | |
 | OFFENSE | 116.5 (18) | 128.0 (17) | 244.5 (22) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 115.5 (9) | 133.5 (12) | 249.0 (6) | 6 |
Line: Bengals by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals (2-1-0) | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| San Diego Chargers (1-2-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
( 0- 3) SD Ray Wersching 39 yard field goal
( 7- 3) CIN Essex Johnson 78 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(13- 3) CIN Boobie Clark 1 yard rush (kick failed)
(20- 3) CIN Essex Johnson 38 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(20- 6) SD Ray Wersching 13 yard field goal
(20-13) SD Bob Thomas 8 yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Ray Wersching kick)
CIN SD
First Downs: 19 17
Rushes-yards: 44-202 32-114
Yards/rush: 4.6 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-17-222-0 15-31-215-2
Sacked-yards: 1-7 6-38
Net pass yards: 215 177
Net yards/pass: 11.9 4.8
Total net yards: 417 291
Total plays: 62 (70% run) 69 (46% run)
Yards/play: 6.7 4.2
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 7-2
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 8-82 5-36
Attendance: 46,733
Passing:
CIN: Ken Anderson, 10 of 17 for 222 yards and 2 TDs SD: Johnny Unitas, 15 of 31 for 215 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Boobie Clark, 22 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Essex Johnson, 21 for 121 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for -2 yards SD: Mike Garrett, 21 for 79 yards; Bob Thomas, 9 for 31 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 4 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Boobie Clark, 3 for 40 yards; Bob Trumpy, 3 for 40 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 116 yards and 2 TDs; Isaac Curtis, 1 for 17 yards; Chip Myers, 1 for 9 yards SD: Gary Garrison, 4 for 117 yards; Bob Thomas, 4 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 2 for 39 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for -1 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 24 yards; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 17 yards; Dave Williams, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Joe Wilson, 3 for 63 yards SD: Ron Smith, 3 for 65 yards; Willie McGee, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Lemar Parrish, 2 for 16 yards; Tommy Casanova, 1 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Neal Craig, 1 for 30 yards; Tommy Casanova, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 5 for 173 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 228 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 0/3 SD: Ray Wersching, 2/3
CIN: Ken Anderson, 10 of 17 for 222 yards and 2 TDs SD: Johnny Unitas, 15 of 31 for 215 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Boobie Clark, 22 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Essex Johnson, 21 for 121 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for -2 yards SD: Mike Garrett, 21 for 79 yards; Bob Thomas, 9 for 31 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 4 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Boobie Clark, 3 for 40 yards; Bob Trumpy, 3 for 40 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 116 yards and 2 TDs; Isaac Curtis, 1 for 17 yards; Chip Myers, 1 for 9 yards SD: Gary Garrison, 4 for 117 yards; Bob Thomas, 4 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 2 for 39 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for -1 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 24 yards; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 17 yards; Dave Williams, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Joe Wilson, 3 for 63 yards SD: Ron Smith, 3 for 65 yards; Willie McGee, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Lemar Parrish, 2 for 16 yards; Tommy Casanova, 1 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Neal Craig, 1 for 30 yards; Tommy Casanova, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 5 for 173 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 228 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 0/3 SD: Ray Wersching, 2/3