NFL game summary for 11/18/1973:
Ron Smith's 84-yard punt return (longest in the AFC in 1973) for a touchdown, his second of the year, set the pace for San Diego which ended a non-winning string stretching back to Sept. 23. Cid Edwards gained 95 yards on 12 rushes for the Chargers. John Beasley, who caught 12 passes for 127 yards, caught one of Saints' QB Archie Manning's two TD passes.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 136.1 (14) | 105.7 (22) | 241.8 (23) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 162.0 (23) | 173.4 (22) | 335.4 (23) | 18 | |
 | OFFENSE | 123.1 (20) | 135.1 (14) | 258.2 (17) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 160.9 (22) | 154.1 (19) | 315.0 (21) | 24 |
Line: Chargers by 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (4-6-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| San Diego Chargers (2-7-1) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
( 0- 3) SD Ray Wersching 28 yard field goal
( 0-10) SD Ron Smith 84 yard punt return (Ray Wersching kick)
( 7-10) NO Jubilee Dunbar 9 yard pass from Archie Manning (Bill McClard kick)
( 7-17) SD Robert Holmes 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick)
(14-17) NO John Beasley 14 yard pass from Archie Manning (Bill McClard kick)
NO SD
First Downs: 22 14
Rushes-yards: 34-142 35-186
Yards/rush: 4.2 5.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 21-37-224-1 9-24-110-1
Sacked-yards: 3-25 1-8
Net pass yards: 199 102
Net yards/pass: 5.0 4.1
Total net yards: 341 288
Total plays: 74 (45% run) 60 (58% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 4.8
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 2-1
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 7-50 6-75
Attendance: 34,848
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 21 of 37 for 224 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SD: Wayne Clark, 8 of 20 for 109 yards (1 int); Dan Fouts, 1 of 4 for 1 yards
Rushing:
NO: Jess Phillips, 16 for 43 yards; Bill Butler, 7 for 33 yards; Archie Manning, 5 for 30 yards; Joe Profit, 4 for 36 yards; Howard Stevens, 2 for 0 yards SD: Cid Edwards, 12 for 95 yards; Robert Holmes, 10 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 9 for 29 yards; Ron Holliday, 2 for 23 yards; Wayne Clark, 2 for 5 yards
Receiving:
NO: John Beasley, 12 for 127 yards and 1 TD; Jubilee Dunbar, 3 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Bill Butler, 2 for 18 yards; Len Garrett, 1 for 22 yards; Joe Profit, 1 for 16 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for 9 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 8 yards SD: Ron Holliday, 3 for 13 yards; Jerry LeVias, 2 for 63 yards; Cid Edwards, 2 for 6 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 22 yards; Robert Holmes, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Joe Profit, 3 for 67 yards; Howard Stevens, 1 for 15 yards SD: Ron Smith, 2 for 48 yards; Willie McGee, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Howard Stevens, 1 for 9 yards SD: Ron Smith, 4 for 112 yards and 1 TD
Interceptions:
NO: Derland Moore, 1 for 0 yards SD: Bob Howard, 1 for 25 yards
Punting:
NO: Steve O'Neal, 7 for 281 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 227 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Bill McClard, 0/2 SD: Ray Wersching, 1/3
NO: Archie Manning, 21 of 37 for 224 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SD: Wayne Clark, 8 of 20 for 109 yards (1 int); Dan Fouts, 1 of 4 for 1 yards
Rushing:
NO: Jess Phillips, 16 for 43 yards; Bill Butler, 7 for 33 yards; Archie Manning, 5 for 30 yards; Joe Profit, 4 for 36 yards; Howard Stevens, 2 for 0 yards SD: Cid Edwards, 12 for 95 yards; Robert Holmes, 10 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 9 for 29 yards; Ron Holliday, 2 for 23 yards; Wayne Clark, 2 for 5 yards
Receiving:
NO: John Beasley, 12 for 127 yards and 1 TD; Jubilee Dunbar, 3 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Bill Butler, 2 for 18 yards; Len Garrett, 1 for 22 yards; Joe Profit, 1 for 16 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for 9 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 8 yards SD: Ron Holliday, 3 for 13 yards; Jerry LeVias, 2 for 63 yards; Cid Edwards, 2 for 6 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 22 yards; Robert Holmes, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Joe Profit, 3 for 67 yards; Howard Stevens, 1 for 15 yards SD: Ron Smith, 2 for 48 yards; Willie McGee, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Howard Stevens, 1 for 9 yards SD: Ron Smith, 4 for 112 yards and 1 TD
Interceptions:
NO: Derland Moore, 1 for 0 yards SD: Bob Howard, 1 for 25 yards
Punting:
NO: Steve O'Neal, 7 for 281 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 227 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Bill McClard, 0/2 SD: Ray Wersching, 1/3