NFL game summary for 12/02/1973:
The Patriots won their third straight game when Jim Plunkett dove for two touchdowns, passed to Randy Vataha for one and Mack Herron returned a kickoff 92 yards for a score. Floyd Rice sacked Plunkett, picked up the fumble, and ran 51 yards for San Diego's first score and Robert Holmes plunged over from the one for an early Chargers lead.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 128.3 (19) | 130.5 (17) | 258.8 (19) | 39 |
| DEFENSE | 158.6 (20) | 159.2 (20) | 317.8 (21) | 29 | |
 | OFFENSE | 116.4 (22) | 147.0 (13) | 263.4 (17) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 196.3 (26) | 104.1 (2) | 300.4 (18) | 26 |
Line: Patriots by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (2-9-1) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| New England Patriots (5-7-0) | 3 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 30 |
( 0- 3) NE Jeff White 11 yard field goal
( 7- 3) SD Floyd Rice 51 yard fumble return (Dennis Partee kick)
(14- 3) SD Robert Holmes 1 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
(14- 9) NE Mack Herron 92 yard kickoff return (kick failed)
(14-16) NE Randy Vataha 14 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Jeff White kick)
(14-23) NE Jim Plunkett 1 yard rush (Jeff White kick)
(14-30) NE Jim Plunkett 3 yard rush (Jeff White kick)
SD NE
First Downs: 11 22
Rushes-yards: 31-187 40-184
Yards/rush: 6.0 4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-15-76-2 13-27-186-2
Sacked-yards: 3-32 1-11
Net pass yards: 44 175
Net yards/pass: 2.4 6.2
Total net yards: 231 359
Total plays: 49 (63% run) 68 (58% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 5.3
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 4-3
Turnovers: 3 5
Penalties-yards: 8-72 2-10
Attendance: 58,150
Passing:
SD: Wayne Clark, 5 of 8 for 46 yards (1 int); Dan Fouts, 5 of 7 for 30 yards (1 int) NE: Jim Plunkett, 13 of 27 for 186 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
SD: Cid Edwards, 11 for 56 yards; Mike Garrett, 11 for 37 yards; Wayne Clark, 5 for 46 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 22 yards; Ron Holliday, 1 for 20 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 17 for 64 yards; John Tarver, 14 for 76 yards; Mack Herron, 4 for 24 yards; Jim Plunkett, 3 for 16 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Adams, 1 for 3 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
SD: Cid Edwards, 3 for 24 yards; Mike Garrett, 3 for 11 yards; Jerry LeVias, 2 for 20 yards; Gary Garrison, 1 for 12 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 9 yards NE: Reggie Rucker, 4 for 55 yards; Randy Vataha, 3 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Bob Adams, 2 for 44 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 25 yards; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 12 yards; John Tarver, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Clint Jones, 4 for 110 yards NE: Mack Herron, 3 for 138 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
SD: Ron Smith, 1 for 0 yards NE: Mack Herron, 1 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Floyd Rice, 1 for 8 yards; Mel Rogers, 1 for 3 yards NE: Sandy Durko, 1 for 16 yards; Ron Bolton, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 4 for 185 yards NE: Bruce Barnes, 2 for 76 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Ray Wersching, 0/1 NE: Jeff White, 1/1
SD: Wayne Clark, 5 of 8 for 46 yards (1 int); Dan Fouts, 5 of 7 for 30 yards (1 int) NE: Jim Plunkett, 13 of 27 for 186 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
SD: Cid Edwards, 11 for 56 yards; Mike Garrett, 11 for 37 yards; Wayne Clark, 5 for 46 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 22 yards; Ron Holliday, 1 for 20 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 17 for 64 yards; John Tarver, 14 for 76 yards; Mack Herron, 4 for 24 yards; Jim Plunkett, 3 for 16 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Adams, 1 for 3 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
SD: Cid Edwards, 3 for 24 yards; Mike Garrett, 3 for 11 yards; Jerry LeVias, 2 for 20 yards; Gary Garrison, 1 for 12 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 9 yards NE: Reggie Rucker, 4 for 55 yards; Randy Vataha, 3 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Bob Adams, 2 for 44 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 25 yards; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 12 yards; John Tarver, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Clint Jones, 4 for 110 yards NE: Mack Herron, 3 for 138 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
SD: Ron Smith, 1 for 0 yards NE: Mack Herron, 1 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Floyd Rice, 1 for 8 yards; Mel Rogers, 1 for 3 yards NE: Sandy Durko, 1 for 16 yards; Ron Bolton, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 4 for 185 yards NE: Bruce Barnes, 2 for 76 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Ray Wersching, 0/1 NE: Jeff White, 1/1