NFL game summary for 12/09/1973:
Denver assured itself of its first winning season ever and set up a showdown battle with Oakland for the AFC Western title on the passing of Charley Johnson and the kicking of Jim Turner. Johnson completed 15 of 26 for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Turner made good on four of five field goal attempts. Floyd Little, who edged closer to 1,000 yards, gained 88 (937 for the season) and also caught four passes.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 139.3 (13) | 180.8 (5) | 320.1 (5) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 125.7 (6) | 174.2 (23) | 299.9 (19) | 24 | |
 | OFFENSE | 133.2 (16) | 123.3 (19) | 256.5 (19) | 42 |
| DEFENSE | 160.8 (20) | 160.5 (21) | 321.2 (21) | 34 |
Line: Broncos by 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (7-4-2) | 7 | 13 | 19 | 3 | 42 |
| San Diego Chargers (2-10-1) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
( 0- 7) SD Robert Holmes 1 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
( 7- 7) DEN Riley Odoms 24 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick)
(14- 7) DEN Floyd Little 1 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
(17- 7) DEN Jim Turner 25 yard field goal
(17-14) SD Gary Garrison 11 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Dennis Partee kick)
(20-14) DEN Jim Turner 35 yard field goal
(27-14) DEN Joe Dawkins 2 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
(30-14) DEN Jim Turner 15 yard field goal
(32-14) DEN Safety, Ken Criter blocked punt in end zone
(39-14) DEN Haven Moses 15 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick)
(39-21) SD Cid Edwards 1 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
(39-28) SD Jerry LeVias 69 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Dennis Partee kick)
(42-28) DEN Jim Turner 29 yard field goal
DEN SD
First Downs: 23 14
Rushes-yards: 44-192 22-126
Yards/rush: 4.4 5.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-29-245-0 13-31-254-2
Sacked-yards: 2-14 3-39
Net pass yards: 231 215
Net yards/pass: 7.5 6.3
Total net yards: 423 341
Total plays: 75 (58% run) 56 (39% run)
Yards/play: 5.6 6.1
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-1
Turnovers: 0 3
Penalties-yards: 7-55 8-80
Attendance: 44,954
Passing:
DEN: Charley Johnson, 15 of 26 for 216 yards and 2 TDs; Steve Ramsey, 2 of 2 for 10 yards; Bobby Anderson, 1 of 1 for 19 yards SD: Dan Fouts, 13 of 31 for 254 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 18 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 9 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Otis Armstrong, 9 for 21 yards; Bobby Anderson, 4 for 12 yards; Oliver Ross, 3 for 10 yards; Riley Odoms, 1 for 21 yards SD: Robert Holmes, 7 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 7 for 17 yards; Cid Edwards, 5 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Ron Holliday, 2 for 13 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for -4 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Floyd Little, 4 for 47 yards; Riley Odoms, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Haven Moses, 3 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 2 for 12 yards; Bobby Anderson, 2 for 10 yards; Jerry Simmons, 1 for 53 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 20 yards; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 7 yards; Billy Van Heusen, 1 for 5 yards SD: Jerry LeVias, 5 for 149 yards and 1 TD; Gary Garrison, 3 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Ron Holliday, 1 for 23 yards; Mike Garrett, 1 for 11 yards; Clint Jones, 1 for 9 yards; Cid Edwards, 1 for 8 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for -1 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Otis Armstrong, 2 for 50 yards; Maurice Tyler, 1 for 23 yards; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 20 yards SD: Clint Jones, 4 for 65 yards; Ron Smith, 3 for 121 yards; Ron East, 1 for 8 yards; Ralph Wenzel, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 3 for 22 yards; Maurice Tyler, 1 for 4 yards; Leroy Mitchell, 1 for 0 yards SD: Ron Smith, 3 for 36 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Leroy Mitchell, 1 for 3 yards; Calvin Jones, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 5 for 256 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 6 for 206 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 4/5
DEN: Charley Johnson, 15 of 26 for 216 yards and 2 TDs; Steve Ramsey, 2 of 2 for 10 yards; Bobby Anderson, 1 of 1 for 19 yards SD: Dan Fouts, 13 of 31 for 254 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 18 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 9 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Otis Armstrong, 9 for 21 yards; Bobby Anderson, 4 for 12 yards; Oliver Ross, 3 for 10 yards; Riley Odoms, 1 for 21 yards SD: Robert Holmes, 7 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Mike Garrett, 7 for 17 yards; Cid Edwards, 5 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Ron Holliday, 2 for 13 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for -4 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Floyd Little, 4 for 47 yards; Riley Odoms, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Haven Moses, 3 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 2 for 12 yards; Bobby Anderson, 2 for 10 yards; Jerry Simmons, 1 for 53 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 20 yards; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 7 yards; Billy Van Heusen, 1 for 5 yards SD: Jerry LeVias, 5 for 149 yards and 1 TD; Gary Garrison, 3 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Ron Holliday, 1 for 23 yards; Mike Garrett, 1 for 11 yards; Clint Jones, 1 for 9 yards; Cid Edwards, 1 for 8 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for -1 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Otis Armstrong, 2 for 50 yards; Maurice Tyler, 1 for 23 yards; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 20 yards SD: Clint Jones, 4 for 65 yards; Ron Smith, 3 for 121 yards; Ron East, 1 for 8 yards; Ralph Wenzel, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 3 for 22 yards; Maurice Tyler, 1 for 4 yards; Leroy Mitchell, 1 for 0 yards SD: Ron Smith, 3 for 36 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Leroy Mitchell, 1 for 3 yards; Calvin Jones, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 5 for 256 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 6 for 206 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 4/5