NFL game summary for 09/15/1974:
Ronnie Coleman, a free agent rookie running back from Alabama A&M, gained 123 yards and George Amundson scored three TDs in the Oilers' first opening victory since 1970. Amundson scored twice on short runs and once on a pass from Lynn Dickey. Despite the defeat in his San Diego coaching debut, Tommy Prothro gained some solace from his club's 411 yards of total offense.
Line: Oilers by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 San Diego Chargers (0-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
 Houston Oilers (1-0-0) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
( 0- 7) HOU George Amundson 1 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
( 0-14) HOU George Amundson 8 yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Skip Butler kick)
( 7-14) SD Glen Bonner 3 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
(14-14) SD Gary Garrison 29 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Dennis Partee kick)
(14-21) HOU George Amundson 3 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
SD HOU
First Downs: 23 19
Rushes-yards: 40-216 36-156
Yards/rush: 5.4 4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-26-209-2 19-27-195-1
Sacked-yards: 2-14 1-2
Net pass yards: 195 193
Net yards/pass: 7.0 6.9
Total net yards: 411 349
Total plays: 68 (58% run) 64 (56% run)
Yards/play: 6.0 5.5
Fumbles-lost: 5-3 0-0
Turnovers: 5 1
Penalties-yards: 4-32 8-95
Attendance: 25,317
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 13 of 26 for 209 yards and 1 TD (2 int) HOU: Lynn Dickey, 19 of 26 for 195 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Ronnie Coleman, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
SD: Glen Bonner, 21 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Cid Edwards, 16 for 100 yards; Dick Gordon, 1 for 25 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 16 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for 4 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 21 for 123 yards; George Amundson, 13 for 17 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Johnson, 1 for 16 yards; Lynn Dickey, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
SD: Gary Garrison, 4 for 80 yards and 1 TD; Jim Beirne, 3 for 61 yards; Glen Bonner, 2 for 14 yards; Cid Edwards, 2 for 8 yards; Wayne Stewart, 1 for 29 yards; Dick Gordon, 1 for 17 yards HOU: Ken Burrough, 6 for 44 yards; George Amundson, 5 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Billy Parks, 3 for 38 yards; Jerry Broadnax, 2 for 27 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 0 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 35 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Dick Gordon, 3 for 80 yards; George Hoey, 1 for 27 yards HOU: Vic Washington, 3 for 82 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Dick Gordon, 4 for 26 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Floyd Rice, 1 for 15 yards HOU: Steve Kiner, 1 for 34 yards; Bob Atkins, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 1 for 32 yards HOU: David Beverly, 4 for 161 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 0/2; Ray Wersching, 0/1 HOU: Skip Butler, 0/3
SD: Dan Fouts, 13 of 26 for 209 yards and 1 TD (2 int) HOU: Lynn Dickey, 19 of 26 for 195 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Ronnie Coleman, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
SD: Glen Bonner, 21 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Cid Edwards, 16 for 100 yards; Dick Gordon, 1 for 25 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 16 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for 4 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 21 for 123 yards; George Amundson, 13 for 17 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Johnson, 1 for 16 yards; Lynn Dickey, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
SD: Gary Garrison, 4 for 80 yards and 1 TD; Jim Beirne, 3 for 61 yards; Glen Bonner, 2 for 14 yards; Cid Edwards, 2 for 8 yards; Wayne Stewart, 1 for 29 yards; Dick Gordon, 1 for 17 yards HOU: Ken Burrough, 6 for 44 yards; George Amundson, 5 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Billy Parks, 3 for 38 yards; Jerry Broadnax, 2 for 27 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 0 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 35 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Dick Gordon, 3 for 80 yards; George Hoey, 1 for 27 yards HOU: Vic Washington, 3 for 82 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Dick Gordon, 4 for 26 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Floyd Rice, 1 for 15 yards HOU: Steve Kiner, 1 for 34 yards; Bob Atkins, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
SD: Dennis Partee, 1 for 32 yards HOU: David Beverly, 4 for 161 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dennis Partee, 0/2; Ray Wersching, 0/1 HOU: Skip Butler, 0/3