NFL game summary for 11/09/1975:
Rookie Steve Grogan filled in for the injured Jim Plunkett for the second straight week, although Plunkett was available, and riddled the Chargers' defense by completing 17 of 28 for 245 yards and one touchdown. Each team had four field goals, tying an NFL record equaled by many clubs. John Smith made good on all four attempts for the Patriots and Ray Wersching made four of five for the Chargers, losing another from 51 yards when his team was penalized for motion. Pat Curran caught eight passes and Gary Garrison seven as the Chargers' Dan Fouts hit with 25 of 42 for 329 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 150.7 (10) | 120.4 (24) | 271.1 (19) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 133.7 (11) | 137.4 (8) | 271.1 (9) | 16 | |
 | OFFENSE | 124.0 (19) | 81.3 (26) | 205.3 (26) | 14 |
| DEFENSE | 193.0 (26) | 177.0 (20) | 370.0 (25) | 11 |
Line: Patriots by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (3-5-0) | 10 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 33 |
| San Diego Chargers (0-8-0) | 3 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 19 |
( 0- 3) SD Ray Wersching 41 yard field goal
( 3- 3) NE John Smith 38 yard field goal
(10- 3) NE Bob Howard 44 yard interception return (John Smith kick)
(10- 6) SD Ray Wersching 30 yard field goal
(13- 6) NE John Smith 19 yard field goal
(20- 6) NE Sam Cunningham 4 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(23- 6) NE John Smith 35 yard field goal
(23- 9) SD Ray Wersching 25 yard field goal
(30- 9) NE Randy Vataha 13 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(30-16) SD Gary Garrison 8 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Ray Wersching kick)
(33-16) NE John Smith 46 yard field goal
(33-19) SD Ray Wersching 37 yard field goal
NE SD
First Downs: 24 18
Rushes-yards: 39-120 23-79
Yards/rush: 3.1 3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-28-245-1 25-42-329-2
Sacked-yards: 2-21 7-50
Net pass yards: 224 279
Net yards/pass: 7.5 5.7
Total net yards: 344 358
Total plays: 69 (56% run) 72 (31% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 5.0
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 3-0
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 9-76 14-120
Attendance: 24,161
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 17 of 28 for 245 yards and 1 TD (1 int) SD: Dan Fouts, 25 of 42 for 329 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 21 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 8 for 14 yards; Mack Herron, 5 for 11 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 1 yard; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 4 yards SD: Rickey Young, 15 for 44 yards; Dan Fouts, 3 for 23 yards; Bo Matthews, 3 for 14 yards; Sam Scarber, 1 for 1 yard; Gary Garrison, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
NE: Randy Vataha, 5 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Sam Cunningham, 4 for 30 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 81 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 50 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 20 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 8 yards SD: Pat Curran, 8 for 90 yards; Gary Garrison, 7 for 108 yards and 1 TD; Rickey Young, 5 for 18 yards; Joe Sweet, 2 for 71 yards; Sam Scarber, 2 for 16 yards; Dwight McDonald, 1 for 26 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 2 for 75 yards; Allen Carter, 1 for 30 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 4 for 91 yards; Charlie Smith, 3 for 95 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 1 for 0 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Bob Howard, 1 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Ron Bolton, 1 for 15 yards SD: Sam Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 2 for 79 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 3 for 101 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 4/4 SD: Ray Wersching, 4/5
NE: Steve Grogan, 17 of 28 for 245 yards and 1 TD (1 int) SD: Dan Fouts, 25 of 42 for 329 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 21 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 8 for 14 yards; Mack Herron, 5 for 11 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 1 yard; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 4 yards SD: Rickey Young, 15 for 44 yards; Dan Fouts, 3 for 23 yards; Bo Matthews, 3 for 14 yards; Sam Scarber, 1 for 1 yard; Gary Garrison, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
NE: Randy Vataha, 5 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Sam Cunningham, 4 for 30 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 81 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 50 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 20 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 8 yards SD: Pat Curran, 8 for 90 yards; Gary Garrison, 7 for 108 yards and 1 TD; Rickey Young, 5 for 18 yards; Joe Sweet, 2 for 71 yards; Sam Scarber, 2 for 16 yards; Dwight McDonald, 1 for 26 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 2 for 75 yards; Allen Carter, 1 for 30 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 4 for 91 yards; Charlie Smith, 3 for 95 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 1 for 0 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Bob Howard, 1 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Ron Bolton, 1 for 15 yards SD: Sam Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 2 for 79 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 3 for 101 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 4/4 SD: Ray Wersching, 4/5