NFL game summary for 09/19/1976:
San Diego held a 9-0 lead over the Buccaneers going into the final three minutes of the game, but exploded for 14 points in 18 seconds to romp over Tampa Bay in its inaugural home game. Toni Fritsch converted a pair of 48-yard field goals and a 22-yarder before Rickey Young swept around right end for a 46-yard score. Chargers' cornerback Tom Hayes then intercepted rookie quarterback Parnell Dickinson on the first play of the next series and sprinted 37 yards for the final touchdown. Dan Fouts completed 14 of 21 passes for 154 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 267.0 (2) | 200.0 (10) | 467.0 (1) | 0 |
| DEFENSE | 113.0 (10) | 217.0 (20) | 330.0 (16) | 4 | |
 | OFFENSE | 52.0 (27) | 58.0 (27) | 110.0 (28) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 190.0 (21) | 182.0 (16) | 372.0 (19) | 4 |
Line: Chargers by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (2-0-0) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 23 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
( 3- 0) SD Toni Fritsch 48 yard field goal ( 6- 0) SD Toni Fritsch 48 yard field goal ( 9- 0) SD Toni Fritsch 22 yard field goal (16- 0) SD Rickey Young 46 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick) (23- 0) SD Tom Hayes 37 yard interception return (Toni Fritsch kick)
SD TB
First Downs: 16 5
Rushes-yards: 41-195 33-129
Yards/rush: 4.8 3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-22-154-0 3-18-13-3
Sacked-yards: 4-23 2-17
Net pass yards: 131 -4
Net yards/pass: 5.0 -0.2
Total net yards: 326 125
Total plays: 67 (61% run) 53 (62% run)
Yards/play: 4.9 2.4
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 3-1
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 8-50 4-38
Attendance: 38,276
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 14 of 21 for 154 yards; Don Woods, 0 of 1 for 0 yards TB: Steve Spurrier, 3 of 10 for 13 yards; Larry Lawrence, 0 of 5 for 0 yards (2 int); Parnell Dickinson, 0 of 3 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Don Woods, 19 for 64 yards; Rickey Young, 13 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Bo Matthews, 6 for 27 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for 13 yards; Sam Scarber, 1 for 6 yards TB: Ed Williams, 11 for 44 yards; Charlie Davis, 7 for 0 yards; Essex Johnson, 5 for 23 yards; Parnell Dickinson, 3 for 54 yards; Louis Carter, 3 for 8 yards; Manfred Moore, 2 for -3 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for 2 yards; Steve Spurrier, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
SD: Rickey Young, 4 for 31 yards; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 59 yards; Artie Owens, 2 for 26 yards; Don Woods, 2 for 7 yards; Pat Curran, 1 for 14 yards; Larry Dorsey, 1 for 14 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for 3 yards TB: Bob Moore, 2 for 17 yards; Manfred Moore, 1 for -4 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 19 yards TB: Charlie Davis, 2 for 45 yards; Manfred Moore, 2 for 34 yards; Danny Reece, 1 for 30 yards; Bert Cooper, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 8 for 105 yards TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 31 yards; Manfred Moore, 2 for 18 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Tom Hayes, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Don Goode, 1 for 26 yards; Woodrow Lowe, 1 for 8 yards
Punting:
SD: Mitch Hoopes, 5 for 197 yards TB: Dave Green, 9 for 383 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Toni Fritsch, 3/6 TB: Mirro Roder, 0/2
SD: Dan Fouts, 14 of 21 for 154 yards; Don Woods, 0 of 1 for 0 yards TB: Steve Spurrier, 3 of 10 for 13 yards; Larry Lawrence, 0 of 5 for 0 yards (2 int); Parnell Dickinson, 0 of 3 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Don Woods, 19 for 64 yards; Rickey Young, 13 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Bo Matthews, 6 for 27 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for 13 yards; Sam Scarber, 1 for 6 yards TB: Ed Williams, 11 for 44 yards; Charlie Davis, 7 for 0 yards; Essex Johnson, 5 for 23 yards; Parnell Dickinson, 3 for 54 yards; Louis Carter, 3 for 8 yards; Manfred Moore, 2 for -3 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for 2 yards; Steve Spurrier, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
SD: Rickey Young, 4 for 31 yards; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 59 yards; Artie Owens, 2 for 26 yards; Don Woods, 2 for 7 yards; Pat Curran, 1 for 14 yards; Larry Dorsey, 1 for 14 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for 3 yards TB: Bob Moore, 2 for 17 yards; Manfred Moore, 1 for -4 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 19 yards TB: Charlie Davis, 2 for 45 yards; Manfred Moore, 2 for 34 yards; Danny Reece, 1 for 30 yards; Bert Cooper, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 8 for 105 yards TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 31 yards; Manfred Moore, 2 for 18 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Tom Hayes, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Don Goode, 1 for 26 yards; Woodrow Lowe, 1 for 8 yards
Punting:
SD: Mitch Hoopes, 5 for 197 yards TB: Dave Green, 9 for 383 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Toni Fritsch, 3/6 TB: Mirro Roder, 0/2