NFL game summary for 09/26/1976:
Dan Fouts passed for three touchdowns in a 27-point second quarter as undefeated San Diego continued on its best start since 1968. Rickey Young scored from the three just three seconds into the second period. Fouts completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Joiner and hit Dwight McDonald twice for scores to give San Diego a 33-10 halftime lead. The Chargers' defense limited the Cardinal rushers to 124 yards and picked up four St. Louis fumbles.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 244.5 (2) | 193.5 (6) | 438.0 (2) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 67.5 (1) | 174.0 (20) | 241.5 (7) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 231.0 (3) | 165.5 (14) | 396.5 (5) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 121.0 (9) | 106.5 (4) | 227.5 (5) | 8 |
Line: Cardinals by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals (2-1-0) | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| San Diego Chargers (3-0-0) | 6 | 27 | 3 | 7 | 43 |
( 0- 6) SD Don Woods 13 yard rush (kick failed)
( 7- 6) STL J.V. Cain 14 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(10- 6) STL Jim Bakken 32 yard field goal
(10-13) SD Rickey Young 3 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
(10-19) SD Charlie Joiner 30 yard pass from Dan Fouts (kick failed)
(10-26) SD Dwight McDonald 44 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Toni Fritsch kick)
(10-33) SD Dwight McDonald 18 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Toni Fritsch kick)
(17-33) STL Wayne Morris 11 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(17-36) SD Toni Fritsch 39 yard field goal
(17-43) SD Pat Curran 1 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Toni Fritsch kick)
(24-43) STL Wayne Morris 1 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
STL SD
First Downs: 22 24
Rushes-yards: 28-124 45-206
Yards/rush: 4.4 4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-33-240-1 15-18-259-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 2-14
Net pass yards: 240 245
Net yards/pass: 7.3 12.2
Total net yards: 364 451
Total plays: 61 (45% run) 65 (69% run)
Yards/play: 6.0 6.9
Fumbles-lost: 4-4 2-0
Turnovers: 5 0
Penalties-yards: 5-20 5-54
Attendance: 39,911
Passing:
STL: Jim Hart, 20 of 33 for 240 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SD: Dan Fouts, 15 of 18 for 259 yards and 4 TDs
Rushing:
STL: Terry Metcalf, 11 for 40 yards; Jim Otis, 8 for 16 yards; Steve Jones, 4 for 36 yards; Jerry Latin, 2 for 29 yards; Wayne Morris, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Jim Hart, 1 for 0 yards SD: Don Woods, 13 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Rickey Young, 10 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Bo Matthews, 9 for 29 yards; Mercury Morris, 6 for 21 yards; Sam Scarber, 6 for 20 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
STL: J.V. Cain, 6 for 98 yards and 1 TD; Ike Harris, 6 for 71 yards; Wayne Morris, 4 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Terry Metcalf, 2 for 11 yards; Jerry Latin, 1 for 15 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 11 yards SD: Charlie Joiner, 5 for 134 yards and 1 TD; Dwight McDonald, 3 for 73 yards and 2 TDs; Rickey Young, 3 for 27 yards; Pat Curran, 2 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Don Woods, 2 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
STL: Wayne Morris, 2 for 43 yards; Dwayne Crump, 2 for 35 yards; Lee Nelson, 1 for 43 yards; Jerry Latin, 1 for 19 yards; Jeff Severson, 1 for 3 yards SD: Artie Owens, 4 for 84 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Pat Tilley, 1 for 12 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 2 for 30 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Tom Graham, 1 for 25 yards
Punting:
STL: Terry Joyce, 3 for 110 yards SD: Mitch Hoopes, 4 for 141 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 1/2 SD: Toni Fritsch, 1/2
STL: Jim Hart, 20 of 33 for 240 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SD: Dan Fouts, 15 of 18 for 259 yards and 4 TDs
Rushing:
STL: Terry Metcalf, 11 for 40 yards; Jim Otis, 8 for 16 yards; Steve Jones, 4 for 36 yards; Jerry Latin, 2 for 29 yards; Wayne Morris, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Jim Hart, 1 for 0 yards SD: Don Woods, 13 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Rickey Young, 10 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Bo Matthews, 9 for 29 yards; Mercury Morris, 6 for 21 yards; Sam Scarber, 6 for 20 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
STL: J.V. Cain, 6 for 98 yards and 1 TD; Ike Harris, 6 for 71 yards; Wayne Morris, 4 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Terry Metcalf, 2 for 11 yards; Jerry Latin, 1 for 15 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 11 yards SD: Charlie Joiner, 5 for 134 yards and 1 TD; Dwight McDonald, 3 for 73 yards and 2 TDs; Rickey Young, 3 for 27 yards; Pat Curran, 2 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Don Woods, 2 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
STL: Wayne Morris, 2 for 43 yards; Dwayne Crump, 2 for 35 yards; Lee Nelson, 1 for 43 yards; Jerry Latin, 1 for 19 yards; Jeff Severson, 1 for 3 yards SD: Artie Owens, 4 for 84 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Pat Tilley, 1 for 12 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 2 for 30 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Tom Graham, 1 for 25 yards
Punting:
STL: Terry Joyce, 3 for 110 yards SD: Mitch Hoopes, 4 for 141 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 1/2 SD: Toni Fritsch, 1/2