NFL game summary for 10/17/1976:
Bo Matthews and Charlie Joiner combined for 21 second half points to lead San Diego past Houston despite a three-touchdown, 329-yard passing performance by Oiler quarterback Dan Pastorini. Matthews broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown in the third period but Pastorini matched that score on a 54-yard pass to Ken Burrough. Dan Fouts, 19 of 24 for 279 yards, teamed with Joiner on an 81-yard scoring play but Pastorini countered with another touchdown pass to Burrough and then put the Oilers ahead 27-24 with his third TD pass, a 32-yarder to Billy Johnson. Matthews scored again on a one-yard run through the middle of the Houston defense with 1:58 left in the game, giving the Chargers the win.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 131.8 (20) | 161.6 (13) | 293.4 (15) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 87.8 (1) | 120.4 (4) | 208.2 (1) | 9 | |
 | OFFENSE | 182.0 (4) | 191.4 (8) | 373.4 (5) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 132.0 (10) | 189.2 (22) | 321.2 (18) | 16 |
Line: Oilers by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (4-2-0) | 3 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 27 |
| San Diego Chargers (4-2-0) | 0 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 30 |
( 3- 0) HOU Skip Butler 31 yard field goal
( 3- 7) SD Dwight McDonald 13 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Ray Wersching kick)
( 6- 7) HOU Skip Butler 36 yard field goal
( 6-10) SD Ray Wersching 30 yard field goal
( 6-17) SD Bo Matthews 42 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick)
(13-17) HOU Ken Burrough 54 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
(13-24) SD Charlie Joiner 81 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Ray Wersching kick)
(20-24) HOU Ken Burrough 67 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
(27-24) HOU Billy Johnson 32 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
(27-30) SD Bo Matthews 1 yard rush (kick failed)
HOU SD
First Downs: 16 24
Rushes-yards: 23-51 41-223
Yards/rush: 2.2 5.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 25-39-329-1 19-24-279-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 8-34
Net pass yards: 329 245
Net yards/pass: 8.4 7.7
Total net yards: 380 468
Total plays: 62 (37% run) 73 (56% run)
Yards/play: 6.1 6.4
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 5-2
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 9-80 6-55
Attendance: 31,950
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 25 of 39 for 329 yards and 3 TDs (1 int) SD: Dan Fouts, 19 of 24 for 279 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 11 for 28 yards; Fred Willis, 10 for 20 yards; Dan Pastorini, 2 for 3 yards SD: Sam Scarber, 17 for 78 yards; Rickey Young, 15 for 73 yards; Bo Matthews, 6 for 59 yards and 2 TDs; Mitch Hoopes, 1 for 10 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 3 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 7 for 61 yards; Billy Johnson, 6 for 94 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 5 for 136 yards and 2 TDs; Melvin Baker, 2 for 26 yards; Fred Willis, 2 for -2 yards; John Sawyer, 1 for 8 yards; Mack Alston, 1 for 4 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for 2 yards SD: Rickey Young, 5 for 55 yards; Pat Curran, 4 for 49 yards; Sam Scarber, 3 for 21 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 106 yards and 1 TD; Bo Matthews, 2 for 22 yards; Larry Dorsey, 1 for 13 yards; Dwight McDonald, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Mercury Morris, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Altie Taylor, 3 for 39 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for 26 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 19 yards SD: Artie Owens, 3 for 74 yards; Mike Fuller, 2 for 38 yards; Ray Preston, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 1 for 27 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 16 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Don Goode, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 4 for 147 yards SD: Mitch Hoopes, 3 for 98 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 2/3 SD: Ray Wersching, 1/1
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 25 of 39 for 329 yards and 3 TDs (1 int) SD: Dan Fouts, 19 of 24 for 279 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 11 for 28 yards; Fred Willis, 10 for 20 yards; Dan Pastorini, 2 for 3 yards SD: Sam Scarber, 17 for 78 yards; Rickey Young, 15 for 73 yards; Bo Matthews, 6 for 59 yards and 2 TDs; Mitch Hoopes, 1 for 10 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 3 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 7 for 61 yards; Billy Johnson, 6 for 94 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 5 for 136 yards and 2 TDs; Melvin Baker, 2 for 26 yards; Fred Willis, 2 for -2 yards; John Sawyer, 1 for 8 yards; Mack Alston, 1 for 4 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for 2 yards SD: Rickey Young, 5 for 55 yards; Pat Curran, 4 for 49 yards; Sam Scarber, 3 for 21 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 106 yards and 1 TD; Bo Matthews, 2 for 22 yards; Larry Dorsey, 1 for 13 yards; Dwight McDonald, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Mercury Morris, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Altie Taylor, 3 for 39 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for 26 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 19 yards SD: Artie Owens, 3 for 74 yards; Mike Fuller, 2 for 38 yards; Ray Preston, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 1 for 27 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 16 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Don Goode, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 4 for 147 yards SD: Mitch Hoopes, 3 for 98 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 2/3 SD: Ray Wersching, 1/1