NFL game summary for 10/02/1977:
Charlie Joiner caught two James Harris touchdown passes and the Chargers' defense turned in its second straight outstanding performance in San Diego's second straight win. Harris drove the Chargers 80 yards following the opening kickoff and hit Joiner with a 30-yard pass. The pair combined again on San Diego's final possession of the first half for a 14-3 lead. Harris got the final Charger TD on a one-yard run at the end of a 17-play, 83-yard third-quarter drive. San Diego's defensive tackles Gary Johnson and Louis Kelcher each accounted for two sacks while their secondary mates picked off three Ken Anderson passes.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 151.5 (11) | 183.0 (4) | 334.5 (5) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 111.0 (7) | 172.5 (22) | 283.5 (18) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 136.5 (13) | 67.5 (27) | 204.0 (23) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 126.5 (15) | 106.5 (8) | 233.0 (11) | 4 |
Line: Bengals by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals (1-2-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| San Diego Chargers (2-1-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
( 0- 7) SD Charlie Joiner 30 yard pass from James Harris (Rolf Benirschke kick)
( 3- 7) CIN Chris Bahr 35 yard field goal
( 3-14) SD Charlie Joiner 15 yard pass from James Harris (Rolf Benirschke kick)
( 3-21) SD James Harris 1 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick)
( 3-24) SD Rolf Benirschke 42 yard field goal
CIN SD
First Downs: 15 25
Rushes-yards: 22-92 43-165
Yards/rush: 4.2 3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-33-165-3 17-24-238-1
Sacked-yards: 5-38 2-18
Net pass yards: 127 220
Net yards/pass: 3.3 8.5
Total net yards: 219 385
Total plays: 60 (36% run) 69 (62% run)
Yards/play: 3.6 5.6
Fumbles-lost: 4-1 1-1
Turnovers: 4 2
Penalties-yards: 4-44 10-83
Attendance: 40,352
Passing:
CIN: Ken Anderson, 14 of 31 for 161 yards (3 int); Pat McInally, 1 of 1 for 4 yards; Marvin Cobb, 0 of 1 for 0 yards SD: James Harris, 14 of 20 for 200 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Bill Munson, 3 of 3 for 38 yards; Don Woods, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
CIN: Archie Griffin, 9 for 38 yards; Pete Johnson, 6 for 12 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 4 for 37 yards; Boobie Clark, 2 for 4 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for 1 yard SD: Rickey Young, 14 for 62 yards; Don Woods, 13 for 58 yards; Clarence Williams, 8 for 24 yards; Hank Bauer, 3 for 4 yards; Bo Matthews, 3 for 4 yards; James Harris, 2 for 13 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
CIN: Archie Griffin, 5 for 59 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 4 for 51 yards; Billy Brooks, 2 for 18 yards; Isaac Curtis, 1 for 22 yards; John McDaniel, 1 for 10 yards; Jim Corbett, 1 for 4 yards; Bob Trumpy, 1 for 1 yard SD: Charlie Joiner, 4 for 70 yards and 2 TDs; Dwight McDonald, 3 for 44 yards; Bob Klein, 3 for 33 yards; Joe Washington, 2 for 39 yards; Don Woods, 2 for 22 yards; Rickey Young, 2 for 18 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Willie Shelby, 3 for 69 yards; Jerry Anderson, 2 for 42 yards SD: Clarence Williams, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Reggie Williams, 1 for 0 yards SD: Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 11 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Marvin Cobb, 1 for 3 yards SD: Jerome Dove, 1 for 32 yards; Mike Fuller, 1 for 2 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Pat McInally, 3 for 102 yards SD: Jeff West, 4 for 102 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Chris Bahr, 1/1 SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/2
CIN: Ken Anderson, 14 of 31 for 161 yards (3 int); Pat McInally, 1 of 1 for 4 yards; Marvin Cobb, 0 of 1 for 0 yards SD: James Harris, 14 of 20 for 200 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Bill Munson, 3 of 3 for 38 yards; Don Woods, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
CIN: Archie Griffin, 9 for 38 yards; Pete Johnson, 6 for 12 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 4 for 37 yards; Boobie Clark, 2 for 4 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for 1 yard SD: Rickey Young, 14 for 62 yards; Don Woods, 13 for 58 yards; Clarence Williams, 8 for 24 yards; Hank Bauer, 3 for 4 yards; Bo Matthews, 3 for 4 yards; James Harris, 2 for 13 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
CIN: Archie Griffin, 5 for 59 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 4 for 51 yards; Billy Brooks, 2 for 18 yards; Isaac Curtis, 1 for 22 yards; John McDaniel, 1 for 10 yards; Jim Corbett, 1 for 4 yards; Bob Trumpy, 1 for 1 yard SD: Charlie Joiner, 4 for 70 yards and 2 TDs; Dwight McDonald, 3 for 44 yards; Bob Klein, 3 for 33 yards; Joe Washington, 2 for 39 yards; Don Woods, 2 for 22 yards; Rickey Young, 2 for 18 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Willie Shelby, 3 for 69 yards; Jerry Anderson, 2 for 42 yards SD: Clarence Williams, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Reggie Williams, 1 for 0 yards SD: Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 11 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Marvin Cobb, 1 for 3 yards SD: Jerome Dove, 1 for 32 yards; Mike Fuller, 1 for 2 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Pat McInally, 3 for 102 yards SD: Jeff West, 4 for 102 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Chris Bahr, 1/1 SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/2