NFL game summary for 10/16/1977:
Steve Grogan passed to Don Hasselbeck for two touchdowns and Sam Cunningham rushed for 141 yards to lead the Patriots to a comeback victory over the Chargers. One-yard runs by Clarence Williams and Rickey Young staked the Chargers to a 13-7 lead until the Patriots rallied late in the third quarter. New England took the lead on a seven-yard touchdown run by Ike Forte, which came at the end of a 64-yard, 12-play drive. The Patriots increased their margin in the fourth quarter to 24-13 on John Smith's 28-yard field goal and a four-yard Grogan-to-Hasselbeck touchdown pass.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 175.8 (6) | 157.5 (10) | 333.2 (6) | 14 |
| DEFENSE | 145.0 (17) | 136.0 (11) | 281.0 (13) | 13 | |
 | OFFENSE | 142.5 (11) | 123.0 (23) | 265.5 (18) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 125.5 (11) | 95.8 (3) | 221.2 (4) | 10 |
Line: Chargers by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (3-2-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| San Diego Chargers (3-2-0) | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
( 7- 0) NE Don Hasselbeck 1 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
( 7- 6) SD Clarence Williams 1 yard rush (kick failed)
( 7-13) SD Rickey Young 1 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(14-13) NE Ike Forte 7 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(17-13) NE John Smith 28 yard field goal
(24-13) NE Don Hasselbeck 4 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(24-20) SD Charlie Joiner 16 yard pass from Bill Munson (Rolf Benirschke kick)
NE SD
First Downs: 22 16
Rushes-yards: 51-256 19-53
Yards/rush: 5.0 2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-22-83-1 18-26-249-1
Sacked-yards: 1-14 2-19
Net pass yards: 69 230
Net yards/pass: 3.0 8.2
Total net yards: 325 283
Total plays: 74 (68% run) 47 (40% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 6.0
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 2-1
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 9-101 6-53
Attendance: 50,327
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 12 of 22 for 83 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SD: James Harris, 10 of 15 for 152 yards (1 int); Bill Munson, 8 of 11 for 97 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 25 for 141 yards; Don Calhoun, 16 for 72 yards; Ike Forte, 6 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Steve Grogan, 2 for 11 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 3 yards; Darryl Stingley, 1 for -1 yards SD: Rickey Young, 8 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Don Woods, 7 for 30 yards; Clarence Williams, 2 for 2 yards and 1 TD; Bo Matthews, 1 for -1 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 5 for 41 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 20 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 2 for 5 yards and 2 TDs; Don Calhoun, 1 for 7 yards; Russ Francis, 1 for 6 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 4 yards SD: Don Woods, 8 for 111 yards; Dwight McDonald, 3 for 37 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Rickey Young, 2 for 33 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 19 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 8 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for -2 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Raymond Clayborn, 3 for 66 yards SD: Artie Owens, 2 for 33 yards; Clarence Williams, 2 for 31 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 4 for 26 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 3 for 23 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Prentice McCray, 1 for 0 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 6 for 240 yards SD: Jeff West, 7 for 262 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1
NE: Steve Grogan, 12 of 22 for 83 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SD: James Harris, 10 of 15 for 152 yards (1 int); Bill Munson, 8 of 11 for 97 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 25 for 141 yards; Don Calhoun, 16 for 72 yards; Ike Forte, 6 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Steve Grogan, 2 for 11 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 3 yards; Darryl Stingley, 1 for -1 yards SD: Rickey Young, 8 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Don Woods, 7 for 30 yards; Clarence Williams, 2 for 2 yards and 1 TD; Bo Matthews, 1 for -1 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 5 for 41 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 20 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 2 for 5 yards and 2 TDs; Don Calhoun, 1 for 7 yards; Russ Francis, 1 for 6 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 4 yards SD: Don Woods, 8 for 111 yards; Dwight McDonald, 3 for 37 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Rickey Young, 2 for 33 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 19 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 8 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for -2 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Raymond Clayborn, 3 for 66 yards SD: Artie Owens, 2 for 33 yards; Clarence Williams, 2 for 31 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 4 for 26 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 3 for 23 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Prentice McCray, 1 for 0 yards SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 6 for 240 yards SD: Jeff West, 7 for 262 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1