NFL game summary for 12/11/1977:
Jim Turner kicked a 36-yard field goal and Rick Upchurch ran 19 yards for an insurance touchdown to give the playoff-bound Broncos a 17-9 win. Craig Morton hit Riley Odoms on passes of 17 and 19 yards to maneuver the Broncos into position for Turner's field goal, which came with 6:39 left in the game. Minutes later, Norris Weese took a snap on a fake punt and ran 21 yards to the Chargers' 20. That was followed by Upchurch's touchdown run. Rolf Benirschke's three field goals set a club record of 11 straight three-pointers.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 135.8 (15) | 156.4 (10) | 292.2 (15) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 140.2 (16) | 115.9 (5) | 256.1 (6) | 26 | |
 | OFFENSE | 149.1 (11) | 136.8 (17) | 285.8 (16) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 112.9 (1) | 152.8 (20) | 265.8 (8) | 34 |
Line: Broncos by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (7-6-0) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Denver Broncos (12-1-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
( 0- 7) DEN Lonnie Perrin 41 yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick)
( 3- 7) SD Rolf Benirschke 46 yard field goal
( 6- 7) SD Rolf Benirschke 32 yard field goal
( 9- 7) SD Rolf Benirschke 27 yard field goal
( 9-10) DEN Jim Turner 36 yard field goal
( 9-17) DEN Rick Upchurch 19 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
SD DEN
First Downs: 17 20
Rushes-yards: 23-64 32-156
Yards/rush: 2.8 4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 24-41-276-2 15-27-182-3
Sacked-yards: 2-16 4-40
Net pass yards: 260 142
Net yards/pass: 6.0 4.6
Total net yards: 324 298
Total plays: 66 (34% run) 63 (50% run)
Yards/play: 4.9 4.7
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 2-0
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 7-40 8-66
Attendance: 74,905
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 24 of 41 for 276 yards (2 int) DEN: Craig Morton, 9 of 17 for 133 yards and 1 TD; Craig Penrose, 6 of 10 for 49 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
SD: Rickey Young, 8 for 30 yards; Joe Washington, 5 for 12 yards; Bo Matthews, 3 for 8 yards; Don Woods, 3 for 1 yard; Clarence Williams, 2 for 6 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 7 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 0 yards DEN: Jon Keyworth, 12 for 41 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 8 for 40 yards; Rob Lytle, 8 for 29 yards; Craig Morton, 2 for 6 yards; Norris Weese, 1 for 21 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 19 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
SD: Rickey Young, 6 for 62 yards; Charlie Joiner, 4 for 67 yards; Joe Washington, 4 for 36 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 4 for 35 yards; Pat Curran, 2 for 40 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 13 yards; Don Woods, 1 for 11 yards; Dwight McDonald, 1 for 7 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 5 yards DEN: Riley Odoms, 6 for 69 yards; Jack Dolbin, 4 for 46 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 2 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Haven Moses, 1 for 16 yards; Ron Egloff, 1 for 7 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Clarence Williams, 3 for 84 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 3 for 71 yards; John Grant, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 3 for 27 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 3 for 52 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Hal Stringert, 2 for 29 yards; Woodrow Lowe, 1 for 28 yards DEN: Randy Gradishar, 1 for 14 yards; Steve Foley, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 4 for 145 yards DEN: Bucky Dilts, 5 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 3/3 DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1
SD: Dan Fouts, 24 of 41 for 276 yards (2 int) DEN: Craig Morton, 9 of 17 for 133 yards and 1 TD; Craig Penrose, 6 of 10 for 49 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
SD: Rickey Young, 8 for 30 yards; Joe Washington, 5 for 12 yards; Bo Matthews, 3 for 8 yards; Don Woods, 3 for 1 yard; Clarence Williams, 2 for 6 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 7 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 0 yards DEN: Jon Keyworth, 12 for 41 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 8 for 40 yards; Rob Lytle, 8 for 29 yards; Craig Morton, 2 for 6 yards; Norris Weese, 1 for 21 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 19 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
SD: Rickey Young, 6 for 62 yards; Charlie Joiner, 4 for 67 yards; Joe Washington, 4 for 36 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 4 for 35 yards; Pat Curran, 2 for 40 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 13 yards; Don Woods, 1 for 11 yards; Dwight McDonald, 1 for 7 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 5 yards DEN: Riley Odoms, 6 for 69 yards; Jack Dolbin, 4 for 46 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 2 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Haven Moses, 1 for 16 yards; Ron Egloff, 1 for 7 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Clarence Williams, 3 for 84 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 3 for 71 yards; John Grant, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 3 for 27 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 3 for 52 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Hal Stringert, 2 for 29 yards; Woodrow Lowe, 1 for 28 yards DEN: Randy Gradishar, 1 for 14 yards; Steve Foley, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 4 for 145 yards DEN: Bucky Dilts, 5 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 3/3 DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1