NFL game summary for 09/03/1978:
Dan Fouts threw two touchdown passes to John Jefferson, San Diego's number one pick in the 1978 draft, and defensive tackle Gary Johnson returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown to pace the Chargers. Rolf Benirschke also added an 18-yard field goal, his thirteenth straight over two seasons. Seattle's Jim Zorn connected on a 33-yard touchdown pass to Steve Largent with six seconds left in the game. Zorn completed 21 of 32 passes for a club record 329 yards.
Line: Chargers by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 San Diego Chargers (1-0-0) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
 Seattle Seahawks (0-1-0) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
( 0- 6) SEA Sherman Smith 64 yard pass from Jim Zorn (kick failed) ( 7- 6) SD John Jefferson 29 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) (10- 6) SD Rolf Benirschke 18 yard field goal (10-13) SEA Jim Zorn 23 yard rush (Efren Herrera kick) (17-13) SD John Jefferson 6 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) (24-13) SD Gary Johnson 52 yard interception return (Rolf Benirschke kick) (24-20) SEA Steve Largent 33 yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren Herrera kick)
SD SEA
First Downs: 16 22
Rushes-yards: 28-89 38-138
Yards/rush: 3.2 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-22-186-1 21-32-329-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-21
Net pass yards: 186 308
Net yards/pass: 8.5 8.8
Total net yards: 275 446
Total plays: 50 (56% run) 73 (52% run)
Yards/play: 5.5 6.1
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 2-1
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 3-15 5-52
Attendance: 55,778
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 14 of 22 for 186 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SEA: Jim Zorn, 21 of 32 for 329 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Don Woods, 16 for 46 yards; Bo Matthews, 10 for 49 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for -6 yards SEA: David Sims, 18 for 61 yards; Al Hunter, 9 for 18 yards; Jim Zorn, 8 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Sherman Smith, 3 for 5 yards
Receiving:
SD: Don Woods, 7 for 77 yards; John Jefferson, 3 for 45 yards and 2 TDs; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 38 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for 13 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 13 yards SEA: Steve Largent, 6 for 127 yards and 1 TD; David Sims, 5 for 41 yards; Sherman Smith, 3 for 74 yards and 1 TD; Al Hunter, 2 for 30 yards; Ron Howard, 2 for 26 yards; Duke Fergerson, 1 for 16 yards; Sam McCullum, 1 for 8 yards; John Sawyer, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 32 yards; Artie Owens, 1 for 30 yards; Ray Preston, 1 for 15 yards SEA: Duke Fergerson, 3 for 72 yards
Punt returns:
Interceptions:
SD: Gary Johnson, 1 for 52 yards and 1 TD SEA: Autry Beamon, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 3 for 72 yards SEA: Herman Weaver, 2 for 76 yards; Efren Herrera, 1 for 30 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/1 SEA: Efren Herrera, 0/2
SD: Dan Fouts, 14 of 22 for 186 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SEA: Jim Zorn, 21 of 32 for 329 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Don Woods, 16 for 46 yards; Bo Matthews, 10 for 49 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for -6 yards SEA: David Sims, 18 for 61 yards; Al Hunter, 9 for 18 yards; Jim Zorn, 8 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Sherman Smith, 3 for 5 yards
Receiving:
SD: Don Woods, 7 for 77 yards; John Jefferson, 3 for 45 yards and 2 TDs; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 38 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for 13 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 13 yards SEA: Steve Largent, 6 for 127 yards and 1 TD; David Sims, 5 for 41 yards; Sherman Smith, 3 for 74 yards and 1 TD; Al Hunter, 2 for 30 yards; Ron Howard, 2 for 26 yards; Duke Fergerson, 1 for 16 yards; Sam McCullum, 1 for 8 yards; John Sawyer, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 32 yards; Artie Owens, 1 for 30 yards; Ray Preston, 1 for 15 yards SEA: Duke Fergerson, 3 for 72 yards
Punt returns:
Interceptions:
SD: Gary Johnson, 1 for 52 yards and 1 TD SEA: Autry Beamon, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 3 for 72 yards SEA: Herman Weaver, 2 for 76 yards; Efren Herrera, 1 for 30 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/1 SEA: Efren Herrera, 0/2