NFL game summary for 09/17/1978:
Rick Upchurch returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown to lead the Broncos to a come-from-behind victory over the Chargers. Upchurch's score came with 3:17 remaining and gave the Broncos, who trailed 14-7 at halftime, a 20-14 lead. Lonnie Perrin added his second touchdown of the game less than two minutes later.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 143.0 (12) | 180.5 (12) | 323.5 (11) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 111.0 (8) | 294.0 (28) | 405.0 (27) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 123.0 (17) | 68.5 (25) | 191.5 (25) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 109.0 (6) | 153.0 (11) | 262.0 (9) | 6 |
Line: Broncos by 4½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (1-2-0) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Denver Broncos (2-1-0) | 7 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 27 |
( 0- 7) DEN Ron Egloff 2 yard pass from Norris Weese (Jim Turner kick)
( 7- 7) SD Dan Fouts 3 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(14- 7) SD John Jefferson 20 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(14-13) DEN Lonnie Perrin 1 yard rush (kick failed)
(14-20) DEN Rick Upchurch 75 yard punt return (Jim Turner kick)
(14-27) DEN Lonnie Perrin 21 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
SD DEN
First Downs: 18 21
Rushes-yards: 27-101 34-137
Yards/rush: 3.7 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-33-230-2 18-31-201-0
Sacked-yards: 2-16 3-24
Net pass yards: 214 177
Net yards/pass: 6.1 5.2
Total net yards: 315 314
Total plays: 62 (43% run) 68 (50% run)
Yards/play: 5.1 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 0-0
Turnovers: 2 0
Penalties-yards: 9-53 10-85
Attendance: 74,983
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 19 of 33 for 230 yards and 1 TD (2 int) DEN: Craig Morton, 12 of 22 for 141 yards; Norris Weese, 6 of 9 for 60 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
SD: Bo Matthews, 11 for 56 yards; Don Woods, 8 for 16 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 6 for 27 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Hank Bauer, 1 for -1 yards DEN: Otis Armstrong, 13 for 39 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 9 for 56 yards and 2 TDs; Jon Keyworth, 5 for 26 yards; Norris Weese, 4 for 9 yards; Dave Preston, 1 for 8 yards; Craig Morton, 1 for 3 yards; Larry Canada, 1 for -4 yards
Receiving:
SD: Lydell Mitchell, 5 for 42 yards; Bo Matthews, 4 for 28 yards; John Jefferson, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Don Woods, 3 for 17 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 61 yards; Bob Klein, 2 for 31 yards DEN: Riley Odoms, 5 for 69 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 45 yards; Otis Armstrong, 2 for 34 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 2 for 13 yards; Rick Upchurch, 2 for 12 yards; Ron Egloff, 2 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 8 yards; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 5 yards; Dave Preston, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 2 for 68 yards; Bob Horn, 2 for 27 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 34 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Johnny Rodgers, 3 for 23 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 1 for 75 yards and 1 TD
Interceptions:
DEN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 20 yards; Steve Foley, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 6 for 237 yards DEN: Bucky Dilts, 7 for 265 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Dan Fouts, 19 of 33 for 230 yards and 1 TD (2 int) DEN: Craig Morton, 12 of 22 for 141 yards; Norris Weese, 6 of 9 for 60 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
SD: Bo Matthews, 11 for 56 yards; Don Woods, 8 for 16 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 6 for 27 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Hank Bauer, 1 for -1 yards DEN: Otis Armstrong, 13 for 39 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 9 for 56 yards and 2 TDs; Jon Keyworth, 5 for 26 yards; Norris Weese, 4 for 9 yards; Dave Preston, 1 for 8 yards; Craig Morton, 1 for 3 yards; Larry Canada, 1 for -4 yards
Receiving:
SD: Lydell Mitchell, 5 for 42 yards; Bo Matthews, 4 for 28 yards; John Jefferson, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Don Woods, 3 for 17 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 61 yards; Bob Klein, 2 for 31 yards DEN: Riley Odoms, 5 for 69 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 45 yards; Otis Armstrong, 2 for 34 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 2 for 13 yards; Rick Upchurch, 2 for 12 yards; Ron Egloff, 2 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 8 yards; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 5 yards; Dave Preston, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 2 for 68 yards; Bob Horn, 2 for 27 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 34 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Johnny Rodgers, 3 for 23 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 1 for 75 yards and 1 TD
Interceptions:
DEN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 20 yards; Steve Foley, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 6 for 237 yards DEN: Bucky Dilts, 7 for 265 yards
Field Goals: