NFL game summary for 10/01/1978:

Steve Grogan's four-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds left gave New England a victory over San Diego and spoiled Don Coryell's debut as Chargers head coach. Two Grogan touchdown passes wiped out a 13-point San Diego lead, enabling the Patriots to go ahead 21-20 late in the fourth quarter. With 1:55 left Rolf Benirschke kicked a 41-yard field goal to put the Chargers in front 23-21. The Patriots came back, driving 73 yards in seven plays for the final touchdown. Grogan completed 17 of 29 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns, while San Diego's Dan Fouts hit 14 of 18 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Team		Rush Yds/Gm	Pass Yds/Gm	Tot Yds/Gm	Turnovers
San Diego Chargers	OFFENSE	119.5  (21)	182.2  (7)	301.8  (15)	15
	DEFENSE	119.2  (10)	193.5  (27)	312.8  (20)	8
New England Patriots	OFFENSE	210.8  (2)	189.2  (6)	400.0  (2)	15
	DEFENSE	96.2  (2)	182.2  (24)	278.5  (10)	12

Line: Patriots by 7½

Team	1	2	3	4	F
San Diego Chargers (1-4-0)	0	13	7	3	23
New England Patriots (3-2-0)	7	0	7	14	28

( 0- 7) NE  Harold Jackson 30 yard pass from Steve Grogan (Nick Lowery kick)
( 6- 7) SD  Pat Curran 3 yard pass from Dan Fouts (kick failed)
(13- 7) SD  John Jefferson 21 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(20- 7) SD  John Jefferson 40 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(20-14) NE  Harold Jackson 14 yard pass from Steve Grogan (Nick Lowery kick)
(20-21) NE  Russ Francis 6 yard pass from Steve Grogan (Nick Lowery kick)
(23-21) SD  Rolf Benirschke 41 yard field goal
(23-28) NE  Steve Grogan 4 yard rush (Nick Lowery kick)

                     SD              NE
First Downs:         18              19
Rushes-yards:        38-160          32-101
Yards/rush:          4.2             3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-20-173-1     17-29-231-1
Sacked-yards:        3-11            3-33
Net pass yards:      162             198
Net yards/pass:      7.0             6.2
Total net yards:     322             299
Total plays:         61 (62% run)    64 (50% run)  
Yards/play:          5.3             4.7
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             0-0
Turnovers:           3               1
Penalties-yards:     6-63            5-39

Attendance: 60,781

Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 14 of 18 for 173 yards and 3 TDs (1 int); James Harris, 0 of 2 for 0 yards
NE: Steve Grogan, 17 of 29 for 231 yards and 3 TDs (1 int)

Rushing:
SD: Hank Bauer, 16 for 60 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 8 for 24 yards; Bo Matthews, 6 for 17 yards; Don Woods, 5 for 39 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for 15 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 5 yards
NE: Horace Ivory, 10 for 23 yards; Sam Cunningham, 7 for 27 yards; Don Calhoun, 6 for 23 yards; Andy Johnson, 5 for 9 yards; Steve Grogan, 3 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Don Westbrook, 1 for -2 yards

Receiving:
SD: John Jefferson, 3 for 74 yards and 2 TDs; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 27 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 3 for 22 yards; Bo Matthews, 2 for 12 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 23 yards; Johnny Rodgers, 1 for 12 yards; Pat Curran, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD
NE: Russ Francis, 5 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Harold Jackson, 4 for 106 yards and 2 TDs; Sam Cunningham, 4 for 20 yards; Don Calhoun, 2 for 27 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 14 yards

Kick returns:
SD: Johnny Rodgers, 4 for 108 yards; Artie Owens, 1 for 13 yards
NE: Raymond Clayborn, 3 for 78 yards; James McAlister, 1 for 5 yards

Punt returns:
SD: Johnny Rodgers, 3 for 31 yards; Mike Fuller, 2 for 12 yards
NE: Stanley Morgan, 2 for 14 yards; Mike Haynes, 1 for 6 yards

Interceptions:
SD: Don Goode, 1 for 0 yards
NE: Steve Nelson, 1 for 0 yards

Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 5 for 210 yards
NE: Jerrel Wilson, 6 for 246 yards

Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/2
NE: Nick Lowery, 0/1

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