NFL game summary for 10/22/1978:
Detroit scored on five of its first six possessions. Detroit quarterback Gary Danielson led the first half attack, completing 17 of 23 passes, including three for touchdowns, to give the Lions a 31-7 halftime lead. Detroit recorded its best offensive effort since 1971 by gaining 461 yards. The Lions' defense also had a fine day with four interceptions and six sacks, four of those by defensive end Al Baker.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 126.1 (19) | 192.6 (4) | 318.7 (8) | 25 |
| DEFENSE | 113.3 (6) | 167.7 (21) | 281.0 (10) | 15 | |
 | OFFENSE | 126.4 (18) | 100.1 (28) | 226.6 (27) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 145.1 (15) | 127.1 (4) | 272.3 (6) | 15 |
Line: Chargers by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (2-6-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Detroit Lions (2-6-0) | 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
( 0- 7) DET Jesse Thompson 2 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 7- 7) SD Lydell Mitchell 55 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
( 7-10) DET Benny Ricardo 22 yard field goal
( 7-17) DET Lawrence Gaines 1 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 7-24) DET Dexter Bussey 18 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 7-31) DET Jesse Thompson 6 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Benny Ricardo kick)
(14-31) SD Charlie Joiner 25 yard pass from James Harris (Rolf Benirschke kick)
SD DET
First Downs: 16 29
Rushes-yards: 20-89 39-273
Yards/rush: 4.5 7.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-30-250-4 22-32-210-1
Sacked-yards: 6-35 2-22
Net pass yards: 215 188
Net yards/pass: 6.0 5.5
Total net yards: 304 461
Total plays: 56 (35% run) 73 (53% run)
Yards/play: 5.4 6.3
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 3-1
Turnovers: 6 2
Penalties-yards: 9-69 7-59
Attendance: 54,031
Passing:
SD: James Harris, 8 of 16 for 132 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Dan Fouts, 5 of 14 for 118 yards and 1 TD (3 int) DET: Gary Danielson, 22 of 32 for 210 yards and 3 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Lydell Mitchell, 9 for 53 yards; Hank Bauer, 6 for 15 yards; Clarence Williams, 4 for 15 yards; James Harris, 1 for 6 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 18 for 91 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 9 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Horace King, 8 for 90 yards; Gary Danielson, 3 for 36 yards; Freddie Scott, 1 for 28 yards
Receiving:
SD: Charlie Joiner, 5 for 110 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 3 for 57 yards; Hank Bauer, 2 for 15 yards; Don Woods, 2 for 13 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 1 for 55 yards and 1 TD DET: Dexter Bussey, 6 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Horace King, 6 for 55 yards; Freddie Scott, 3 for 48 yards; David Hill, 3 for 29 yards; Rick Kane, 2 for 9 yards; Jesse Thompson, 2 for 8 yards and 2 TDs
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 3 for 127 yards; Rickey Anderson, 1 for 21 yards; Mike Fuller, 1 for 14 yards; Rick Middleton, 1 for 5 yards DET: Jesse Thompson, 1 for 31 yards; Nat Terry, 1 for 26 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 1 for 20 yards DET: Jesse Thompson, 2 for 45 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Linden King, 1 for 3 yards DET: Jimmy Allen, 2 for 19 yards; Bruce Rhodes, 1 for 24 yards; Charlie Weaver, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 3 for 114 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 2 for 84 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 0/1 DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/4
SD: James Harris, 8 of 16 for 132 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Dan Fouts, 5 of 14 for 118 yards and 1 TD (3 int) DET: Gary Danielson, 22 of 32 for 210 yards and 3 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Lydell Mitchell, 9 for 53 yards; Hank Bauer, 6 for 15 yards; Clarence Williams, 4 for 15 yards; James Harris, 1 for 6 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 18 for 91 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 9 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Horace King, 8 for 90 yards; Gary Danielson, 3 for 36 yards; Freddie Scott, 1 for 28 yards
Receiving:
SD: Charlie Joiner, 5 for 110 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 3 for 57 yards; Hank Bauer, 2 for 15 yards; Don Woods, 2 for 13 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 1 for 55 yards and 1 TD DET: Dexter Bussey, 6 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Horace King, 6 for 55 yards; Freddie Scott, 3 for 48 yards; David Hill, 3 for 29 yards; Rick Kane, 2 for 9 yards; Jesse Thompson, 2 for 8 yards and 2 TDs
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 3 for 127 yards; Rickey Anderson, 1 for 21 yards; Mike Fuller, 1 for 14 yards; Rick Middleton, 1 for 5 yards DET: Jesse Thompson, 1 for 31 yards; Nat Terry, 1 for 26 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 1 for 20 yards DET: Jesse Thompson, 2 for 45 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Linden King, 1 for 3 yards DET: Jimmy Allen, 2 for 19 yards; Bruce Rhodes, 1 for 24 yards; Charlie Weaver, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 3 for 114 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 2 for 84 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 0/1 DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/4