NFL game summary for 09/23/1979:
New England built a 20-0 lead, but needed Steve Nelson's interception with 1:33 left in the game to secure the win. The Patriots scored on each of their first four possessions on touchdown runs by Sam Cunningham and Don Calhoun and John Smith's two field goals. San Diego closed the gap to 20-14, but a five-yard fourth-quarter pass from Steve Grogan to Russ Francis widened the New England lead to 27-14. San Diego made it 27-21 on Clarence Williams' second touchdown of the day and threatened to take the lead when Bob Horn returned an interception to the Patriots' 10 yard line with 1:50 left in the game. San Diego's comeback hopes ended with Nelson's interception on the Patriots' 2.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 174.7 (6) | 173.3 (13) | 348.0 (7) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 112.7 (6) | 192.3 (19) | 305.0 (11) | 9 | |
 | OFFENSE | 186.3 (3) | 204.7 (7) | 391.0 (4) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 124.3 (11) | 89.3 (2) | 213.7 (2) | 9 |
Line: Patriots by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (3-1-0) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| New England Patriots (3-1-0) | 17 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
( 0- 7) NE Sam Cunningham 1 yard rush (John Smith kick) ( 0-14) NE Don Calhoun 10 yard rush (John Smith kick) ( 0-17) NE John Smith 31 yard field goal ( 0-20) NE John Smith 31 yard field goal ( 7-20) SD John Jefferson 19 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) (14-20) SD Clarence Williams 1 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick) (14-27) NE Russ Francis 5 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick) (21-27) SD Clarence Williams 1 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick)
SD NE
First Downs: 15 20
Rushes-yards: 18-39 43-151
Yards/rush: 2.2 3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 21-35-218-2 13-23-157-2
Sacked-yards: 4-25 3-17
Net pass yards: 193 140
Net yards/pass: 4.9 5.4
Total net yards: 232 291
Total plays: 57 (31% run) 69 (62% run)
Yards/play: 4.1 4.2
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 1-0
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 6-48 5-49
Attendance: 60,916
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 20 of 34 for 200 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Mike Thomas, 1 of 1 for 18 yards NE: Steve Grogan, 13 of 23 for 157 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
SD: Clarence Williams, 13 for 34 yards and 2 TDs; Artie Owens, 2 for 4 yards; Mike Thomas, 2 for 0 yards; Hank Bauer, 1 for 1 yard NE: Sam Cunningham, 22 for 75 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 10 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 7 for 24 yards; Steve Grogan, 3 for 4 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
SD: Bob Klein, 6 for 50 yards; John Jefferson, 4 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Clarence Williams, 4 for 20 yards; Mike Thomas, 2 for 46 yards; Kellen Winslow, 2 for 20 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 18 yards; Artie Owens, 1 for 5 yards NE: Russ Francis, 4 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 4 for 21 yards; Harold Jackson, 2 for 33 yards; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 12 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 1 for 6 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 3 for 47 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for 4 yards NE: Rick Sanford, 2 for 40 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 12 yards; Allan Clark, 1 for 11 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 2 for 19 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 2 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Bob Horn, 1 for 30 yards; Glen Edwards, 1 for 2 yards NE: Steve Nelson, 1 for 18 yards; Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 7 for 247 yards NE: Eddie Hare, 5 for 176 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Cliff Olander, 0/1 NE: John Smith, 2/2
SD: Dan Fouts, 20 of 34 for 200 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Mike Thomas, 1 of 1 for 18 yards NE: Steve Grogan, 13 of 23 for 157 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
SD: Clarence Williams, 13 for 34 yards and 2 TDs; Artie Owens, 2 for 4 yards; Mike Thomas, 2 for 0 yards; Hank Bauer, 1 for 1 yard NE: Sam Cunningham, 22 for 75 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 10 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 7 for 24 yards; Steve Grogan, 3 for 4 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
SD: Bob Klein, 6 for 50 yards; John Jefferson, 4 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Clarence Williams, 4 for 20 yards; Mike Thomas, 2 for 46 yards; Kellen Winslow, 2 for 20 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 18 yards; Artie Owens, 1 for 5 yards NE: Russ Francis, 4 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 4 for 21 yards; Harold Jackson, 2 for 33 yards; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 12 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 1 for 6 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 3 for 47 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for 4 yards NE: Rick Sanford, 2 for 40 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 12 yards; Allan Clark, 1 for 11 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 2 for 19 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 2 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Bob Horn, 1 for 30 yards; Glen Edwards, 1 for 2 yards NE: Steve Nelson, 1 for 18 yards; Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 7 for 247 yards NE: Eddie Hare, 5 for 176 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Cliff Olander, 0/1 NE: John Smith, 2/2