NFL game summary for 10/21/1979:
Dan Fouts became the seventh player in NFL history to record three straight 300-yard passing games and the Chargers' defense forced eight turnovers as San Diego maintained a one-game edge over Denver in the AFC West. Fouts (17 of 32 for 326 yards) completed scoring passes of 6 yards to Bob Klein and 65 yards to John Jefferson. Hank Bauer added two one-yard scores, Mike Wood kicked two field goals, and Wilbur Young returned a fumble three yards for a touchdown.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 114.1 (22) | 222.7 (4) | 336.9 (6) | 13 |
| DEFENSE | 128.9 (11) | 145.6 (10) | 274.4 (6) | 16 | |
 | OFFENSE | 133.9 (17) | 156.9 (17) | 290.7 (16) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 122.1 (7) | 131.4 (4) | 253.6 (4) | 17 |
Line: Chargers by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (6-2-0) | 7 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 40 |
| Los Angeles Rams (4-4-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 16 |
( 7- 0) SD Hank Bauer 1 yard rush (Mike Wood kick)
( 7- 7) LA Wendell Tyler 3 yard rush (Frank Corral kick)
(14- 7) SD John Jefferson 65 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick)
(21- 7) SD Wilbur Young 3 yard fumble return (Mike Wood kick)
(24- 7) SD Mike Wood 37 yard field goal
(31- 7) SD Bob Klein 6 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick)
(31-14) LA Preston Dennard 31 yard pass from Pat Haden (Frank Corral kick)
(34-14) SD Mike Wood 31 yard field goal
(40-14) SD Hank Bauer 1 yard rush (kick failed)
(40-16) LA Safety, Jeff West stepped out of end zone
SD LA
First Downs: 17 24
Rushes-yards: 35-65 27-104
Yards/rush: 1.9 3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-32-326-2 21-42-280-4
Sacked-yards: 0-0 5-47
Net pass yards: 326 233
Net yards/pass: 10.2 5.0
Total net yards: 391 337
Total plays: 67 (52% run) 74 (36% run)
Yards/play: 5.8 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 5-4
Turnovers: 2 8
Penalties-yards: 14-118 5-36
Attendance: 62,245
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 17 of 32 for 326 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) LA: Pat Haden, 17 of 30 for 248 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Jeff Rutledge, 4 of 12 for 32 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Lydell Mitchell, 12 for 48 yards; Clarence Williams, 7 for 15 yards; Artie Owens, 6 for 0 yards; Bo Matthews, 4 for 2 yards; Hank Bauer, 3 for 4 yards and 2 TDs; James Harris, 2 for -2 yards; Jeff West, 1 for -2 yards LA: Wendell Tyler, 20 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Cullen Bryant, 5 for 13 yards; Pat Haden, 1 for 12 yards; Preston Dennard, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
SD: Charlie Joiner, 7 for 168 yards; John Jefferson, 3 for 112 yards and 1 TD; Lydell Mitchell, 3 for 17 yards; Clarence Williams, 2 for 14 yards; Larry Burton, 1 for 9 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD LA: Elvis Peacock, 5 for 97 yards; Terry Nelson, 5 for 55 yards; Cullen Bryant, 4 for 40 yards; Preston Dennard, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Wendell Tyler, 3 for 19 yards; Ron Smith, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Fuller, 1 for 13 yards LA: Drew Hill, 5 for 91 yards; Eddie Hill, 2 for 45 yards; Elvis Peacock, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 4 for 35 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Mike Fuller, 2 for 23 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 50 yards; Pete Shaw, 1 for 30 yards LA: Eddie Brown, 1 for 0 yards; Dwayne O'Steen, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 5 for 159 yards LA: Ken Clark, 5 for 221 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Mike Wood, 2/2 LA: Frank Corral, 0/1
SD: Dan Fouts, 17 of 32 for 326 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) LA: Pat Haden, 17 of 30 for 248 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Jeff Rutledge, 4 of 12 for 32 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Lydell Mitchell, 12 for 48 yards; Clarence Williams, 7 for 15 yards; Artie Owens, 6 for 0 yards; Bo Matthews, 4 for 2 yards; Hank Bauer, 3 for 4 yards and 2 TDs; James Harris, 2 for -2 yards; Jeff West, 1 for -2 yards LA: Wendell Tyler, 20 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Cullen Bryant, 5 for 13 yards; Pat Haden, 1 for 12 yards; Preston Dennard, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
SD: Charlie Joiner, 7 for 168 yards; John Jefferson, 3 for 112 yards and 1 TD; Lydell Mitchell, 3 for 17 yards; Clarence Williams, 2 for 14 yards; Larry Burton, 1 for 9 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD LA: Elvis Peacock, 5 for 97 yards; Terry Nelson, 5 for 55 yards; Cullen Bryant, 4 for 40 yards; Preston Dennard, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Wendell Tyler, 3 for 19 yards; Ron Smith, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Fuller, 1 for 13 yards LA: Drew Hill, 5 for 91 yards; Eddie Hill, 2 for 45 yards; Elvis Peacock, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 4 for 35 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Mike Fuller, 2 for 23 yards; Mike Williams, 1 for 50 yards; Pete Shaw, 1 for 30 yards LA: Eddie Brown, 1 for 0 yards; Dwayne O'Steen, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 5 for 159 yards LA: Ken Clark, 5 for 221 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Mike Wood, 2/2 LA: Frank Corral, 0/1