NFL game summary for 12/09/1979:
Dan Fouts completed 17 of 23 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown as the Chargers clinched their first playoff berth since 1965. Fouts tossed a 26-yard scoring pass to John Jefferson and running back Hank Bauer registered three one-yard touchdown runs to help San Diego build a 35-0 halftime lead. Jefferson caught four passes for 104 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 100.4 (27) | 247.1 (1) | 347.4 (5) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 124.3 (9) | 153.6 (3) | 277.9 (5) | 39 | |
 | OFFENSE | 153.1 (6) | 202.1 (9) | 355.3 (4) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 151.9 (22) | 194.1 (20) | 346.1 (21) | 36 |
Line: Chargers by 4½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (11-4-0) | 14 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| New Orleans Saints (7-8-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
( 7- 0) SD Hank Bauer 1 yard rush (Mike Wood kick)
(14- 0) SD Clarence Williams 5 yard rush (Mike Wood kick)
(21- 0) SD John Jefferson 26 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick)
(28- 0) SD Hank Bauer 1 yard rush (Mike Wood kick)
(35- 0) SD Hank Bauer 1 yard rush (Mike Wood kick)
SD NO
First Downs: 31 12
Rushes-yards: 42-166 14-56
Yards/rush: 4.0 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-27-274-0 20-33-185-1
Sacked-yards: 5-40 1-10
Net pass yards: 234 175
Net yards/pass: 7.3 5.1
Total net yards: 400 231
Total plays: 74 (56% run) 48 (29% run)
Yards/play: 5.4 4.8
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 1-1
Turnovers: 0 2
Penalties-yards: 4-40 5-44
Attendance: 61,059
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 17 of 23 for 253 yards and 1 TD; James Harris, 3 of 4 for 21 yards NO: Archie Manning, 20 of 32 for 185 yards; Tony Galbreath, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Clarence Williams, 17 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Mike Thomas, 7 for 29 yards; Bo Matthews, 7 for 23 yards; Hank Bauer, 4 for 1 yard and 3 TDs; Lydell Mitchell, 3 for 10 yards; Artie Owens, 3 for -3 yards; James Harris, 1 for 18 yards NO: Chuck Muncie, 10 for 39 yards; Tony Galbreath, 3 for 6 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
SD: John Jefferson, 5 for 104 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Joiner, 4 for 43 yards; Bob Klein, 4 for 42 yards; Mike Thomas, 3 for 47 yards; John Floyd, 2 for 17 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 12 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 1 for 9 yards NO: Tony Galbreath, 6 for 31 yards; Chuck Muncie, 5 for 45 yards; Wes Chandler, 4 for 51 yards; Henry Childs, 3 for 46 yards; Tinker Owens, 1 for 12 yards; Jack Holmes, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 1 for 22 yards NO: Rich Mauti, 4 for 118 yards; Wayne Wilson, 1 for 28 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Rich Mauti, 2 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 4 for 153 yards NO: Rick Partridge, 2 for 83 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Garo Yepremian, 0/1
SD: Dan Fouts, 17 of 23 for 253 yards and 1 TD; James Harris, 3 of 4 for 21 yards NO: Archie Manning, 20 of 32 for 185 yards; Tony Galbreath, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
SD: Clarence Williams, 17 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Mike Thomas, 7 for 29 yards; Bo Matthews, 7 for 23 yards; Hank Bauer, 4 for 1 yard and 3 TDs; Lydell Mitchell, 3 for 10 yards; Artie Owens, 3 for -3 yards; James Harris, 1 for 18 yards NO: Chuck Muncie, 10 for 39 yards; Tony Galbreath, 3 for 6 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
SD: John Jefferson, 5 for 104 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Joiner, 4 for 43 yards; Bob Klein, 4 for 42 yards; Mike Thomas, 3 for 47 yards; John Floyd, 2 for 17 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 12 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 1 for 9 yards NO: Tony Galbreath, 6 for 31 yards; Chuck Muncie, 5 for 45 yards; Wes Chandler, 4 for 51 yards; Henry Childs, 3 for 46 yards; Tinker Owens, 1 for 12 yards; Jack Holmes, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Artie Owens, 1 for 22 yards NO: Rich Mauti, 4 for 118 yards; Wayne Wilson, 1 for 28 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Rich Mauti, 2 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Mike Fuller, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 4 for 153 yards NO: Rick Partridge, 2 for 83 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Garo Yepremian, 0/1