NFL game summary for 09/27/1981:
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 125.3 (16) | 308.0 (2) | 433.3 (1) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 126.3 (15) | 283.7 (27) | 410.0 (26) | 12 | |
 | OFFENSE | 137.7 (11) | 213.0 (10) | 350.7 (11) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 117.7 (11) | 96.0 (1) | 213.7 (1) | 8 |
Line: Chargers by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (3-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 24 |
| Denver Broncos (3-1-0) | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
( 0- 7) DEN Riley Odoms 19 yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick)
( 0-14) DEN Steve Watson 93 yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick)
( 0-21) DEN James Wright 2 yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick)
( 0-28) DEN Steve Watson 21 yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick)
( 0-35) DEN Dave Preston 2 yard rush (Fred Steinfort kick)
( 7-35) SD Ron Smith 39 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(10-35) SD Rolf Benirschke 52 yard field goal
(17-35) SD John Cappelletti 1 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(24-35) SD Kellen Winslow 1 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(24-42) DEN Rob Lytle 3 yard rush (Fred Steinfort kick)
SD DEN
First Downs: 23 20
Rushes-yards: 23-82 37-103
Yards/rush: 3.6 2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 26-47-298-3 21-24-367-0
Sacked-yards: 4-31 2-17
Net pass yards: 267 350
Net yards/pass: 5.2 13.5
Total net yards: 349 453
Total plays: 74 (31% run) 63 (58% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 7.2
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 3-3
Turnovers: 5 3
Penalties-yards: 6-40 6-55
Attendance: 74,844
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 26 of 47 for 298 yards and 2 TDs (3 int) DEN: Craig Morton, 17 of 18 for 308 yards and 4 TDs; Steve DeBerg, 4 of 6 for 59 yards
Rushing:
SD: James Brooks, 7 for 41 yards; John Cappelletti, 7 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Muncie, 7 for 16 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 1 yard; Dan Fouts, 1 for -2 yards DEN: Dave Preston, 14 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Larry Canada, 8 for 43 yards; Rick Parros, 6 for 15 yards; Tony Reed, 4 for -2 yards; Rob Lytle, 3 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Craig Morton, 2 for 6 yards
Receiving:
SD: Kellen Winslow, 10 for 106 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Muncie, 3 for 35 yards; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 32 yards; Eric Sievers, 3 for 26 yards; John Cappelletti, 2 for 26 yards; James Brooks, 2 for 6 yards; Ron Smith, 1 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Dwight Scales, 1 for 16 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 12 yards DEN: Steve Watson, 8 for 178 yards and 2 TDs; Riley Odoms, 4 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Haven Moses, 2 for 43 yards; Wade Manning, 2 for 41 yards; Dave Preston, 2 for 25 yards; Tony Reed, 2 for 7 yards; James Wright, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
SD: Clarence Williams, 3 for 32 yards; Aundra Thompson, 2 for 44 yards; Pete Shaw, 1 for 24 yards DEN: Wade Manning, 2 for 42 yards; Dave Preston, 1 for 1 yard
Punt returns:
DEN: Wade Manning, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Steve Foley, 3 for 42 yards
Punting:
SD: George Roberts, 3 for 120 yards DEN: Luke Prestridge, 3 for 128 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/1 DEN: Fred Steinfort, 0/1
SD: Dan Fouts, 26 of 47 for 298 yards and 2 TDs (3 int) DEN: Craig Morton, 17 of 18 for 308 yards and 4 TDs; Steve DeBerg, 4 of 6 for 59 yards
Rushing:
SD: James Brooks, 7 for 41 yards; John Cappelletti, 7 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Muncie, 7 for 16 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 1 yard; Dan Fouts, 1 for -2 yards DEN: Dave Preston, 14 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Larry Canada, 8 for 43 yards; Rick Parros, 6 for 15 yards; Tony Reed, 4 for -2 yards; Rob Lytle, 3 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Craig Morton, 2 for 6 yards
Receiving:
SD: Kellen Winslow, 10 for 106 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Muncie, 3 for 35 yards; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 32 yards; Eric Sievers, 3 for 26 yards; John Cappelletti, 2 for 26 yards; James Brooks, 2 for 6 yards; Ron Smith, 1 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Dwight Scales, 1 for 16 yards; Clarence Williams, 1 for 12 yards DEN: Steve Watson, 8 for 178 yards and 2 TDs; Riley Odoms, 4 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Haven Moses, 2 for 43 yards; Wade Manning, 2 for 41 yards; Dave Preston, 2 for 25 yards; Tony Reed, 2 for 7 yards; James Wright, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
SD: Clarence Williams, 3 for 32 yards; Aundra Thompson, 2 for 44 yards; Pete Shaw, 1 for 24 yards DEN: Wade Manning, 2 for 42 yards; Dave Preston, 1 for 1 yard
Punt returns:
DEN: Wade Manning, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Steve Foley, 3 for 42 yards
Punting:
SD: George Roberts, 3 for 120 yards DEN: Luke Prestridge, 3 for 128 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/1 DEN: Fred Steinfort, 0/1