1974 NFL team season
The 1974 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's fifth season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 15th overall. The team improved on their 2–11–1 record in 1973 and finished 5–9. It was Tommy Prothro 's first season as the team's head coach.
Before the season, the team changed from white helmets and powder blue jerseys—which it had had since its inception in 1960 —to royal blue helmets and jerseys.[ 3] Players' uniform numbers were also removed from the helmets. The royal blue would remain through 1984, when the helmets and jerseys became a darker shade of blue (navy blue); that blue became even darker in 1988. The Chargers switched back permanently to modified white helmets in 2007 .[ 4]
Offseason
NFL draft
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
Recap
1
September 15
at Houston Oilers
L 14–21
0–1
Astrodome
25,317
Recap
2
September 22
at Cincinnati Bengals
W 20–17
1–1
Riverfront Stadium
51,178
Recap
3
September 29
Miami Dolphins
L 21–28
1–2
San Diego Stadium
44,706
Recap
4
October 6
Philadelphia Eagles
L 7–13
1–3
San Diego Stadium
36,124
Recap
5
October 13
Oakland Raiders
L 10–14
1–4
San Diego Stadium
40,539
Recap
6
October 20
at Denver Broncos
L 7–27
1–5
Mile High Stadium
50,928
Recap
7
October 27
Kansas City Chiefs
L 24–14
1–6
San Diego Stadium
34,371
Recap
8
November 3
Cleveland Browns
W 36–35
2–6
San Diego Stadium
35,683
Recap
9
November 10
at Kansas City Chiefs
W 14–7
3–6
Arrowhead Stadium
48,551
Recap
10
November 17
at Oakland Raiders
L 10–17
3–7
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
50,178
Recap
11
November 24
at Green Bay Packers
L 0–34
3–8
Lambeau Field
56,267
Recap
12
December 1
at New York Jets
L 14–27
3–9
Shea Stadium
44,888
Recap
13
December 8
Chicago Bears
W 28–21
4–9
San Diego Stadium
33,662
Recap
14
December 15
Denver Broncos
W 17–0
5–9
San Diego Stadium
36,571
Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Season summary
Week 1: at Houston Oilers Week One: San Diego Chargers at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Chargers
0
7
7 0 14
Oilers
14
0
0 7 21
at Astrodome , Houston, Texas
Game information
First quarter
HOU – George Amundson 1-yard run (Skip Butler kick), 10:27. Oilers 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 4:33.
HOU – George Amundson 8-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Skip Butler kick), 0:03. Oilers 14–0. Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 5:23.
Second quarter
Third quarter
SDG – Gary Garrison 29-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Dennis Partee kick), 13:07. Tied 14–14. Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 1:53.
Fourth quarter
HOU – George Amundson 3-yard run (Skip Butler kick), 13:20. Oilers 21–14. Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 2:54.
Top passers
SDG – Dan Fouts – 13/26, 209 yards, TD, 2 INT
HOU – Lynn Dickey – 19/26, 195 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
SDG – Gary Garrison – 4 receptions, 80 yards, TD
HOU – George Amundson – 5 receptions, 51 yards, TD
Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SDG – Dennis Partee 22-yard field goal, 12:56. Chargers 10–0. Drive: 6 plays, 14 yards, 2:19.
CIN – Lenvil Elliott 16-yard run (Horst Muhlmann kick), 8:06. Chargers 10–7. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 4:44.
SDG – Ray Wersching 28-yard field goal, 2:20. Chargers 13–7. Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 5:46.
Third quarter
CIN – Boobie Clark 12-yard run (Horst Muhlmann kick), 12:13. Bengals 14–13. Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 2:47.
CIN – Horst Muhlmann 34-yard field goal, 2:59. Bengals 17–13. Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 6:20.
Fourth quarter
SDG – Dan Fouts 1-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 7:45. Chargers 20–17. Drive: 10 plays, 98 yards, 4:14.
Top passers
SDG – Dan Fouts – 13/24, 173 yards
CIN – Ken Anderson – 17/28, 178 yards, INT
Top rushers
SDG – Cid Edwards – 12 rushes, 45 yards
CIN – Lenvil Elliott – 11 rushes, 66 yards, TD
Top receivers
Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins Week Three: Miami Dolphins at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Dolphins
0
7
0 21 28
Chargers
0
7
14 0 21
at San Diego Stadium , San Diego, California
Date : September 29Game time : 1:00 p.m. PDT Game weather : 69 °F (20.6 °C), relative humidity 75%, wind 10 mphGame attendance : 44,706Referee : Jim Tunney TV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SDG – Don Woods 1-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 9:37. Chargers 14–7. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:23.
SDG – Don Woods 56-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 7:51. Chargers 21–7. Drive: 1 play, 56 yards, 0:09.
Fourth quarter
MIA – Nat Moore 13-yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick), 8:30. Chargers 21–14. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 3:09.
MIA – Larry Csonka 3-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick), 3:38. Tied 21–21. Drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 2:29.
MIA – Jim Kiick 3-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick), 0:15. Dolphins 28–21. Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 1:35.
Top passers
MIA – Bob Griese – 14/27, 248 yards, TD, 2 INT
SDG – Dan Fouts – 14/22, 189 yards, TD
Top rushers
MIA – Larry Csonka – 21 rushes, 106 yards, 2 TD
SDG – Don Woods – 18 rushes, 157 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
MIA – Jim Mandich – 4 receptions, 101 yards
SDG – Wayne Stewart – 3 receptions, 71 yards, TD
Week 4: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Game information
First quarter
PHI – Bill Dunstan 46-yard defensive fumble return (kick blocked), 5:49. Eagles 6–0.
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
PHI – Roman Gabriel – 18/33, 112 yards, INT
SDG – Dan Fouts – 13/32, 134 yards, TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
PHI – Tom Sullivan – 5 receptions, 30 yards
SDG – Cid Edwards – 4 receptions, 50 yards
Week 5: vs. Oakland Raiders
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
OAK – Bob Moore 4-yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick), 14:56. Raiders 14–10. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 5:42.
Top passers
OAK – Ken Stabler – 12/19, 162 yards, 2 TD, INT
SDG – Dan Fouts – 11/24, 137 yards, INT
Top rushers
OAK – Marv Hubbard – 14 rushes, 94 yards
SDG – Don Woods – 17 rushes, 118 yards, TD
Top receivers
OAK – Cliff Branch – 7 receptions, 124 yards, TD
SDG – Harrison Davis – 2 receptions, 43 yards
Week 6: at Denver Broncos Week Six: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Chargers
0
0
7 0 7
Broncos
7
10
7 3 27
at Mile High Stadium , Denver, Colorado
Date : October 20Game time : 2:00 p.m. MDT Game weather : 56 °F (13.3 °C), relative humidity 51%, wind 8 mphGame attendance : 50,928Referee : Dick Jorgensen TV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
DEN – Floyd Little 6-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 6:28. Broncos 10–0. Drive: 10 plays, 78 yards, 6:14.
DEN – Jim Turner 34-yard field goal, 0:00. Broncos 17–0. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards, 1:02.
Third quarter
SDG – Glen Bonner 1-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 6:54. Broncos 17–7. Drive: 13 plays, 74 yards, 8:06.
DEN – Otis Armstrong 10-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 4:48. Broncos 24–7. Drive: 4 plays, 90 yards, 2:06.
Fourth quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 34-yard field goal, 2:15. Chargers 27–7. Drive: 16 plays, 64 yards, 10:15.
Top passers
SDG – Dan Fouts – 14/29, 158 yards, 3 INT
DEN – Charley Johnson – 9/12, 146 yards, TD
Top rushers
SDG – Don Woods – 13 rushes, 39 yards
DEN – Otis Armstrong – 20 rushes, 98 yards, TD
Top receivers
SDG – Don Woods – 3 receptions, 38 yards
DEN – Floyd Little – 7 receptions, 127 yards
Week 7: vs. Kansas City Chiefs Week Seven: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Chiefs
0
7
7 10 24
Chargers
7
0
0 7 14
at San Diego Stadium , San Diego, California
Date : October 27Game time : 1:00 p.m. PST Game weather : 65 °F (18.3 °C), relative humidity 69%, wind 9 mphGame attendance : 34,371Referee : Bob Frederic TV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
KAN – Woody Green 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:13. Chiefs 14–7. Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 4:47.
Fourth quarter
SDG – Don Woods 6-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 12:06. Tied 14–14. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 5:29.
KAN – Woody Green 69-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:24. Chiefs 21–14. Drive: 3 plays, 90 yards, 1:42.
KAN – Jan Stenerud 23-yard field goal, 0:58. Chiefs 24–14. Drive: 12 plays, 62 yards, 5:31.
Top passers
KAN – Len Dawson – 4/4, 84 yards, TD
SDG – Dan Fouts – 14/27, 221 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KAN – Woody Green – 23 rushes, 146 yards, TD
SDG – Don Woods – 22 rushes, 154 yards, TD
Top receivers
KAN – Woody Green – 4 receptions, 98 yards, TD
SDG – Gary Garrison – 6 receptions, 92 yards, TD
Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns Week Eight: Cleveland Browns at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Browns
14
7
0 14 35
Chargers
0
7
12 17 36
at San Diego Stadium , San Diego, California
Date : November 3Game time : 1:00 p.m. PST Game weather : 61 °F (16.1 °C), relative humidity 65%, wind 7 mphGame attendance : 35,683Referee : Fred Swearingen TV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SDG – Bo Matthews 1-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 10:57. Browns 14–7. Drive: 10 plays, 69 yards, 4:41.
CLE – Brian Sipe 1-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 5:19. Browns 21–7. Drive: 12 plays, 57 yards, 5:38.
Third quarter
SDG – Don Woods 43-yard pass from Dan Fouts (kick blocked), 11:05. Browns 21–13. Drive: 2 plays, 54 yards, 0:59.
SDG – Glen Bonner 1-yard pass from Dan Fouts (kick failed), 6:42. Browns 21–19. Drive: 9 plays, 53 yards, 4:23.
Fourth quarter
CLE – Hugh McKinnis 6-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 14:56. Browns 28–19. Drive: 4 plays, 18 yards, 1:11.
SDG – Harrison Davis 70-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Dennis Partee kick), 14:27. Browns 28–26. Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 0:29.
CLE – Brian Sipe 1-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 9:47. Browns 35–26. Drive: 8 plays, 59 yards, 4:40.
SDG – Don Woods 75-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Dennis Partee kick), 9:26. Browns 35–33. Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:21.
SDG – Ray Wersching 40-yard field goal, 0:55. Chargers 36–35. Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards, 2:23.
Top passers
CLE – Brian Sipe – 16/23, 186 yards, TD, INT
SDG – Dan Fouts – 12/21, 333 yards, 4 TD, INT
Top rushers
CLE – Hugh McKinnis – 11 rushes, 48 yards, TD
SDG – Don Woods – 18 rushes, 51 yards
Top receivers
CLE – Steve Holden – 6 receptions, 85 yards, TD
SDG – Don Woods – 3 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD
Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs Week Nine: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Chargers
0
7
0 7 14
Chiefs
0
0
0 7 7
at Arrowhead Stadium , Kansas City, Missouri
Date : November 10Game time : 12:00 p.m. CST Game weather : 48 °F (8.9 °C), relative humidity 98%, wind 9 mphGame attendance : 48,551Referee : Tommy Bell TV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
SDG – Jesse Freitas – 6/15, 120 yards, TD, 2 INT
KAN – Len Dawson – 26/44, 381 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
SDG – Bo Matthews – 21 rushes, 73 yards, TD
KAN – Woody Green – 19 rushes, 54 yards
Top receivers
SDG – Gary Garrison – 2 receptions, 84 yards, TD
KAN – Larry Brunson – 8 receptions, 193 yards, TD
Week 10: at Oakland Raiders Week Ten: San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Chargers
0
3
0 7 10
Raiders
7
0
7 3 17
at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum , Oakland, California
Date : November 17Game time : 1:00 p.m. PST Game weather : 58 °F (14.4 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 9 mphGame attendance : 50,178Referee : Pat HaggertyTV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SDG – Ray Wersching 42-yard field goal, 4:43. Raiders 7–3. Drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 6:08.
Third quarter
OAK – Pete Banaszak 1-yard run (George Blanda kick), 1:37. Raiders 14–3. Drive: 13 plays, 62 yards, 6:04.
Fourth quarter
OAK – George Blanda 28-yard field goal, 6:29. Raiders 17–3. Drive: 13 plays, 62 yards, 6:42.
SDG – Don Woods 1-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 5:17. Raiders 17–10. Drive: 4 plays, 79 yards, 1:12.
Top passers
SDG – Dan Fouts – 9/21, 159 yards
OAK – Ken Stabler – 16/32, 240 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
SDG – Don Woods – 27 rushes, 117 yards, TD
OAK – Pete Banaszak – 12 rushes, 39 yards, TD
Top receivers
SDG – Gary Garrison – 2 receptions, 73 yards
OAK – Cliff Branch – 7 receptions, 125 yards, TD
Week 11: at Green Bay Packers Week Eleven: San Diego Chargers at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Chargers
0
0
0 0 0
Packers
3
10
14 7 34
at Lambeau Field , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : November 24Game time : 1:00 p.m. CST Game weather : 35 °F (1.7 °C), relative humidity 77%, wind 15 mph, wind chill 25Game attendance : 56,267TV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
GB – Chester Marcol 27-yard field goal. Packers 6–0.
GB – Eric Torkelson 29-yard fumble return (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 13–0.
Third quarter
GB – Ken Ellis 38-yard interception return (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 20–0.
GB – MacArthur Lane 24-yard pass from John Hadl (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 27–0.
Fourth quarter
Top passers
SDG – Jesse Freitas – 8/23, 195 yards, INT
GB – John Hadl – 14/22, 157 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 12: at New York Jets
Game information
First quarter
NYJ – John Riggins 4-yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick), 11:27. Jets 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 61 yards, 3:33.
NYJ – Pat Leahy 20-yard field goal, 7:08. Jets 10–0. Drive: 9 play, 54 yards, 3:03.
Second quarter
NYJ – John Riggins 3-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 5:37. Jets 17–0. Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 4:24.
NYJ – John Riggins 2-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 0:25. Jets 24–0. Drive: 8 plays, 42 yards, 2:20.
Third quarter
NYJ – Pat Leahy 45-yard field goal, 9:31. Jets 27–0. Drive: 8 plays, 44 yards, 3:24.
Fourth quarter
SDG – Gary Garrison 28-yard pass from Don Woods (Dennis Partee kick), 13:14. Jets 27–7. Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 1:46.
SDG – Don Woods 4-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 0:49. Jets 27–14. Drive: 5 plays, 16 yards, 1:05.
Top passers
SDG – Jesse Freitas – 10/23, 147 yards, 2 INT
NYJ – Joe Namath – 17/27, 254 yards, TD
Top rushers
SDG – Don Woods – 25 rushes, 142 yards, TD
NYJ – John Riggins – 18 rushes, 61 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
SDG – Gary Garrison – 4 receptions, 109 yards, TD
NYJ – Rich Caster – 7 receptions, 137 yards
Week 13: vs. Chicago Bears
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SDG – Harrison Davis 43-yard pass from Jesse Freitas (Dennis Partee kick). Tied 21–21.
SDG – Bo Matthews 1-yard run (Dennis Partee kick). Chargers 28–21.
Top passers
CHI – Bobby Douglass – 14/25, 136 yards, TD, 2 INT
SDG – Jesse Freitas – 9/19, 156 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
CHI – Hugh McKinnis – 11 rushes, 48 yards, TD
SDG – Don Woods – 26 rushes, 75 yards
Top receivers
CHI – Charlie Wade – 3 receptions, 48 yards
SDG – Harrison Davis – 3 receptions, 86 yards, TD
Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos Week Fourteen: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Broncos
0
0
0 0 0
Chargers
7
7
0 3 17
at San Diego Stadium , San Diego, California
Date : December 15Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather : 58 °F (14.4 °C), relative humidity 48%, wind 7 mphGame attendance : 36,571Referee : Ben Dreith TV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox score
Game information
First quarter
SDG – Don Woods 6-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 6:23. Chargers 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 3:47.
Second quarter
SDG – Bo Matthews 1-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 14:58. Chargers 14–0. Drive: 9 plays, 33 yards, 4:05.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SDG – Ray Wersching 37-yard field goal, 4:09. Chargers 17–0. Drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 7:11.
Top passers
Top rushers
DEN – Otis Armstrong – 18 rushes, 142 yards
SDG – Don Woods – 24 rushes, 105 yards, TD
Top receivers
References
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Wild card berths (5) Division championships (15) Conference championships (1) League championships (1) Media Current league affiliations Former league affiliation