1977 NFL team season
The 1977 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's eighth season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 18th overall. It was Tommy Prothro's final full season as the team's head coach.
The 7–7 record allowed the Chargers to break a string of seven consecutive losing seasons. It was their best mark since the AFL–NFL merger.
Offseason
NFL draft
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Week
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Record
|
Venue
|
Attendance
|
Recap
|
1
|
September 18
|
at Oakland Raiders
|
L 0–24
|
0–1
|
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
|
51,022
|
Recap
|
2
|
September 25
|
at Kansas City Chiefs
|
W 23–7
|
1–1
|
Arrowhead Stadium
|
56,146
|
Recap
|
3
|
October 2
|
Cincinnati Bengals
|
W 24–3
|
2–1
|
San Diego Stadium
|
40,352
|
Recap
|
4
|
October 9
|
at New Orleans Saints
|
W 14–0
|
3–1
|
Louisiana Superdome
|
53,942
|
Recap
|
5
|
October 16
|
New England Patriots
|
L 20–24
|
3–2
|
San Diego Stadium
|
50,327
|
Recap
|
6
|
October 23
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
L 16–21
|
3–3
|
San Diego Stadium
|
33,010
|
Recap
|
7
|
October 30
|
at Miami Dolphins
|
W 14–13
|
4–3
|
Miami Orange Bowl
|
40,670
|
Recap
|
8
|
November 6
|
at Detroit Lions
|
L 0–20
|
4–4
|
Pontiac Silverdome
|
72,559
|
Recap
|
9
|
November 13
|
Denver Broncos
|
L 14–17
|
4–5
|
San Diego Stadium
|
45,211
|
Recap
|
10
|
November 20
|
Oakland Raiders
|
W 12–7
|
5–5
|
San Diego Stadium
|
50,887
|
Recap
|
11
|
November 27
|
at Seattle Seahawks
|
W 30–28
|
6–5
|
Kingdome
|
58,994
|
Recap
|
12
|
December 4
|
Cleveland Browns
|
W 37–14
|
7–5
|
San Diego Stadium
|
37,312
|
Recap
|
13
|
December 11
|
at Denver Broncos
|
L 9–17
|
7–6
|
Mile High Stadium
|
74,905
|
Recap
|
14
|
December 18
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
L 9–10
|
7–7
|
San Diego Stadium
|
50,727
|
Recap
|
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
|
Game summaries
Week 1: at Oakland Raiders
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- OAK – Errol Mann 20-yard field goal, 9:29. Raiders 10–0. Drive: 17 plays, 72 yards, 8:37.
- OAK – Dave Casper 1-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick), 0:28. Raiders 17–0. Drive: 3 plays, 10 yards, 0:14.
Third quarter
- OAK – Pete Banaszak 2-yard run (Errol Mann kick), 0:33. Raiders 24–0. Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 1:51.
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
- SDG – James Harris – 11/22, 77 yards, INT
- OAK – Ken Stabler – 13/20, 139 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
- SDG – Charlie Joiner – 4 receptions, 33 yards
- OAK – Cliff Branch – 4 receptions, 56 yards, TD
| |
Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- SDG – Leroy Jones 17-yard interception return (kick failed), 13:33. Chargers 13–7.
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 31-yard field goal, 0:24. Chargers 16–7. Drive: 10 plays, 37 yards, 2:10.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- SDG – Mike Fuller 7-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 2:01. Chargers 23–7. Drive: 14 plays, 54 yards, 7:58.
|
Top passers
- SDG – James Harris – 11/25, 85 yards, TD, 3 INT
- KAN – Mike Livingston – 7/21, 101 yards, TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
| |
Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week Three: Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bengals |
0 |
3 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
Chargers |
7 |
7 |
7 | 3 | 24 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: October 2
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 70 °F (21.1 °C), relative humidity 82%, wind 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h; 5.2 kn)
- Game attendance: 40,352
- Referee: Don Wedge
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and John Brodie
- Box score
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- CIN – Chris Bahr 35-yard field goal, 1:58. Chargers 7–3. Drive: 5 plays, 14 yards, 1:12.
- SDG – Charlie Joiner 15-yard pass from James Harris (Rolf Benirschke kick), 0:29. Chargers 14–3. Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 1:29.
Third quarter
- SDG – James Harris 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 1:13. Chargers 21–3. Drive: 17 plays, 83 yards, 9:08.
Fourth quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 42-yard field goal, 8:54. Chargers 24–3. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 5:59.
|
Top passers
- CIN – Ken Anderson – 14/31, 161 yards, 3 INT
- SDG – James Harris – 14/20, 200 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
- CIN – Archie Griffin – 5 receptions, 59 yards
- SDG – Charlie Joiner – 4 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TD
| |
Week 4: at New Orleans Saints
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- SDG – Rickey Young 5-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 1:16. Chargers 14–0. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 4:28.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
- SDG – Rickey Young – 11 rushes, 40 yards, TD
- NO – Chuck Muncie – 18 rushes, 78 yards
Top receivers
| |
Week 5: vs. New England Patriots
Week Five: New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Patriots |
7 |
0 |
7 | 10 | 24 |
Chargers |
6 |
0 |
7 | 7 | 20 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 66 °F (18.9 °C), relative humidity 86%, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
- Game attendance: 50,327
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Len Dawson
- Box score
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- SDG – Rickey Young 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 9:58. Chargers 13–7. Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 0:54.
- NE – Ike Forte 7-yard run (John Smith kick), 3:30. Patriots 14–13. Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 6:28.
Fourth quarter
- NE – John Smith 28-yard field goal, 9:23. Patriots 17–13. Drive: 10 plays, 50 yards, 5:38.
- NE – Don Hasselbeck 4-yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick), 3:09. Patriots 24–13. Drive: 2 plays, 6 yards, 0:49.
- SDG – Charlie Joiner 16-yard pass from Bill Munson (Rolf Benirschke kick), 1:45. Patriots 24–20. Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 1:24.
|
Top passers
- NE – Steve Grogan – 12/22, 83 yards, 2 TD, INT
- SDG – James Harris – 10/15, 152 yards, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
- NE – Sam Cunningham – 5 receptions, 71 yards
- SDG – Don Woods – 8 receptions, 111 yards
| |
Week 6: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week Six: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Chiefs |
0 |
0 |
7 | 14 | 21 |
Chargers |
3 |
7 |
3 | 3 | 16 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 69 °F (20.6 °C), relative humidity 82%, wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
- Game attendance: 33,010
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Floyd Little
- Box score
Game information
|
First quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 40-yard field goal, 10:25. Chargers 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 4:35.
Second quarter
- SDG – Larry Dorsey 26-yard pass from James Harris (Rolf Benirschke kick), 5:22. Chargers 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 41 yards, 1:58.
Third quarter
- KAN – Walter White 5-yard pass from Tony Adams (Jan Stenerud kick), 9:09. Chargers 10–7. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:05.
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 47-yard field goal, 4:11. Chargers 13–7. Drive: 10 plays, 44 yards, 4:58.
Fourth quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 24-yard field goal, 9:14. Chargers 16–7. Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 5:28.
- KAN – Tony Reed 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 2:30. Chargers 16–14. Drive: 2 plays, 1 yard, 0:27.
- KAN – Tim Gray 15-yard fumble return (Jan Stenerud kick), 2:08. Chiefs 21–16.
|
Top passers
- KAN – Tony Adams – 15/26, 215 yards, TD
- SDG – James Harris – 18/35, 233 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
- KAN – Tony Reed – 22 rushes, 68 yards, TD
- SDG – Rickey Young – 13 rushes, 51 yards
Top receivers
- KAN – Walter White – 6 receptions, 96 yards, TD
- SDG – Rickey Young – 9 receptions, 97 yards
| |
Week 7: at Miami Dolphins
Week Seven: San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Chargers |
0 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
Dolphins |
6 |
0 |
0 | 7 | 13 |
at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Game information
|
First quarter
- MIA – Garo Yepremian 52-yard field goal, 9:08. Dolphins 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 40 yards, 3:42.
- MIA – Garo Yepremian 45-yard field goal, 3:00. Dolphins 6–0. Drive: 6 plays, 33 yards, 3:28.
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- MIA – Norm Bulaich 3-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick), 9:43. Dolphins 13–7. Drive: 11 plays, 69 yards, 6:02.
- SDG – James Harris 5-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 0:00. Chargers 14–13. Drive: 10 plays, 28 yards, 1:48.
|
Top passers
- SDG – James Harris – 15/31, 131 yards, TD, 3 INT
- MIA – Bob Griese – 9/16, 82 yards, 3 INT
Top rushers
- SDG – Rickey Young – 14 rushes, 32 yards
- MIA – Norm Bulaich – 12 rushes, 89 yards, TD
Top receivers
| |
Week 8: at Detroit Lions
Week Eight: San Diego Chargers at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Chargers |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Lions |
0 |
0 |
7 | 13 | 20 |
at Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: N/A (game played indoors)
- Game attendance: 72,559
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Stockton and Paul Maguire
- Box score
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- DET – Rick Kane 1-yard run (Steve Mike-Mayer kick), 9:56. Lions 14–0. Drive: 9 plays, 70 yards, 4:09.
- DET – Marv Hubbard 1-yard run (kick failed), 4:57. Lions 20–0. Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards, 2:55.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
- SDG – Joe Washington – 9 rushes, 54 yards
- DET – Rick Kane – 24 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
| |
Week 9: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Nine: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Broncos |
3 |
0 |
7 | 7 | 17 |
Chargers |
7 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: November 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 64 °F (17.8 °C), relative humidity 73%, wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
- Game attendance: 45,211
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (NBC): Stu Nahan and Len Dawson
- Box score
Game information
|
First quarter
- SDG – Fred Dean 11-yard fumble return (Rolf Benirschke kick), 9:27. Chargers 7–0.
- DEN – Jim Turner 35-yard field goal, 4:54. Chargers 7–3. Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards, 4:33.
Second quarter
Third quarter
- DEN – Haven Moses 33-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 8:10. Chargers 14–10. Drive: 9 plays, 66 yards, 4:11.
Fourth quarter
- DEN – Haven Moses 8-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 1:36. Broncos 17–14. Drive: 8 plays, 54 yards, 1:01.
|
Top passers
- DEN – Craig Morton – 12/32, 149 yards, 2 TD, INT
- SDG – James Harris – 13/31, 166 yards
Top rushers
Top receivers
- DEN – Haven Moses – 3 receptions, 66 yards, 2 TD
- SDG – Charlie Joiner – 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD
| |
Week 10: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week Ten: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Raiders |
0 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
Chargers |
0 |
6 |
3 | 3 | 12 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: November 20
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 59 °F (15.0 °C), relative humidity 56%, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
- Game attendance: 50,887
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Stockton and Paul Maguire
- Box score
Game information
|
First quarter
No scoring plays.
Second quarter
- SDG – Rickey Young 4-yard run (kick blocked), 8:46. Chargers 6–0. Drive: 8 plays, 44 yards, 4:31.
- OAK – Mike Rae 7-yard run (Errol Mann kick), 3:04. Raiders 7–6. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 5:42.
Third quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 22-yard field goal, 3:57. Chargers 9–7. Drive: 13 plays, 83 yards, 5:58.
Fourth quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 46-yard field goal, 3:15. Chargers 12–7. Drive: 10 plays, 36 yards, 5:33.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
- OAK – Clarence Davis – 12 rushes, 49 yards
- SDG – Rickey Young – 17 rushes, 83 yards, TD
Top receivers
| |
Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks
Week Eleven: San Diego Chargers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Chargers |
10 |
3 |
3 | 14 | 30 |
Seahawks |
0 |
14 |
7 | 7 | 28 |
at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: N/A (game played indoors)
- Game attendance: 58,994
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Stockton and Len Dawson
- Box score
Game information
|
First quarter
- SDG – Rickey Young 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 7:55. Chargers 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 26 yards, 2:38.
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 40-yard field goal, 2:21. Chargers 10–0. Drive: 6 plays, 30 yards, 3:27.
Second quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 26-yard field goal, 12:19. Chargers 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 53 yards, 2:30.
- SEA – Don Testerman 5-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick), 6:41. Chargers 13–7. Drive: 10 plays, 69 yards, 5:28.
- SEA – Steve Largent 27-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick), 0:50. Seahawks 14–13. Drive: 8 plays, 74 yards, 4:27.
Third quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 39-yard field goal, 13:19. Chargers 16–14. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:35.
- SEA – Steve Largent 10-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick), 7:48. Seahawks 21–16. Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 5:23.
Fourth quarter
- SDG – Charlie Joiner 17-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 13:50. Chargers 23–21. Drive: 7 plays, 41 yards, 2:56.
- SDG – Fred Dean 22-yard interception return (Rolf Benirschke kick), 12:15. Chargers 30–21.
- SEA – David Sims 16-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick), 7:00. Chargers 30–28. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:26.
|
Top passers
- SDG – Dan Fouts – 19/26, 199 yards, TD, INT
- SEA – Jim Zorn – 16/26, 291 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
- SDG – Rickey Young – 19 rushes, 80 yards, TD
- SEA – Sherman Smith – 14 rushes, 56 yards
Top receivers
- SDG – Charlie Joiner – 5 receptions, 72 yards, TD
- SEA – Steve Largent – 4 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD
| |
Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns
Game information
|
First quarter
- SDG – Don Woods 29-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 9:57. Chargers 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 5:03.
- SDG – Hank Bauer 15-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 4:34. Chargers 14–0. Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 2:51.
Second quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 35-yard field goal, 11:55. Chargers 17–0. Drive: 9 plays, 31 yards, 4:22.
- SDG – Charlie Joiner 30-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 1:17. Chargers 24–0. Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 4:57.
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 36-yard field goal, 0:00. Chargers 27–0. Drive: 2 plays, 43 yards, 0:15.
Third quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 24-yard field goal, 2:09. Chargers 30–0. Drive: 14 plays, 61 yards, 7:15.
Fourth quarter
- CLE – Reggie Rucker 16-yard pass from Dave Mays (Don Cockroft kick), 13:28. Chargers 30–7. Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 3:33.
- SDG – Larry Dorsey 67-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 12:33. Chargers 37–7. Drive: 2 plays, 67 yards, 0:55.
- CLE – Cleo Miller 6-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 1:24. Chargers 37–14. Drive: 8 plays, 85 yards, 1:18.
|
Top passers
- CLE – Dave Mays – 19/30, 228 yards, TD, INT
- SDG – Dan Fouts – 14/20, 237 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers
- CLE – Greg Pruitt – 16 rushes, 67 yards
- SDG – Don Woods – 11 rushes, 62 yards, TD
Top receivers
- CLE – Greg Pruitt – 6 receptions, 98 yards
- SDG – Larry Dorsey – 4 receptions, 108 yards, TD
| |
Week 13: at Denver Broncos
Week Thirteen: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Chargers |
3 |
3 |
3 | 0 | 9 |
Broncos |
7 |
0 |
0 | 10 | 17 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: December 11
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 44 °F (6.7 °C), relative humidity 27%, wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
- Game attendance: 74,905
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 46-yard field goal, 0:18. Broncos 7–6. Drive: 7 plays, 37 yards, 0:42.
Third quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 46-yard field goal, 4:23. Chargers 9–7. Drive: 9 plays, 58 yards, 4:58.
Fourth quarter
- DEN – Jim Turner 36-yard field goal, 6:39. Broncos 10–9. Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 5:18.
- DEN – Rick Upchurch 19-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 1:54. Broncos 17–9. Drive: 6 plays, 46 yards, 2:55.
|
Top passers
- SDG – Dan Fouts – 24/41, 276 yards, 2 INT
- DEN – Craig Morton – 9/17, 133 yards, TD
Top rushers
Top receivers
| |
Week 14: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Game information
|
First quarter
- SDG – Clarence Williams 2-yard run (kick blocked), 7:42. Chargers 6–0. Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards, 5:32.
Second quarter
- SDG – Rolf Benirschke 38-yard field goal, 8:26. Chargers 9–0. Drive: 6 plays, 27 yards.
Third quarter
- PIT – Sidney Thornton 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick), 6:07. Chargers 9–7. Drive: 6 plays, 62 yards, 2:07.
- PIT – Roy Gerela 27-yard field goal, 1:14. Steelers 10–9. Drive: 7 plays, 25 yards, 3:27.
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
| |
Standings
References
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Franchise | |
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Stadiums | |
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Culture | |
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Lore | |
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Rivalries | |
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Wild card berths (4) | |
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Division championships (15) | |
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Conference championships (1) | |
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League championships (1) | |
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Media | |
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Current league affiliations | |
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Former league affiliation | |
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