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.
1977 San Diego Chargers season | |
---|---|
Owner | Eugene V. Klein |
General manager | Johnny Sanders |
Head coach | Tommy Prothro |
Home field | San Diego Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 7–7 |
Division place | 3rd AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | |
AP All-Pros | 1[2]
|
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
editNFL draft
edit1977 San Diego Chargers draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 24 | Bob Rush | Center | Memphis | |
3 | 77 | Linden King | Linebacker | Colorado State | |
5 | 124 | Clarence Williams | Running back | South Carolina | |
5 | 128 | Cliff Olander | Quarterback | New Mexico State | |
6 | 146 | Dave Lindstrom | Defensive end | Boston University | |
6 | 151 | Larry Barnes | Running back | Tennessee State | |
6 | 152 | Pete Shaw | Safety | Northwestern | |
7 | 181 | Ron Bush | Defensive back | Southern California | |
9 | 234 | Gene Washington | Wide receiver | Georgia | |
10 | 265 | Curtis Townsend | Linebacker | Arkansas | |
12 | 319 | Jim Stansik | Tight end | Eastern Michigan | |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Roster
editQuarterbacks (QB)
Running backs (RB)
Wide receivers (WR)
Tight ends (TE)
|
Offensive linemen (OL)
Defensive linemen (DL)
|
Linebackers (LB)
Defensive backs (DB)
|
Reserve
Rookies in italics
|
Regular season
editSchedule
editWeek | 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
editWeek 1: at Oakland Raiders
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Raiders | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: September 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 66 °F (18.9 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn)
- Game attendance: 51,022
- Referee: Cal Lepore
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Merlin Olsen
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 66 °F (18.9 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
- Game attendance: 56,146
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Stu Nahan and Floyd Little
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
editQuarter | 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 | ||
---|---|---|
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Week 4: at New Orleans Saints
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Saints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: October 9
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: N/A (game played indoors)
- Game attendance: 53,942
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (NBC): Stu Nahan and Len Dawson
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Week 5: vs. New England Patriots
editQuarter | 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 | ||
---|---|---|
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Week 6: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
editQuarter | 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 | ||
---|---|---|
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Week 7: at Miami Dolphins
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Dolphins | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 75 °F (23.9 °C), relative humidity 74%, wind 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h; 5.2 kn)
- Game attendance: 40,670
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Stockton and Paul Maguire
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
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Week 8: at Detroit Lions
editQuarter | 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 | ||
---|---|---|
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Week 9: vs. Denver Broncos
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
Chargers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Game information | ||
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Week 10: vs. Oakland Raiders
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Chargers | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks
editQuarter | 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 | ||
---|---|---|
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Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
Chargers | 14 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 37 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 59 °F (15.0 °C), relative humidity 82%, wind 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h; 5.2 kn)
- Game attendance: 37,312
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Adamle
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
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Week 13: at Denver Broncos
editQuarter | 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 | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 14: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Chargers | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 63 °F (17.2 °C), relative humidity 81%, wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
- Game attendance: 50,727
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Andy Russell
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
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Standings
editAFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Denver Broncos(1) | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 6–1 | 11–1 | 274 | 148 | L1 |
Oakland Raiders(4) | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 5–2 | 10–2 | 351 | 230 | W2 |
San Diego Chargers | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 3–4 | 6–6 | 222 | 205 | L2 |
Seattle Seahawks | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 1–3 | 4–9 | 282 | 373 | W2 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 1–6 | 1–11 | 225 | 349 | L6 |
References
edit- ^ "1977 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "1977 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.