1973 San Diego Chargers season
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (May 2023) |
| 1973 San Diego Chargers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Eugene V. Klein |
| General manager | Harland Svare |
| Head coach | Harland Svare |
| Home field | San Diego Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 2–11–1 |
| Division place | 4th AFC West |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | None[1] |
| AP All-Pros | None[2] |
The season was the franchise's fourth season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 14th overall.
The team was coming off a season that ended with a 4–9–1 record. Although he was offered a five-year contract toward the end of the previous season, 1973 would prove to be Harland Svare's final season as the team's head coach.
The team obtained quarterback
Baltimore Colts, but Unitas was a shell of his former greatness. In the middle of the season he was replaced at quarterback by a rookie Dan Fouts, the team's third-round pick in that year's draft.[3]
Offseason
NFL draft
| 1973 San Diego Chargers draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | Johnny Rodgers | Wide receiver | Nebraska | Joined the Chargers in Canadian Football League
|
| 3 | 64 | Dan Fouts * † | Quarterback | Oregon | |
| 4 | 84 | Jim Thaxton | Tight end | Tennessee State | |
| 4 | 97 | Bill Singletary | Linebacker | Temple | |
| 5 | 123 | Willie McGee | Wide receiver | Alcorn State | |
| 5 | 125 | Jon Knoble | Linebacker | Weber State | |
| 6 | 135 | Marvin Roberts | Center | Michigan State | |
| 9 | 214 | Tab Bennett | Linebacker | Illinois | |
| 10 | 239 | Cliff Burnett | Defensive end | Montana | |
| 11 | 268 | Jay Douglas | Center | Memphis | |
| 12 | 293 | Lynn Ahrens | Tackle | Eastern Montana | |
| 13 | 318 | Alfred Reese | Running back | Tennessee State | |
| 14 | 343 | Tony Adams | Quarterback | Utah State | |
| 15 | 372 | Gary Parris | Tight end | Florida State | |
| 16 | 397 | Joe Petty | Defensive back | Arizona State University | |
| 17 | 422 | Barry Darrow | Tackle | Montana | |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Reserve lists
Rookies in italics | ||||||
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 16 | at Washington Redskins | L 0–38 | 0–1 | RFK Stadium
|
53,589 | Recap |
| 2 | September 23 | Buffalo Bills | W 34–7 | 1–1 | San Diego Stadium | 47,588 | Recap |
| 3 | September 30 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 13–20 | 1–2 | San Diego Stadium | 46,733 | Recap |
| 4 | October 7 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 21–38 | 1–3 | Three Rivers Stadium | 48,795 | Recap |
| 5 | October 14 | Oakland Raiders | L 17–27 | 1–4 | San Diego Stadium | 50,672 | Recap |
| 6 | October 21 | Atlanta Falcons | L 0–41 | 1–5 | San Diego Stadium | 41,527 | Recap |
| 7 | October 28 | at Cleveland Browns | T 16–16 | 1–5–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium
|
68,244 | Recap |
| 8 | November 4 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 0–19 | 1–6–1 | San Diego Stadium | 50,234 | Recap |
| 9 | November 11 | at Denver Broncos | L 19–30 | 1–7–1 | Mile High Stadium | 51,034 | Recap |
| 10 | November 18 | New Orleans Saints | W 17–14 | 2–7–1 | San Diego Stadium | 34,848 | Recap |
| 11 | November 25 | at Oakland Raiders | L 3–31 | 2–8–1 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
|
40,195 | Recap |
| 12 | December 2 | at New England Patriots | L 14–30 | 2–9–1 | Schaefer Stadium | 58,150 | Recap |
| 13 | December 9 | Denver Broncos | L 28–42 | 2–10–1 | San Diego Stadium | 44,954 | Recap |
| 14 | December 16 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 6–33 | 2–11–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 43,755 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Washington Redskins
Week One: San Diego Chargers at Washington Redskins – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Redskins | 21 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: September 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 73 °F (22.8 °C), relative humidity 59%, wind 6 mph
- Game attendance: 53,589
- Referee: Norm Schachter
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Two: Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Chargers | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 34 |
at San Diego, California
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 67 °F (19.4 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 10 mph
- Game attendance: 47,588
- Referee: Jack Reader
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week Three: Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Chargers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
at San Diego, California
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 67 °F (19.4 °C), relative humidity 70%, wind 9 mph
- Game attendance: 46,733
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 4: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Four: San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
| Steelers | 17 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 7
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 60 °F (15.6 °C), relative humidity 63%, wind 7 mph
- Game attendance: 48,795
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 5: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week Five: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders | 0 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 27 |
| Chargers | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
at San Diego, California
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 66 °F (18.9 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 8 mph
- Game attendance: 50,672
- Referee: John McDonough
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Six: Atlanta Falcons at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 7 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 41 |
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at San Diego, California
- Date: October 21
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 65 °F (18.3 °C), relative humidity 73%, wind 10 mph
- Game attendance: 41,527
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 7: at Cleveland Browns
Week Seven: San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 16 |
at Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 8: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week Eight: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 19 |
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at San Diego, California
- Date: November 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), relative humidity 62%, wind 6 mph
- Game attendance: 50,234
- Referee: Fred Swearingen
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 9: at Denver Broncos
Week Nine: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 3 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 19 |
| Broncos | 10 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 30 |
at Denver, Colorado
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 52 °F (11.1 °C), relative humidity 41%, wind 7 mph
- Game attendance: 51,034
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 10: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Ten: New Orleans Saints at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Chargers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at San Diego, California
- Date: November 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), relative humidity 83%, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 34,848
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 11: at Oakland Raiders
Week Eleven: San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Raiders | 7 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: November 25
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 49 °F (9.4 °C), relative humidity 77%, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 40,195
- Referee: Fred Silva
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 12: at New England Patriots
Week Twelve: San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Patriots | 3 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 30 |
at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 33 °F (0.6 °C), relative humidity 47%, wind 13 mph, wind chill 23
- Game attendance: 58,150
- Referee: John McDonough
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Thirteen: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 7 | 13 | 19 | 3 | 42 |
| Chargers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at San Diego, California
- Date: December 9
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 63 °F (17.2 °C), relative humidity 34%, wind 5 mph
- Game attendance: 44,954
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week Fourteen: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Chiefs | 10 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 33 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 20 °F (−6.7 °C), relative humidity 73%, wind 11 mph, wind chill 8
- Game attendance: 43,755
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Standings
| AFC West | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Oakland Raiders | 9 | 4 | 1 | .679 | 4–1–1 | 7–3–1 | 292 | 175 | W4 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7 | 5 | 2 | .571 | 4–2 | 6–4–1 | 231 | 192 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 7 | 5 | 2 | .571 | 3–2–1 | 7–2–1 | 354 | 296 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2 | 11 | 1 | .179 | 0–6 | 1–9–1 | 188 | 386 | L4 |
References
- ^ "1973 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "1973 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Fouts would go on to play 15 seasons for the Chargers, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
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| Franchise |
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| Stadiums | |
| Culture | |
| Lore | |
| Rivalries | |
| Wild card berths (4) | |
| Division championships (15) | |
| Conference championships (1) | |
| League championships (1) | |
| Media | |
| Current league affiliations |
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| Former league affiliation |
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