NFL game summary for 10/31/1976:
Terry Bradshaw, appearing in the Steelers' lineup after missing two games with a neck injury, drove Pittsburgh for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Steelers reached the .500 mark. Roy Gerela kicked a 36-yard field goal midway through the second quarter for a 3-0 lead which held until Bradshaw picked up Pittsburgh's first TD on a one-yard run and then passed to Ernest Pough for a 17-0 advantage. Reggie Harrison rushed for 108 yards, his first 100-yard game in the NFL, and the Steelers' defense sacked Dan Fouts five times and picked up five Chargers' turnovers.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 173.0 (5) | 204.9 (6) | 377.9 (5) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 121.1 (8) | 216.0 (27) | 337.1 (21) | 19 | |
 | OFFENSE | 185.9 (2) | 122.3 (23) | 308.1 (12) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 123.6 (10) | 161.4 (13) | 285.0 (12) | 23 |
Line: Steelers by 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (4-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 23 |
( 0- 3) PIT Roy Gerela 36 yard field goal
( 0-10) PIT Terry Bradshaw 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
( 0-17) PIT Ernest Pough 11 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
( 0-23) PIT Frenchy Fuqua 3 yard rush (kick failed)
SD PIT
First Downs: 7 20
Rushes-yards: 26-44 52-255
Yards/rush: 1.7 4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-28-122-1 11-25-124-1
Sacked-yards: 5-32 2-18
Net pass yards: 90 106
Net yards/pass: 2.7 3.9
Total net yards: 134 361
Total plays: 59 (44% run) 79 (65% run)
Yards/play: 2.3 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 5-4 5-2
Turnovers: 5 3
Penalties-yards: 1-5 6-49
Attendance: 45,484
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 10 of 28 for 122 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 9 of 19 for 104 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Mike Kruczek, 2 of 6 for 20 yards
Rushing:
SD: Rickey Young, 10 for 22 yards; Sam Scarber, 8 for 11 yards; Bo Matthews, 3 for 8 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for 5 yards; Mitch Hoopes, 1 for 0 yards; Neal Jeffrey, 1 for 0 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for -2 yards PIT: Rocky Bleier, 17 for 69 yards; Reggie Harrison, 13 for 108 yards; Franco Harris, 11 for 32 yards; Mike Kruczek, 4 for 17 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 3 for 17 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 3 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
SD: Charlie Joiner, 4 for 98 yards; Pat Curran, 3 for 7 yards; Rickey Young, 2 for 20 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for -3 yards PIT: Ernest Pough, 3 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Randy Grossman, 2 for 29 yards; Rocky Bleier, 2 for 21 yards; Reggie Harrison, 2 for 19 yards; Frank Lewis, 1 for 15 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 3 for 85 yards; Artie Owens, 1 for 18 yards PIT: Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 3 for 14 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 4 for 47 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Hal Stringert, 1 for 24 yards PIT: Mike Wagner, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Mitch Hoopes, 10 for 339 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 9 for 334 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 1/1
SD: Dan Fouts, 10 of 28 for 122 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 9 of 19 for 104 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Mike Kruczek, 2 of 6 for 20 yards
Rushing:
SD: Rickey Young, 10 for 22 yards; Sam Scarber, 8 for 11 yards; Bo Matthews, 3 for 8 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for 5 yards; Mitch Hoopes, 1 for 0 yards; Neal Jeffrey, 1 for 0 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for -2 yards PIT: Rocky Bleier, 17 for 69 yards; Reggie Harrison, 13 for 108 yards; Franco Harris, 11 for 32 yards; Mike Kruczek, 4 for 17 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 3 for 17 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 3 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
SD: Charlie Joiner, 4 for 98 yards; Pat Curran, 3 for 7 yards; Rickey Young, 2 for 20 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for -3 yards PIT: Ernest Pough, 3 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Randy Grossman, 2 for 29 yards; Rocky Bleier, 2 for 21 yards; Reggie Harrison, 2 for 19 yards; Frank Lewis, 1 for 15 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 3 for 85 yards; Artie Owens, 1 for 18 yards PIT: Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 3 for 14 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 4 for 47 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Hal Stringert, 1 for 24 yards PIT: Mike Wagner, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Mitch Hoopes, 10 for 339 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 9 for 334 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 1/1