The team suffered badly from injuries, most critically running back Don Woods, who had been AFC Rookie of the Year in 1974 but played only the first five games in this season.
Defensive linemen Gary "Big Hands" Johnson, Louie Kelcher and Fred Dean would go on to form three quarters of San Diego's Bruise Brothers unit, with each of the three being named a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press at least once during their careers.
[3] Johnson would miss only a single game during nine seasons in San Diego, starting the vast majority and accumulating 67+1⁄2 sacks; he made four Pro Bowls, was an Associated Press first-team All-Pro twice, and was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1999.
Dean, another rookie who would be speedily inserted into the Chargers' defensive line-up, recorded 52 of his 92 career sacks in San Diego, while making two of his four Pro Bowl appearances and being granted the first of his two first-team All-Pro selections.
[14] Running back Rickey Young spent the first three of his nine years in the league in San Diego, rushing and receiving for close to 3,000 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns as a Charger.
[19] Other former starters to be traded included running back Cid Edwards and Jerry LeVias (for draft choices),[20] and defensive end Pete Lazetich (for linebacker Bruce Bannon),[21] while wide receiver Harrison Davis, tight end Wayne Stewart, linebacker Carl Gersbach and safety George Hoey were all cut or placed on waivers.
[26] The offensive line gained a new center in Ed Flanagan, who joined the team after earning four Pro Bowl appearances during a decade in Detroit Lions.
Ray Wersching kicked three field goals, good for a 9–7 lead late in the game, but a Cardinal touchdown with 29 seconds remaining provided the winning points.
[37] Finally, San Diego played a scoreless first half against the Vikings, eventually breaking through in the 3rd quarter with a 28-yard touchdown from Jesse Freitas to Dwight McDonald.
[39] With an 0–11 start, the prospect of the NFL's first 0–14 record and first winless and tieless season since World War II led to serious discussion of the Chargers' plight in the press.
[43] San Diego's offense struggled in 1975, getting shut out three times in their first six games and finishing the season ranked 25th for both points scored and yards gained in the 26-team NFL.
The running game was little-used (the third fewest carries in the league) and hampered by an injury to Woods, the previous season's Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Pittsburgh added seventeen further points in the second half, while Freitas replaced Fouts and became the third San Diego quarterback to be intercepted on the day.
After both sides punted on their first two possessions, the Chargers had their best drive of the game; starting from their own 1-yard line, they gained three first downs and reached the Raiders 37 when Fouts scrambled for 32 yards on 3rd and 6.
Early in the 3rd quarter, Fuller recovered a fumbled punt at the Rams 22, and the offense needed only two plays to capitalize: Garrison's 15-yard catch was followed by Woods fighting through an attempted tackle for a 7-yard touchdown run.
San Diego won the coin toss and elected to receive the kickoff – they picked up two first downs to reach the Los Angeles 42-yard line, but Fouts was sacked and they were forced to punt.
San Diego responded with a 7-play, 77-yard drive; Young gained 14 yards on a draw to reach Giants territory and broke away through the right tackle area for a 48-yard touchdown two plays later.
San Diego, with Freitas in at quarterback, failed to gain a first down on their first three possessions, but Fletcher intercepted Fran Tarkenton to help keep the deficit at just seven points after one quarter.
The Chargers were close to midfield on their next drive when Young fumbled; Minnesota recovered and retook the lead at 14–7 on Tarkenton's touchdown pass with 31 seconds left in the half.
Mike Williams intercepted a tipped Tarkenton pass early in the second half, and Garrison appeared to have given his team a first down at the Vikings 25, only for Flanagan to be flagged for holding.
The Chargers tried four consecutive rushes from there, but Minnesota stopped the first three for no gain and the fourth for the loss of a yard after Young tripped over the legs of teammate Craig Cotton.
The Chargers' offense was unable to convert these turnovers into any points, but their special teams got them on the scoreboard soon afterwards, Fuller finding space down the left sideline on a punt return, then cutting inside to complete a 42-yard touchdown.
Kansas City drove the other way for another close-range field goal, and San Diego led only 7–6 at halftime when Wersching missed a 30-yarder wide left, squandering a chance created by Curran's 39-yard catch.
On the first possession of the second half, Curran caught a 28-yard pass to move the Chargers into opposition territory, and Scarber ran through the right guard area to score from 8 yards out.
Partee later had a punt blocked, giving the Jets possession near midfield, but Chris Fletcher intercepted the ball, and returned it out of the end zone for 45 yards.
New York then drove to a 3rd and 1 at the Chargers 2-yard line, but Goode stopped John Riggins for the loss of a yard, forcing the Jets to settle for a short field goal.
Two Joe Namath completions swiftly moved New York into Chargers territory, before Fuller was charged with a 20-yard pass interference penalty, placing the ball at the 1-yard line.
From there, the Jets rushed three times for no gain, before giving the ball to Riggins on fourth down—he was stopped by Goode and Kelcher for the loss of a yard, and San Diego maintained a 14–3 lead at halftime.
Mike Williams intercepted Namath on the first play of the second half, eventually leading to a Wersching field goal attempt that was short from 49 yards.
The Bengals led 20–0 before San Diego's offense had even taken the field, scoring a touchdown on the game's opening possession and then adding two more after Young and Fuller both fumbled on kickoff returns.