Chargers Find Strength in Their Reserve to Down Eagles : Herrmann Leads Victory After Fouts Strains Knee

The sight of Dan Fouts hobbling to the sidelines used to trigger despair among the Chargers and panic in their fans. Meanwhile, the guys on the other side would be wetting their lips in anticipation.

Over the last three years, the Chargers were 3-8 without Fouts. The haunting inability to replace him was seen as recently as the fourth game of this season, when the Cleveland Browns knocked Fouts out of the game with an injury to his right knee and won, 20-7, against a deflated San Diego offense.

While their leader’s knee healed, the Chargers were forced to rely upon journeyman Mark Herrmann. Little was expected, but Herrmann performed adequately and improved each of the four weeks he served before Fouts returned.

That experience served the Chargers well. When Fouts went down with a strained left knee Sunday, after being hit by Philadelphia’s Greg Brown, Herrmann was ready.

Entering the game with San Diego trailing, 7-3, Herrmann rallied the Chargers to a 20-14 victory that improved their record to 8-7 and enabled them to end their home schedule with six straight wins.

“When Dan goes down, everyone gasps,” Charger center Don Macek said. “But we have learned that Mark is a heckuva good quarterback and we can win if we play well. It’s different than it was against Cleveland. Mark seemed a lot looser and was having fun today.”

Fouts, whose injury isn’t believed to be serious enough to keep him out of next Sunday’s season finale against Kansas City, could have returned Sunday in an emergency, Coach Don Coryell said.

He didn’t specify whether a poor showing by Herrmann would have constituted an emergency.

Fouts, who seemed irritable after the game, said he could have played “if Mark broke his leg or was knocked out.”

Fouts was needed only as an observer after his exit following a play when he heaved a 46-yard pass to Wes Chandler and was hit by Brown.

As Herrmann was preparing to take the field, Fouts said to him, “It’s your baby. Don’t get hurt.”

Herrmann’s first task was simple enough, since the Chargers had the ball at the Philadelphia 11. Two handoffs to Tim Spencer produced a touchdown and gave the Chargers a 10-7 lead.

Later, Herrmann drilled a 23-yard touchdown pass to veteran Charlie Joiner and presided over a 37-yard drive that led to the second of Bob Thomas’ two field goals.

Not the most dramatic relief job in history, but it was a welcome change of pace for Charger rooters. For that matter, it was a welcome turnabout from the first half under Fouts, which had been an unsightly production, featuring only a Thomas field goal and a 7-3 deficit.

“I’m pretty pleased,” Herrmann said. “It had been a while since I was under center.

“Early in the season, the guys did not know what I could do and I didn’t know what I could do. They have more confidence in me now.”

Herrmann smiled as he recounted his scoring pass to Joiner.

“It was a blitz by the free safety,” he said. “Charlie and I both read it. Charlie came inside, I dumped the ball to him and he was on his way. It was a hot play (meaning both players had to read the defense and adjust).”

The relief job is a hot one, but one Herrmann has grown into. A job that could be the making of his career.

“There’s no question this year has been a renaissance for me,” he said. “This team suits my abilities. I don’t think there’s too big a dropoff with me in the game.”

The game was also notable from a statistical standpoint:

--Fouts moved past Johnny Unitas into second place on the all-time list with 2,839 completions. Fran Tarkenton is No. 1 with 3,686.

--Lionel James broke Lenny Moore’s seasonal record for reception yardage by a back (938). James made three catches for 48 yards, giving him 985 yards for the year.

--Guard Ed White tied Mick Tinglehoff’s NFL record of 240 games by an offensive lineman.

The Chargers played the second half without linebacker Billy Ray Smith, who was sidelined with back spasms. He was taken from the locker room on a stretcher and was due to be hospitalized over night, according to team physician Dr. Gary Losse.

Smith should be able to play next week, Losse said.

The San Diego defense, which preserved last week’s 54-44 win over Pittsburgh with two interceptions in the last two minutes, got another save against the Eagles.

After a 46-yard field goal by Thomas put the Chargers ahead by six points, quarterback Ron Jaworski attempted to rally the Eagles.

Beginning at their own 14, the Eagles moved to the San Diego 49. Jaworski aimed a long pass for Kenny Jackson, who was double covered by Danny Walters and Miles McPherson.

“We both went up and got a hand on it,” Walters said. “Miles knocked him (Jackson) away from the ball and I came down with it. If we both came down with a hand on it, they probably would have ruled it a catch.”

The interception was the second by Walters and the third for the Chargers off Jaworski, who still managed 334 yards by completing 29 of 48 throws.

“The Chargers kept me off balance,” Jaworski said. “They had me thinking all the time. They did a great job covering our primary receivers.

“I expected to score more points today. In the past the Chargers have given up the big plays, but they didn’t do that today.”

Jaworski said the Eagles, 6-9, wanted to win for beleaguered Coach Marion Campbell.

The Chargers, in turn, were eager to get a win for Coryell, who needs a 9-7 record to have a better-than-even chance of retaining his job, based upon earlier statements by owner Alex Spanos.

If the Chargers were concerned about their coach’s possible fate, they didn’t show it right away.

The first half was a lifeless affair except for the boos that accompanied each Jaworski completion.

It was easily the most hostile crowd of the season in Mission Valley. A crowd worthy of Philadelphia, in fact.

The fans first voiced their displeasure after Jaworski dumped a 3-yard pass to John Spagnola to put the Eagles ahead, 7-0.

San Diego’s only score of the half came on a 45-yard field goal by Thomas after a Mike Green interception.

The Chargers came up with another interception, this one by Walters, but were unable to take advantage of it.

After the second pickoff, the Chargers had the ball at the Philadelphia 32. But Fouts was sacked by Brown, and his fumble was recovered by Ken Clarke.

It was one of three turnovers that helped keep the Chargers out of the end zone in the first two quarters, the first time that happened all year.

The Chargers didn’t get untracked until the play that knocked Fouts out of the game, as Coryell noted.

“Our offense sure had a lot of problems in the first half,” he said. “But the defense hung in there, forced some turnovers and got the ball back when they had to.

“This was big win for us. Everyone might not be happy, because they like to see a lot of points. We didn’t get ‘em, but we’re damn happy to win.”

Any win without Fouts is still a good one.