Unlike the defensive deadlock of Week 2, this game turned into a shootout between the venerable Dan Fouts and the young Jay Schroeder.

San Diego's offense exploded in the first and second quarters, pulling out to a 21-3 lead. George Rogers scored on a TD run late in the second to close the halftime gap to 21-10. In the third quarter, the pace of scoring kept up, but the teams could only manage FGs until Rogers scored again just before the final quarter started. The third quarter ended with San Diego's lead cut to one point, at 24-23.

The Chargers added another field goal early in the fourth, but Schroeder and Gary Clark stormed Washington's offense down the field, and Clark caught the go-ahead TD with less than two minutes left.