PRO FOOTBALL : Historic Day for Fouts and the Charger Defense : Quarterback Surpasses 40,000 Yards as Houston’s Oilers Are Shut Out, 27-0

Football historians will remember Sunday as the day that Dan Fouts became the third NFL quarterback to surpass 40,000 yards passing.

Charger fans will remember it as the day that their team’s defense made history of another sort. The Chargers defeated the Houston Oilers, 27-0, for their first shutout since beating New Orleans, 35-0, on Dec. 9, 1979. Or, put another way, 105 regular-season games ago.

There were other noteworthy defensive accomplishments Sunday:

--The Chargers had not recorded a home shutout in 130 regular-season games since defeating Denver, 23-0, on Oct. 8, 1978.

--They have held consecutive opponents without a touchdown for the first time since Oct. 2 and 9, 1978.

--They held Houston to 130 yards total offense, their best effort in eight years.

--They have held consecutive opponents under 200 yards total offense for the first time in seven years.

--They held Houston to nine first downs, their fewest allowed in seven years.

OK, so the Oilers and last week’s opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, are not exactly the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots. And Houston was playing with second-string quarterback Oliver Luck because Warren Moon suffered a sprained thumb the Sunday before.

But the Charger defense was not exactly 100% healthy, either. Rookie Leslie O’Neal, the team’s top pass-rusher, underwent knee surgery last week that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of this season . . . and perhaps longer.

The Chargers kept Luck on the run all day, recording six sacks. They have 56 sacks this season, four shy of tying a team record.

“Luck didn’t have a chance to tie his shoes,” safety Jeffrey Dale said. “He didn’t have any time. Whenever we get a pass rush like that, we’re going to win and get some big plays.”

End Lee Williams and linebacker Billy Ray Smith each had two sacks. End Earl Wilson and linebacker Thomas Benson each had one.

Fouts came into the game needing 200 yards to join Fran Tarkenton (47,003 yards) and Johnny Unitas (40,239) in the elite 40,000-yard class.

He completed 21 of 30 passes for 250 yards and a single touchdown.

In the first half, Fouts passed for 155 yards. It appeared he might not reach 200 yards on this day when he was shaken up on the Chargers’ first possession of the second half, causing him to miss the final seven plays of the drive.

But Fouts returned for the next series. He surpassed 40,000 yards late in the quarter on a 22-yard pass to Trumaine Johnson at Houston’s 44.

The game was stopped with 1:15 remaining in the third quarter to present the ball to Fouts. Center Don Macek said he sensed that Fouts was embarrassed.

“It interrupted the game, and we were right in the middle of the drive,” Fouts said. “You don’t have much time to think about it (the record). It probably won’t sink in for a while. You are so wrapped up in what you are trying to do each week. . . . It’s nice company to be in.”

Fouts was present when Unitas surpassed 40,000 yards while playing for the Chargers in 1973. Unitas reached the milestone in the season’s second game when Fouts was a rookie taxi squad player watching from the sidelines.

By the end of the Chargers’ 2-11-1 season, Fouts replaced Unitas as quarterback.

“There are so many people responsible for this,” Fouts said. “We have had caliber receivers, super offensive linemen and great coaches. Unfortunately, one has to get it (the record). There are a lot of people I’d like to thank. I’d like to thank Don Coryell, No. 1. If not for Don, I probably would’ve been out of this game a long time ago.”

Al Saunders, who replaced Coryell as coach six weeks ago, praised Fouts.

“I’m sure Dan will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever,” Saunders said. “He deserves all of the accolades he receives.”

After a scoreless first quarter Sunday, defense and special teams deserved accolades for the Chargers’ first two touchdowns.

Dale returned an interception 24 yards to Houston’s 23, setting up a one-yard run by Tim Spencer three plays later.

On the ensuing kickoff, Angelo Snipes recovered a Lynn Madsen fumble at Houston’s 31. Fouts threw a touchdown pass to Gary Anderson on the next play.

The Charger lead became 17 points on Rolf Benirschke’s 20-yard field goal with 48 seconds left in the half.

Benirschke provided a 20-point lead with a 35-yard field goal at the conclusion of the second half’s first drive.

San Diego’s final touchdown was a trick play, a four-yard halfback pass from Anderson to Kellen Winslow. It was Anderson’s first NFL pass.

“This was the first time in 14 weeks we got whipped,” Houston Coach Jerry Glanville said. “No excuses. You have to give them credit.”