Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 2:31PM. Cincinnati won the toss and instead of receiving, elected to have the brutally cold wind at their backs to start the game, believing it would neutralize San Diego's passing game and help the Bengals to build an early lead. Woodley was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1984 and spent the rest of his career as a backup before retiring after the 1985 season. Tight end Dan Ross, running back Pete Johnson, and rookie receiver Cris Collinsworth were widely considered to be among the best players in the NFL at their positions. How many games shape careers? Miami scored and the Orange Bowl, once quiet, was whipped into bedlam. Aided by an 18-yard completion from Anderson to tight end Dan Ross, Cincinnati scored first with a 31-yard field goal from kicker Jim Breech. The Pro Football Hall of Fame named it the "NFL's Game of the '80s.". We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Finally, with only 1:08 remaining in overtime, San Diego kicker Rolf Benirschke scored the winning points on a 29-yard attempt. With the players of both teams exhausted and dehydrated, everyone was hoping for a quick end to overtime, but that would not be the case. The Chargers held Miami to 219 yards despite not having safety Derwin James, cornerback Bryce Callahan and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day because of injuries. Former New England Patriots tight end Ben Watson goes ALL OUT in memorable chase-down play. San Diego also had an outstanding rushing attack, led by Pro Bowl running back Chuck Muncie, who rushed for 1,144 yards and a league-leading 19 touchdowns, while also catching 43 passes for 362 yards. . Miami then drove deep into Chargers territory, setting up a 35-yard field goal attempt for von Schamann, but his kick was low, and defensive lineman Leroy Jones managed to leap in the air and block it. Another sidenote is that Brooks, whose fumble helped the Bengals win the game, would later go on to help the Bengals get to Super Bowl XXIII in the 1988 season, this time not as an opponent, but as a player for the team. The Bengals completely took over the game from that point on. Future Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula went to the latter portion of his famed WoodStrock quarterbacking duo, inserting Don Strock for the sputtering David Woodley. However, Cincinnati's defense halted the drive at the 18-yard line and it ended with no points when Rolf Benirschke, kicking into the fierce wind, missed a 37-yard field goal attempt. Then Anderson went to work, rushing three times for 31 yards and completing a 19-yard pass to Ross on a drive that moved the ball inside the San Diego 10-yard line. [1], Despite the Bengals dominating 4017 win over the Chargers during the season, their meeting in the championship was expected to be a thrilling, hard-fought game. The "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 games in NFL history, and the Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders clash in Week 16 of the 2003 season lands at No. Then Benirschke missed a 50-yard field goal try on the next play. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. I just really felt like that took the air out of them a little bit. Includes all passing, rushing and receiving stats. Fouts completed 15 of 28 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions; the future Hall of Fame QB sadly noted that the brutal weather conditions made it very difficult for him to throw the ball, adding that he was impressed that Ken Anderson was able to throw spirals during the game. The National Football League playoffs for the 1981 season began on December 27, 1981. San Diego made the playoffs again with largely the same team in 1982, but fell in the Divisional round to the Dolphins at the Orange Bowl. Chandler replaced John Jefferson after Jefferson, following a contract dispute, was traded to Green Bay early in the season). Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Quarterback Dan Fouts made the Pro Bowl for the third year in a row, completing 360 of 609 passes for an NFL record 4,802 yards and 33 touchdowns, with only 17 interceptions. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1994 San Francisco 49ers, who defeated the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX behind the play of quarterback Steve Young, running back Ricky Watters, wide receivers Jerry Rice and John, "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1996 Green Bay Packers, who defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI behind the play of quarterback Brett Favre, running back Dorsey Levens, wide receiver Desmond Howard, defe. It was an incredible team win, Staley said. Their offense was led by quarterbacks David Woodley and Don Strock. With the ball on the Miami 12, Bernischke had a chance for redemption. Its the closest theyd get. 17. I just wanted to be available for the whole game for my team, just make plays and help us come out with the win, Williams said. Chargers cornerback Michael Davis slipped in coverage at the LA 40, allowing Hill to make an easy catch and saunter untouched to the end zone to get Miami to 17-14. Miami Dolphins lead series 19-17- Miami vs LA Chargers 6. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1977 Dallas Cowboys, who beat the Denver Broncos 27-10 in Super Bowl XII behind head coach Tom Landry and quarterback Roger Staubach, land at No. Five players had more than 100 yards in receptions. The Dolphins had 5 net yards and one first down on their first three possessions before finally getting on the scoreboard, thanks to Hill. With under five minutes left in regulation and at San Diegos 18-yard line, the Dolphins Andra Franklin fumbled. Hill has 1,460 yards on 100 catches, while Clayton had 1,389 yards on 96 catches in 1994. The Chargers' defense then forced Miami to punt on its ensuing possession, and Chandler returned the ball 56 yards for a touchdown, increasing his team's lead to 100. For the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins, their 1981 AFC Divisional playoff was supposed to be a good game. Miami made it back to the Super Bowl in 1984, but they lost Super Bowl XIX to the San Francisco 49ers 3816. Later in the quarter, with the Dolphins just trying to maintain their lead and run out the clock, Chargers defensive tackle Louie Kelcher stripped Dolphins running back Andra Franklin of the ball, which was recovered by San Diego safety Pete Shaw on San Diego's 18-yard line with 4:39 left in regulation. Epic in Miami: 1981 AFC Divisional Round Playoffs: NFL Full Game, Don Strock Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards databaseFootball.com, "Rummaging Through The Attic: A Bee-utiful Poster", "A MATTER OF LIFE AND SUDDEN DEATH THE 1982 PLAYOFF BETWEEN THE CHARGERS AND DOLPHINS WASN'T JUST A FOOTBALL GAME AND WASN'T A WAR, EXACTLY, BUT IT DID CHANGE A FEW PEOPLE'S LIVES", "America's Game: The Missing Rings 1981 San Diego Chargers (Part 6 of 7)", "1/2/82: Chargers 41, Dolphins 38 Ot -- The Greatest Game Ever Played? Nathan rushed for 48 yards, caught nine passes for 114 yards, and scored two touchdowns. Following an incomplete pass, Strock's next throw was intercepted by Willie Buchanon, but as he made the diving catch, he fumbled the ball back to Miami when he hit the ground. The playoffs had been a cruel mistress to San Diego, with head coach Don Coryells group knocked off as heavy favorite in the 1979 Divisionals by the Houston Oilers. Several plays later, Chuck Muncie scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Do you have a blog? But this time, San Diego managed to counter with a score of its own. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Strock had the best single game performance of his career, completing 29 of 43 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns, a record that still stands for a quarterback coming off the bench. As a sidenote, Cincinnati head coach Forrest Gregg had already participated in one of the coldest games in NFL history prior to this one. Miami Dolphins lead series 19-17- LA Chargers vs Miami San Diego responded with a drive to the Bengals 33-yard line, but came up empty when defensive back Louis Breeden intercepted a deep pass intended for Charlie Joiner at the 5-yard line. Now, Coryell and Co. were one game away from the Super Bowl again. Join our linker program. How many were played in a historical venue and include a 24-0 lead, a late comeback by the team which blew said advantage, and goes almost a full five periods in sweltering heat? The Dolphins had allowed just 27 points in their last three games prior to their playoff matchup against San Diego. Brandon Staley knew it was going to take a complete game for his Los Angeles Chargers squad to have a chance at beating the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins: Wilson suffered an ankle injury during the second quarter. The first chance for the game to be decided in overtime came when San Diego kicker Rolf Bernischke lined up for a 27-yard field goal. For the Chargers, The Epic in Miami is almost inarguably the greatest victory in franchise history. ", "CHARGERS WIN IN OVERTIME; COWBOYS ROMP; BENIRSCHKE KICK GIVES SAN DIEGO 41-38 DECISION", NFL FANS VOTE 81 CHARGERS-DOLPHINS DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF NINTH MOST MEMORABLE GAME OF CENTURY, History: The Classic Shootout Pro Football Hall of Fame, "Chargers.com News Headlines Chargers epic '82 playoff win in Miami", "News - Frozen in time - Cincinnati Bengals", Chargers-stats.com's story on the game, contains many quotes and interviews, and a detailed recap, 2006 playoff game vs. New England Patriots, "Only Wanna Be with You" (Hootie & the Blowfish song), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epic_in_Miami&oldid=1149623165, January 1982 sports events in the United States, Articles with dead YouTube links from February 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2007, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, MIA Nathan 25 yard pass from Strock (von Schamann kick), MIA Rose 15 yard pass from Strock (von Schamann kick), SD Winslow 25 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick), MIA Nathan 12 yard run (von Schamann kick), SD Brooks 9 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick), This page was last edited on 13 April 2023, at 11:23. Box score for the Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers NFL game from 12 December 2022 on ESPN. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Dolphins' "Killer B's" defense (nicknamed for the plethora of starters whose last name began with the letter "B") that had been Miami's strength all year wilted in the wake of the Chargers' "Air Coryell" aerial attack. Taking the ball back after the missed field goal, Cincinnati put the game away with a 14-play touchdown drive. In addition to his 56-yard punt return touchdown, Chandler caught six passes for 106 yards. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. January 2, 1982: San Diego #Chargers defeated the Miami Dolphins 41-38 in the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history at the time. After a Bengals punt, Chandler gave the Chargers good field position with a 7-yard return to the 45-yard line. Both teams were coming off extremely narrow wins in the divisional playoffs. Then on the ensuing kickoff, the Chargers caught a break when the high, short kick surprisingly bounced back in their direction and was recovered by San Diego. When he was a player for the Green Bay Packers in 1967, Gregg played in the famous NFL championship game against the Dallas Cowboys that became known as the Ice Bowl. Entering the second day of 1982, the Dolphins were home at the Orange Bowl hosting the favored Chargers, who were giving 2.5 points that afternoon. His attempts, completions, and passing yards were all NFL postseason records. The 1981 AFC Divisional Game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins is often referred to as the "Epic in Miami", or "The Kellen Winslow Game" unof. The Chargers defense was completely surprised and Nathan took it untouched for 29 yards down the sideline and a touchdown to cut the deficit to 2417. However, San Diego's defense ranked only 26th in the league (at the time there were only 28 teams) in points allowed (390) and 27th in total yards allowed (6,520). Mike Williams 10 Yd pass from Justin Herbert (Cameron Dicker Kick), Tyreek Hill 57 Yd Fumble Recovery (Jason Sanders Kick), Austin Ekeler 1 Yd Run (Cameron Dicker Kick), Tyreek Hill 60 Yd pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Jason Sanders Kick). The game, won by the Bengals, 277, was played in the coldest temperature in NFL history in terms of wind chill. 49ers Super Bowl History Super Bowl XVI: 49ers 26, Bengals 21 Super Bowl. NFL Scores Dolphins vs. Chargers final score and immediate reactions The Miami Dolphins dropped their second straight game with a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night. 18. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. San Diego also had two superb running backs, Chuck Muncie, who led the NFL with 19 touchdowns, and multi-talented rookie James Brooks, who finished the season with 2,093 all-purpose yards. Following three incompletions and a fake field goal touchdown run by Steve Kreider called back by a holding penalty, Breech's 38-yard field goal made the score 207. Next it was the Dolphins who had the chance to win. Faced with 3rd down and 7 inside the red zone later in the drive, Anderson kept the drive going with a 16-yard completion to Isaac Curtis on the Chargers 1-yard line, and fullback Pete Johnson scored a touchdown run on the next play, giving them a 177 lead. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. In addition to his blocked field goal, he recorded an NFL playoff record 13 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown, despite suffering numerous injuries. In 2011, Adam Hubbs' wish was granted when he met with Tim Tebow. Search through thousands of plays from pro football history using our Event Finder tool. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. I would say the defenses that weve played have been playing exactly what weve expected them to play," Tagovailoa said. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Dicker's kick capped a 17-play, 79-yard drive that took 8:39 off the clock. His third catch moved him past Kansas City's Kimble Anders (369) for the most by an undrafted running back in the common draft era. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. It was also referred to in the Miami Herald as the "Miracle That Died", while Sports Illustrated dubbed it the "Game No One Should Have Lost". Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. [6][7] Fouts then led his team down to Miami's nine-yard line. But Tagovailoa had his worst game as an NFL starter, completing 10 of 28 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown as the Dolphins (8-5) lost their second straight. Miami's defense also dominated Fouts, limiting him to 15 of 34 completions and intercepting him five times. ". Fouts completed 33-of-53 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 2013 Seattle Seahawks, who defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII thanks to huge performances from Malcolm Smith, Russell Wilson and the "Legion of Boom," land at No. Then, with the Dolphins at San Diegos 40-yard line and six seconds until halftime, Miami shocked a nation. Aided by a pair of receptions by Chandler and a 39-yard catch by Joiner, Fouts led his team 74 yards to Miami's 10-yard line, where Benirschke attempted a 29-yard field goal. Two participants, coach Don Shula and center Dwight Stephenson, were enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After recovering a Chuck Muncie fumble, they moved into position for von Schamann to try a 34-yard field goal. The Dolphins came in with the league's top-ranked pass offense. It became legendary. In front of a prime-time audience, the Bolts responded with one of their best games of the season. The air temperature was 9F (23C), and wind chill was 59F (51C). We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1998 Denver Broncos, who defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII behind the play of quarterback John Elway, running back Terrell Davis, wide receiver Rod Smith and tight end Shannon Sharpe, land at No. Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals, including one from 29-yards that gave the Chargers a 23-14 advantage with 2:40 remaining. [9], San Diego took over at its own 16-yard line after the blocked field goal. One week after their victory over the Dolphins in Florida's scorching heat, the Chargers traveled to Cincinnati to face the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC championship game in the coldest game in NFL history based on the wind chill. Early in the third quarter, Strock led the Dolphins 74 yards down the field and finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Rose, tying the game at 24. Fouts moved the Chargers downfield, hitting Wes Chandler for 20 yards and Charlie Joiner for 29. Then on the Dolphins' next drive, David Woodley was intercepted by Chargers safety Glen Edwards, who returned the ball 35 yards, setting up Fouts' 8-yard touchdown pass to James Brooks. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Hardy caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. A picture of an exhausted Winslow being helped off the field by two teammates after the game is an enduring image in NFL lore and has been replayed constantly ever since. There were a lot of good things from all three phases. He finished the contest with 13 catches (a divisional playoff record) for 166 yards and a touchdown plus the critical blocked field goal, all the while battling debilitating fatigue and muscle cramps. Almost 40 years later, its memory endures. 29. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1992 Dallas Cowboys, who finished the regular season 13-3 and defeated the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in Super Bowl XXVII, land at No. He caught 13 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The New York Jets addressed their need at offensive tackle on Monday by agreeing to a one-year contract with veteran Billy Turner, who has experience playing for Nathaniel Hackett and Aaron Rodgers. Muncie rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown. Then linebacker Rick Razzano forced a fumble from Chargers rookie kick returner James Brooks, and Don Bass recovered for the Bengals on the San Diego 12-yard line. Epic In Miami Chargers vs Dolphins 1981 Playoffs Highlights J Sullivan 119 subscribers Subscribe 440 Share 49K views 6 years ago Here is the classic highlight short of the classic game.. This time, his kick was good, giving the Chargers a 4138 win after 13 minutes and 52 seconds of overtime play.[10]. '[11], "If you didn't like this football game, you didn't [sic] like football. The Dolphins had a chance to win the game with four seconds left, but San Diego tight end Kellen Winslow blocked Uwe von Schamann's 43-yard field goal attempt, forcing overtime. But this time, they could not return the AFC Championship Game for the third straight year, as the Dolphins avenged their defeat 3413 in the AFC Second Round playoffs, also in Miami. Justin Herbert threw for 367 yards and a touchdown and a short-handed defense got the best of the Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa as Los Angeles beat Miami 23-17 on Sunday night. Seattle will not pick up the fifth-year option on starting inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks ahead of Tuesday's deadline, a source said. 12 spot. The game was played on January 10, 1982, at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, and televised by NBC, with announcers Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen. Hill finished with four catches for 81 yards, including a 60-yard TD in the third quarter on Tagovailoa's best throw of the night. Miami Dolphins 21 at San Diego Chargers 22 on January 8th, 1995 - Full team and player stats and box score. Get box score updates on the Los Angeles Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins football game. In short, the Chargers played at a temperature difference of 120 degrees in a week. The postseason tournament concluded with the San Francisco 49ers defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI, 26-21, on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan . . "[12], The game featured many new records by players of both teams. Said Chargers coach Don Coryell after the game: "I have coached for 31 or 32 years and this is tremendousThere has never been a game like this. 4. video 'NFL 100 Greatest'. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. 1981 AFC Championship Game: NFL Full Game, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Here's a look at the coldest games ever in NFL history", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Freezer_Bowl&oldid=1149622764, CIN Harris 8 yard pass from Anderson (Breech kick), SD Winslow 33 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick), CIN Bass 3 yard pass from Anderson (Breech kick), This page was last edited on 13 April 2023, at 11:19. It worked to perfection. The Dolphins needed to win by more than 3 points to cover the spread. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2004 Donruss Elite #179 Philip Rivers Rookie Aspirations /83 Chargers PSA 9 at the best online prices at eBay! Strock was 29-of-43 for 403 yards and four scores. Woodley had a rather mediocre year, throwing for only 2,470 yards (6.7 yards per throw) and 12 touchdowns, with 13 interceptions and a passer rating of only 69.8, but he was a good scrambler, gaining 272 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.