On January 2, 1982, quite possibly the best playoff game in NFL history had taken place. It was on this day that the Miami Dolphins with a regular season record of 11-4-1 hosted the 10-6 San Diego Chargers at the Orange Bowl in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. The game was more about courage more than the unforgettable performance of both squads. Early on, it appeared the contest would be a one-sided affair.
In the opening quarter of the game, San Diego got a 32-yard field goal from Rolf Benirschke. Miami was forced to punt on their opening possession, and the Chargers promptly got a 56-yard touchdown return from Wes Chandler to take a 10-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Chargers recovered the ball after it took a favorable bounce for them. Running back Chuck Muncie then scored on a 1-yard run as San Diego led 17-0.
Dolphins quarterback David Woodley had a pass intercepted on the next series, and Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts took advantage of the turnover with an 8-yard touchdown pass to James Brooks. San Diego took a commanding 24-0 lead, and Miami head coach Don Shula decided to replace Woodley at quarterback with Don Strock.
Strock led the Dolphins to their first scoring drive of the game when Uwe Von Schamann kicked a 34-yard field goal. This began to swing the momentum of the game.
The Miami defense, known as the "Killer Bees", recovered a San Diego fumble in Chargers territory. Later on in the Miami drive, Strock threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joe Rose to cut the lead to 24-10.
After Bernischke missed a 55-yard field goal, the stage was set for one great play with six seconds remaining until half-time after Miami advanced the ball to the Chargers' 40-yard line.
Miami called for a hook-and-ladder play in which wide receiver Duriel Harris caught a 15-yard pass from Strock to start it off. Harris fell backwards and lateraled to running back Tony Nathan, who scampered down the sideline for a 25-yard touchdown as the lead was cut to 24-17 at halftime.
Miami continued the momentum in the third quarter when Strock connected with Rose on a 15-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 24-24. But San Diego would answer back.
Starting on their own 40-yard line, Fouts finished off the drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow to give San Diego the lead back. Strock answered with a 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bruce Hardy to tie the game back up at 31-31.
With about five minutes remaining in the game, the Dolphins took their first lead after getting an interception from Lyle Blackwood. Nathan scored on a 12-yard run to take advantage of the mistake made by San Diego as the Dolphins took a 38-31 lead.
The Chargers began their next drive on their own 18-yard line needing a touchdown to tie the game. With under a minute left to play, Fouts found Brooks in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 38-38.
San Diego squibbed the next kickoff as the Dolphins took over at their own 40-yard line. Miami was able to get the ball down to the 26-yard line, and they called timeout with four seconds left on the game clock.
Von Schamann had kicked seven game-winning field goals in the previous two regular season games. But the Chargers got a hand on the ball as Von Schamann's 43-yard attempt was blocked by Winslow. The game went into overtime.
This game became a battle of survival as players were dehydrated, cramping, and tired from the heat that had overwhelmed them. As the game went into overtime, it was evident of the effects it had on the players.
The Chargers won the toss, and proceeded to march down the field to setup a game-winning field goal attempt by Bernischke. But after a bad snap and hold, the 27-yard field goal attempt hooked left and was no good.
Von Schamann then had his shot to win the game for Miami as the Dolphins advanced the ball down to the Chargers 17-yard line. But his 34-yard kick was blocked once again -- this time by defensive end Leroy Jones as the game continued on.
So the Chargers took over, and moved the ball down to the Miami 10-yard line. On the drive, Fouts hit two big pass plays of 20 and 29 yards to Chandler and Charlie Joiner to give Bernischke another shot to win the game. This time, the kick was good as the Chargers won the game 41-38.
Players had a tough time moving or even congratulating one another because of the toll the heat took on them.
Winslow, in particular, had a pinched nerve in his shoulder, dehydration, suffered from bad cramps, and had three stitches on his lower lip. He was helped off the field by teammates throughout this game.
“I never felt so close to death before. That’s what Muhammad Ali said in Manila and that’s how I felt out there at the end," said an exhausted Winslow after the game.
Winslow still lead all receivers with 13 catches and 166 receiving yards for the contest.
The offensive numbers for this game were staggering. The teams combined for 79 points, 1,036 total yards, and 809 passing yards which were all new playoff records.
Player stats for the game:
San Diego:
-Fouts went 33-for-53 passing for 433 yards with three touchdown passes.
-Muncie rushed for 120 yards on 24 carries with one rushing touchdown.
-Winslow had 13 receptions, 166 receiving yards, and one touchdown.
-Charlie Joiner and Wes Chandler combined for 13 catches and 214 receiving yards. Brooks had four receptions for 31 yards, but two of them went for touchdowns.
Miami:
-Strock went 28-for-42 off the bench for 397 yards and four passing touchdowns.
-Nathan had 48 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, eight receptions, 108 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown.
-Duriel Harris had six receptions for 106 yards. Hardy had 5 receptions, 89 yards, and the one 50-yard touchdown. Rose caught two touchdown passes and four receptions and 37 receiving yards for the game.
San Diego traveled to Cincinnati for the AFC Conference Game in completely different conditions than in Miami. In the extremely frigid conditions, the Chargers lost 27-7 to the Bengals as Cincinnati advanced to the Super Bowl.
Miami would make it back to the Super Bowl the following year, but lost to the Washington Redskins.
The game was a show of pure heart and courage by the players who took the field. It's called by many to be the best NFL playoff game ever for the back and forth affair that took place as well as the conditions the players endured in this game. Phil Barber from NFL Publishing has said that this was the greatest game played in any sport.
“I have coached for 31 or 32 years and this is tremendous. There has never been a game like this. It was probably the most exciting game in pro football history,” said Chargers head coach Don "Air" Coryell after the thrilling game.
Photo courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Fame which shows Winslow being carried off the field by teammates.
Sources: Pro Football Reference and Charger Stats.
Thanks for viewing, and I hope you enjoyed this Sports History Flashback!
1/02/2009 06:59:00 AM
David Funk
7 comments:
Oh wow ... that was a good one. I had a mental flashback to the hook-and-ladder as soon as I started reading. Great game.
Don Coryell always had a look of "my shoes are too tight".
Yep ... the next week the Chargers came to Cincinnati - The Freezer Bowl - the coldest game on NFL record - and I was there ... the whole game!
I love the hook-and-ladder. This game would have even more hype if it came in the fantasy era.
Thanks for reliving one of the great football watching experiences of my life. Excellent writeup of a spectacular game.
Hey Winslow Jr...
Take a gander at what a REAL man looks like.
Funny he is YOUR Father.
I remember that game and it was and still is a great one
Frank- It's still funny to me how the Chargers played one game in which they were extremely dehydrated because of heat, then go to the "Freezer" in Cincy the next week. That's funny that you were there for the entire game of the "Freezer Bowl"!
Lester- Yeah, having Fouts, Winslow, Strock, and Nathan would have been a fantasy player's dream for this game!
backell- Thanks. I didn't see this game, but have caught it many times on NFL Films and highlights. I still like watching it when it's shown on TV, and it was one of the best games ever played.
MadMan- Yeah, the "like father like son" phrase really doesn't apply with the Winslows.
Thanks for the replies gentleman!
Totally agree about the Winslows.
Today I was talking about this game since we both attended the Freezer Bowl. The weather would have also worked against Miami's psyche.
SD was spooked from the start. They didn't exit the tunnel until a few minutes before kickoff. Then they see of Bengal O-line with exposed arms. They were done.
Frank- I have to agree that Miami wouldn't have faired much better in that frigid weather. For the Chargers, it was like playing one game in the Bahamas one week, then playing in Tibet the next! Thanks for sharing your memory on that game.
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