AFC Divisional Playoff Game

Visitor:  San Diego Chargers

Home:  Miami Dolphins

Date:  January 2, 1982

 

Scoring:

Team                1          2          3          4          OT       Final

SD                   24        0          7          7          3            41

MIA                 0          17        14        7          0            38

 

Visitor playmakers:

WR Wes Chandler, RB Chuck Muncie, RB James Brooks, TE Kellen Winslow, K Rolf Benirschke, WR Charlie Joiner, QB Dan Fouts

 

Home playmakers:

TE Joe Rose, RB Tony Nathan, RB Leroy Harris, TE Bruce Hardy, DB Lyle Blackwood, QB Don Strock, LB Kim Bokamper

 

Network:  NBC (KCST San Diego)

Announcers:  Don Criqui, John Brodie

 

Pregame:  Yes

Halftime:  No

Postgame:  Yes

Commercials:  No

 

Grade:  85/100

 

Notes:  The Chargers traveled to Miami’s Orange Bowl to face AFC East Division champion Miami and won an epic struggle, 41-38, on a 29-yard Rolf Benirschke field goal at the 13:52 mark of the first overtime period.  San Diego jumped out to an early 24-0 lead, only to have the Dolphins close the gap under the direction of substitute quarterback Don Strock.  The score was 24-17 at halftime and in the second half the Dolphins knotted the score at 24 and again at 31 before assuming their first lead, 38-31, on a 12-yard run by Tony Nathan.  The Chargers took a Dolphin turnover and converted it into a 10-play, 82-yard drive, climaxed by a nine-yard pass from Dan Fouts to James Brooks with 58 seconds remaining in regulation.  Kellen Winslow blocked a Dolphins 43-yard field goal try with four seconds remaining, forcing the game into the overtime period.

 

In overtime, both teams had the opportunity to clinch victory on field goal attempts.  Benirschke missed a 27-yard attempt and Uwe Von Schamann had his attempt blocked by Leroy Jones.  The Chargers’ game-winning drive was highlighted by receptions of 20 and 29 yards by Wes Chandler and Charlie Joiner, respectively.

 

Dan Fouts’ passing performance resulted in records for completions, attempts, and yards in a division playoff, and Winslow’s 13 receptions broke the division playoff record of 10 receptions, set by Pittsburgh’s John Stallworth in 1978.

 

Chandler had a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown for the Chargers, the first punt return for a touchdown in an AFC divisional playoff game.  The Chargers broke 15 divisional playoff team records and tied two others.

 

This game also set the record for number of points in a playoff game.  Don Strock broke the record for number of completions in a playoff game earlier, then Fouts broke Strock’s record.

 

This is a classic game, one of the best playoff games ever.

Thanks Jonathan!

 

Running time:  3:27 (2 discs)