Divisional round at the Orange Bowl on Sat January 2, 1982. The San Diego Chargers (10-6) travel to face the Miami Dolphins (11-4-1) in the AFC second-round game.
Dan Fouts at quarterback for San Diego. Chuck Muncie and James Brooks at running back. Kellen Winslow at tight end. The Dolphins start David Woodley and rotate Don Strock. Tony Nathan at running back.
Dan Fouts and the Chargers' Air Coryell offense lead the AFC in scoring. Kellen Winslow set the league single-season tight-end receptions record at 88. Charlie Joiner 70 catches for 1,188. The Dolphins' Killer Bs defense ranks first in points allowed.
The Saturday-afternoon game is the year's marquee AFC divisional matchup. Dan Fouts vs the Dolphins' defensive front (Bob Baumhower, Doug Betters, Kim Bokamper, A.J. Duhe, Bob Brudzinski).
Divisional round Saturday is the league's second-weekend opener. The Dolphins (AFC #2) host the Chargers (AFC #3). The Bengals (AFC #1) host the Bills. The Cowboys (NFC #2) host the Buccaneers. The 49ers (NFC #1) host the Giants. The Saturday-afternoon AFC matchup is the year's marquee divisional game The Sunday game is the kind of cross-divisional matchup the schedule produces.
Through the regular season the Chargers finished 10-6 (AFC West champs) and the Dolphins finished 11-4-1 (AFC East champs). Dan Fouts 33 TDs and 17 INTs reg season (4,802 yards, single-season record). Kellen Winslow 88 catches for 1,075 (single-season TE receptions record). Charlie Joiner 70 catches for 1,188. David Woodley 12 TDs and 13 INTs. Tony Nathan 782 rushing yards.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 12-4 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-8 | L3 |
| Houston Oilers | 7-9 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-11 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 11-4-1 | W4 |
| New York Jets | 10-5-1 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 10-6 | L1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 2-14 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 2-14 | L9 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 10-6 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 10-6 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 9-7 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 7-9 | L2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 6-10 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 13-3 | W5 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7-9 | L3 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 6-10 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-12 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9-7 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 8-8 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 8-8 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-9 | L5 |
| Chicago Bears | 6-10 | W3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 12-4 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 10-6 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 9-7 | W3 |
| Washington Redskins | 8-8 | W3 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 7-9 | L2 |
"The Game No One Should Have Lost" (Dolphins vs. Chargers, 1981 AFC Divisional)
1981 Chargers at Dolphins Divisional Playoff
Chargers vs. Dolphins - 1981 AFC Divisional Playoff
Miami Dolphins Hook & Ladder Trick Play 1981 AFC Divisional Dolphins vs Chargers (4K60fps)
'Epic in Miami': Chargers vs. Dolphins | 1981 AFC Divisional Round Playoffs | NFL Classic Highlights
“The Epic in Miami” San Diego Chargers @Miami Dolphins AFC Divisional 1981 Highlights| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chargers | Rolf Benirschke 32 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| Chargers | Wes Chandler 58 yard punt return (Rolf Benirschke kick) | 10-0 |
| Chargers | Chuck Muncie 1 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick) | 17-0 |
| Chargers | James Brooks 8 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) | 24-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | Uwe von Schamann 34 yard field goal | 24-3 |
| Dolphins | Joe Rose 1 yard pass from Don Strock (Uwe von Schamann kick) | 24-10 |
| Dolphins | Tony Nathan 25 yard pass from Don Strock (Uwe von Schamann kick) | 24-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | Joe Rose 15 yard pass from Don Strock (Uwe von Schamann kick) | 24-24 |
| Chargers | Kellen Winslow 25 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) | 31-24 |
| Dolphins | Bruce Hardy 50 yard pass from Don Strock (Uwe von Schamann kick) | 31-31 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | Tony Nathan 12 yard rush (Uwe von Schamann kick) | 31-38 |
| Chargers | James Brooks 9 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) | 38-38 |
| Chargers | Rolf Benirschke 29 yard field goal | 41-38 |
Rolf Benirschke kicked a 29-yard field goal in overtime and the San Diego Chargers beat the Miami Dolphins 41-38 at the Orange Bowl in what would become one of the highest-rated playoff games of the year. Dan Fouts threw for 433 yards and three touchdowns. Kellen Winslow caught 13 for 166. Don Strock came in for the second half and threw four touchdown passes. The Chargers improved to 11-6 and advanced to the AFC Championship at Cincinnati.[1][2]
Rolf Benirschke kicked a 29-yard field goal in overtime and Dan Fouts threw for 433 yards with three touchdowns, and the Chargers beat the Dolphins 41-38 in the kind of Saturday-afternoon Orange Bowl shootout that the league had not produced in years. The win advanced San Diego to the AFC Championship game at Cincinnati.
Kellen Winslow caught 13 passes for 166 yards (a playoff record at the position) including a 25-yard touchdown. Wes Chandler caught a 58-yard punt return for a touchdown to open the scoring. Chuck Muncie ran in a 1-yard touchdown. James Brooks caught a 9-yard touchdown reception.
David Woodley was pulled for Don Strock at halftime; Strock threw four touchdown passes (Joe Rose twice, Tony Nathan, Bruce Hardy) to make it a Dolphins comeback game. The Dolphins' three-touchdown second-half push tied it 38-38. Benirschke's 29-yard field goal in overtime ended what would become known in league lore as the Epic in Miami.
Chargers 41, Dolphins 38 (OT). Margin: plus 3. AFC Divisional.
A 41-38 overtime AFC divisional-round road win over the Miami Dolphins at the Orange Bowl. The San Diego Chargers improve to 11-6 and advance to the AFC Championship game at Cincinnati.
How it unfolded
The Chargers built a 24-0 first-half lead behind a Rolf Benirschke field goal, Wes Chandler's 58-yard punt return touchdown, Chuck Muncie's 1-yard rush, and a James Brooks touchdown reception. Uwe von Schamann's 34-yard field goal made it 24-3. David Woodley was pulled for Don Strock at halftime. Strock threw four touchdown passes across the second half: Joe Rose (1, 15), Tony Nathan (25), and Bruce Hardy (50). The Dolphins tied it 38-38. Winslow's 25-yard touchdown made it 41-38 Chargers in the fourth. Nathan ran in a 12-yard touchdown to tie 38-38. Benirschke's 29-yard OT field goal ended it.
The turning point
Don Strock's halftime entry and the Dolphins' four-touchdown response. With the Chargers up 24-0 and the Air Coryell offense looking like it would coast, Strock's three-quarter explosion turned a blowout into the kind of overtime game the league has not seen produced in playoff form. The Benirschke field goal kept the result from being even more dramatic.
By the numbers
Dan Fouts 33 of 53 for 433 with three touchdowns. Kellen Winslow 13 catches for 166 with a touchdown (the playoff record for a tight end). Wes Chandler the punt return touchdown plus three catches for 56. Don Strock 17 of 28 for 250 with four touchdowns. Joe Rose two catches for 16 w...
| Chargers | Dolphins | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 34 | 25 |
| Total Yards | 564 | 472 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 33/54 | 31/48 |
| Pass yards | 433 | 423 |
| Pass TD | 3 | 4 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 18 | 29 |
| Net pass yards | 415 | 394 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 29 | 28 |
| Rush yards | 149 | 78 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 3 | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 3 | 1 |
| Penalties | 9 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 55 | 50 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | |||||
| Dan Fouts | 33/53 | 433 | 3 | 1 | 99 |
| Chuck Muncie | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| MIA | |||||
| Don Strock | 29/43 | 403 | 4 | 1 | 118.7 |
| David Woodley | 2/5 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 12.5 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | ||||
| Chuck Muncie | 24 | 120 | 1 | 18 |
| James Brooks | 3 | 19 | 0 | 14 |
| Dan Fouts | 2 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| MIA | ||||
| Tony Nathan | 14 | 48 | 1 | 12 |
| David Woodley | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Eddie Hill | 3 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Tommy Vigorito | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Andra Franklin | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | ||||
| Kellen Winslow | 13 | 166 | 1 | 31 |
| Charlie Joiner | 7 | 108 | 0 | 39 |
| Wes Chandler | 6 | 106 | 0 | 47 |
| James Brooks | 4 | 31 | 2 | 9 |
| Dwight Scales | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| Chuck Muncie | 2 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
| MIA | ||||
| Tony Nathan | 9 | 114 | 1 | 27 |
| Duriel Harris | 6 | 106 | 0 | 30 |
| Bruce Hardy | 5 | 89 | 1 | 50 |
| Jimmy Cefalo | 3 | 62 | 0 | 23 |
| Joe Rose | 4 | 37 | 2 | 15 |
| Tommy Vigorito | 2 | 12 | 0 | 8 |
| Eddie Hill | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
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