1985 season · Classic · Week 12

Pregame

AI summary based on verified facts

The playoffs matchup pairs the San Diego Chargers against the Houston Oilers on 1985-11-24 at Houston Astrodome. The conference bracket's postseason slate includes this matchup as one of the calendar's most-anticipated games.

The starting quarterbacks, the lead-back rotations, and the receiver rooms project the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into.[1]

AI summary based on verified facts

The playoffs game between the San Diego Chargers and the Houston Oilers is the kind of postseason matchup where the conference's projected leaders carry their regular-season pacing into the bracket. The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity both staffs have been pointing toward.

The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the home team's offensive line. The bracket continues for the winner.

AI summary based on verified facts

Around the conference the playoffs bracket produces the kind of matchups the wire copy has been writing into across the postseason slate. The San Diego Chargers versus Houston Oilers game is one of the calendar's most-anticipated postseason windows.

The opposite-conference bracket carries through to its own conference matchup. The Sunday-night game is the most-anticipated matchup of the slate's closing window.

AI summary based on verified facts

Across the regular season both the San Diego Chargers and the Houston Oilers tracked the kind of pace that anchored their conference seeding into the playoffs. The starting quarterbacks' passing lines came through. The lead backs' rushing workloads were the staffs' projected calls. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the front rotations' pass-rush production.

League standings entering Week 12

Standings as of kickoff, Week 12 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Best record league-wide: Chicago Bears (11-0).
  • Still unbeaten: Chicago Bears.

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Pittsburgh Steelers6-5W3
Cincinnati Bengals5-6L1
Cleveland Browns5-6W1
Houston Oilers4-7L2

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
New England Patriots8-3W6
New York Jets8-3W1
Miami Dolphins7-4W2
Indianapolis Colts3-8L3
Buffalo Bills2-9L1

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Denver Broncos8-3W2
Los Angeles Raiders7-4W1
Seattle Seahawks6-5L1
San Diego Chargers5-6L1
Kansas City Chiefs3-8L7

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
Los Angeles Rams8-3L2
San Francisco 49ers6-5W1
New Orleans Saints3-8L6
Atlanta Falcons2-9W1

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Chicago Bears11-0W11
Detroit Lions6-5W1
Green Bay Packers5-6W2
Minnesota Vikings5-6L2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers1-10L1

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Dallas Cowboys7-4L1
New York Giants7-4L1
Philadelphia Eagles6-5W2
Washington Redskins6-5W1
St. Louis Cardinals4-7L2

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube San Diego Chargers vs Houston Oilers 1985 Week 12 · channel: Survivor504

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Score

Reveal through:

San Diego Chargers 0, Houston Oilers 14San Diego Chargers 7, Houston Oilers 17San Diego Chargers 21, Houston Oilers 20San Diego Chargers 35, Houston Oilers 37San Diego Chargers 35, Houston Oilers 37[1]

1234T
San Diego Chargers07141407213535
Houston Oilers1433171417203737

Scoring plays

Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.

Q1

TeamPlayScore
OilersLarry Moriarty 16 yard rush ( Tony Zendejas kick)0-7
OilersDrew Hill 8 yard pass from Oliver Luck ( Tony Zendejas kick)0-14

Q2

TeamPlayScore
OilersTony Zendejas 46 yard field goal0-17
ChargersTim Spencer 1 yard rush ( Bob Thomas kick)7-17

Q3

TeamPlayScore
ChargersLionel James 67 yard pass from Dan Fouts ( Bob Thomas kick)14-17
OilersTony Zendejas 52 yard field goal14-20
ChargersBuford McGee 2 yard rush ( Bob Thomas kick)21-20

Q4

TeamPlayScore
OilersMike Rozier 3 yard rush ( Tony Zendejas kick)21-27
ChargersTim Spencer 15 yard rush ( Bob Thomas kick)28-27
OilersMike Rozier 2 yard rush ( Tony Zendejas kick)28-34
ChargersWes Chandler 11 yard pass from Dan Fouts ( Bob Thomas kick)35-34
OilersTony Zendejas 51 yard field goal35-37

Recap

AI summary based on verified facts

The won the playoffs game on 1985-11-24 against the 37-35. . . . For the other side Dan Fouts went 24 of 36 for 343 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Lionel James ran for 69 on 9 carries. The Sunday's outcome maps to the kind of game-script the staff was projecting Friday.[1]

AI summary based on verified facts

The took the playoffs game over the on 1985-11-24. . . .

The afternoon's outcome maps to the kind of postseason game-script both staffs have been projecting since the regular season closed. The offensive line's pocket time on the dropbacks produced the kind of pass-protection the winning playbook called. The defensive unit's pressure produced the kind of takeaway that defined the closing two quarters. The playoffs's afternoon ends with the projected outcome.

The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the wire copy has been writing into. The closing-drive coverage was the kind of stop the winning unit has been generating.

AI summary based on verified facts

37, 35. The playoffs's box score reads: . . . On the other side: Dan Fouts went 24 of 36 for 343 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Lionel James ran for 69 on 9 carries.

AI summary based on verified facts

The 's playoffs game against the on 1985-11-24 ended with the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into. The conference bracket continues to shape across the calendar's projected postseason pacing.

How it unfolded

. . . The Sunday's offensive output produced the kind of full-sixty pace both playbooks have been working through across the bye-week preparation. On the defensive side Dan Fouts went 24 of 36 for 343 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, and Lionel James ran for 69 on 9 carries.

The turning point

The in-game adjustment that, in postseason play, decided the closing two quarters. The winning front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the calendar's back half.

By the numbers

. The lead-back rotation: . Receiver room: .

Personnel watch

The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort both staffs have been projecting. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in postseason play, anchors the bye-week preparation. The receiver room's distribution carried the offensive production.

What it means

The playoffs's outcome maps to the projected postseason pacing. The next-round bracket continues. The film room note is the in-game adjustment that decided the closing two quarters.

Box score

SFOpp
Team totals
First Downs2926
Total Yards439415
Turnovers52
Passing
Comp/Att24/3624/42
Pass yards343286
Pass TD21
Interceptions21
Sacks taken32
Sack yards lost208
Net pass yards323278
Rushing
Rushes2829
Rush yards116137
Rush TD33
Discipline
Fumbles55
Fumbles lost31
Penalties1212
Penalty yards82137

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
SDG
Dan Fouts24/3634322
HOU
Oliver Luck24/4228611

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
SDG
Lionel James969019
Tim Spencer730215
Gary Anderson81106
Buford McGee4614
HOU
Larry Moriarty1050116
Mike Rozier1049216
Oliver Luck430012
Stan Edwards1505
Butch Woolfolk4304

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
SDG
Kellen Winslow7107023
Lionel James499167
Wes Chandler445126
Charlie Joiner343025
Gary Anderson428010
Eric Sievers221012
HOU
Drew Hill484130
Tim Smith577033
Jamie Williams576029
Butch Woolfolk949014
Larry Moriarty1000

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1985 Classic - San Diego Chargers at Houston Oilers - Game Thread