[9], San Diego took over at its own 16-yard line after the blocked field goal. 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. Don Strock's incredible performance in the Epic in Miami ended up being the main highlight of his career. Two drives later, Fouts led the Chargers 60 yards in six plays, scoring on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow to regain the lead. I would say the defenses that weve played have been playing exactly what weve expected them to play," Tagovailoa said. Gamecast; Box Score; Play-by-Play; Team Stats; Los Angeles Passing. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll NFL and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. . As a sidenote, Cincinnati head coach Forrest Gregg had already participated in one of the coldest games in NFL history prior to this one. Join our linker program. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. The Chargers would move the ball inside the Bengals 40-yard line five times during the rest of the game, but failed to score on each possession. The Chargers decided to send in Benirschke to attempt a 55-yard field goal, but he missed, giving the ball back to the Dolphins near midfield. Nevertheless, the Bengals stormed right back on a drive set up by David Versers 40-yard kickoff return to the 46-yard line. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Somehow, Brooks was in the end zone and caught the errant throw, tying the game. 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. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1966 Green Bay Packers, who defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I behind head coach Vince Lombardi, quarterback Bart Starr and wide receiver Max McGee, land at No. Both Winslow and Ken Anderson said that the windchill's effect was so brutal that they have felt its effects decades laterWinslow in noting that he suffers from the residual impact of frostbite in one of his toes, and Anderson because his hands turn cold and numb much more quickly in cold weather now than they did pre-Freezer Bowl. 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. At Miamis 9-yard line with 1:06 to play, Fouts targeted star tight end Kellen Winslow in the end zone. Finally, with only 1:08 remaining in overtime, San Diego kicker Rolf Benirschke scored the winning points on a 29-yard attempt. The defense did an incredible job, Herbert said. He ran the base line of the end zone. For the Chargers, The Epic in Miami is almost inarguably the greatest victory in franchise history. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The Chargers' victory in this game would be the last time that they defeated the Dolphins in Miami until 2019, by which time the Chargers had moved to Los Angeles. 100. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Three plays later, Miami moved the ball to San Diego's 40-yard line with only six seconds left in the half and an attempt at one last play. It really just goes back to the details of how we play our offense, and were not all dialed in with that.. 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. The two teams have met each other 36 times (including 4 postseason games), with the Los Angeles Chargers winning 17 games and the Miami Dolphins winning 19 games. That game, which became known as The Epic In Miami, was played in the heat and humidity of Miami, and the Chargers found themselves dealing with the exact opposite conditions in the AFC title game. 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. Miami Dolphins lead series 19-17- Miami vs LA Chargers The following season, which was shortened to nine games because of a players strike, Fouts led the Chargers to a 63 record and advanced the AFC Second Round playoffs with a 3128 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC First Round playoffs, throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. 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. When it was over, one player said, "I've never felt so close to death." Five players had more than 100 yards in. It was the first time in NFL history that two quarterbacks passed for more than 400 yards in a game. Miami made it back to the Super Bowl in 1984, but they lost Super Bowl XIX to the San Francisco 49ers 3816. Seattle will not pick up the fifth-year option on starting inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks ahead of Tuesday's deadline, a source said. We would have loved to have scored a touchdown there, but I really felt like we controlled the pace there," Staley said. 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 following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. "Defensively we answered all the challenges in the game that we had to face. In Jan. 1982, the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins played one of the greatest NFL games of all time. 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". Next it was the Dolphins who had the chance to win. All rights reserved. There was a scramble for the loose ball until Hill picked it up, changed direction and quickly sprinted to his right and up the sideline. 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. In the end, the Chargers prevailed, 41-38, with the game concluding with one of the lasting images in NFL history. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The game aired on NBC with Don Criqui and John Brodie calling the action and Bryant Gumbel serving as the anchor, one of his final assignments for NBC Sports as he began co-hosting Today two days after the game. 13. ", Regardless of the feeling about Winslow, both sides reflect on the game with a reverential tone. Miami Dolphins. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. "NFL 100 Greatest" counts down the top 100 characters in NFL history, and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton lands at No. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1962 Green Bay Packers, who finished with a 13-1 record and defeated the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Game, land at No. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Chandler replaced John Jefferson after Jefferson, following a contract dispute, was traded to Green Bay early in the season). 4. "There was no way that Kellen Winslow was so winded that he had to be continually helped off the football field," said Dolphins wide receiver Jimmy Cefalo. Find out more. 6-3, 3-2 home. In many cases, great games are defined by their endings. Or write about sports? None of the primary players in the Epic in Miami ever won a Super Bowl ring, except for left guard Bob Kuechenberg, who was a member of the Dolphins' Super Bowl-winning teams in 1972 and 1973. How many games shape careers? For Winslow, it was about the only play he didnt make on the evening. ", Miami linebacker Kim Bokamper said, "Every time I see it you wonder whether he should have gotten an Academy Award for the performance. 12 spot. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 2:31PM. Many former players, coaches and writers assert it as one of the greatest games in NFL history. 24 most iconic sports photos from Getty Images this week, Greg Sankeys statement on Texas, Oklahoma applying for SEC membership. Miami's offense also was a bust - until coach Don Shula replaced starter David Woodley with backup quarterback Don Strock. San Diego responded with a drive to the Bengals 5-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs with less than three minutes left. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. At the time, it set playoff records for most points (79) and most total yards (1,036). Air temperature was 9F (23C), but the wind chill, factoring in a sustained wind of 27 miles per hour (43km/h), was reported as 59F or 51C under the calculation method then in use. NFL 100 Greatest Games rated this game as the 4th greatest game. In addition to his 56-yard punt return touchdown, Chandler caught six passes for 106 yards. I felt pretty good. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. However, once again this amounted to nothing as Fouts was intercepted in the end zone by rookie safety Bobby Kemp. INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- 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. The AFC semifinal playoff game between San Diego and Miami was a wild roller-coaster ride, will be profiled on Thursday, October 20 at 4 p.m. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Then, with the Dolphins at San Diegos 40-yard line and six seconds until halftime, Miami shocked a nation. During the contest, he was treated for a pinched nerve in his shoulder, dehydration, severe cramps, and a gash in his lower lip that required three stitches. Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals, including one from 29-yards that gave the Chargers a 23-14 advantage with 2:40 remaining. The Bengals offensive line featured future Hall of Fame left tackle Anthony Muoz, who was selected by NFL coaches as the NFL Lineman of the Year Award winner during the season.[2]. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 2:31PM. In Miami it was called "The Miracle That Died." 25. Join our linker program. It became legendary. 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. Standings Regular Season Preseason Postseason Strength of Schedule 2023 Opponents Games Scoreboard Box Scores Previews Injury Report Weather Matchup History Game Score Lookup Stats Stat Index Player Stats Passing Rushing "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 his personal tour-de-force, a monument to arguably the first modern-era player at his position who caught more than he blocked. Brooks recorded 143 all-purpose yards (19 rushing, 31 receiving, 85 kickoff return, eight punt return) and a pair of touchdown catches. 90. The Chargers recovered and furiously drove downfield, culminating in the absurd. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 52. Former Denver Broncos safety Steve Atwater shows size doesn't matter to the NFL. Many consider it the greatest game in National Football League history. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Several plays later, Strock converted the turnover into points with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joe Rose, cutting the deficit to 2410. 9. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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.