"NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 2016 New England Patriots, who surmounted a 28-3 deficit in Super Bowl LI to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, land at No. Five players had more than 100 yards in receptions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Get box score updates on the Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers football game. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1998 Denver Broncos, who defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII behind the play of quarterback John Elway, running back Terrell Davis, wide receiver Rod Smith and tight end Shannon Sharpe, land at No. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Box Score; Play-by-Play; Team Stats; Herbert, short-handed defense lead . 100. 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. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1999 St. Louis Rams, who defeated the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV and were dubbed "The Greatest Show on Turf," land at the No. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. After a slow recovery, Bernischke had returned to San Diego that season. Miami's momentum continued into the second half. 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. Dolphins: At Buffalo next Saturday night. Box score for the Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers NFL game from December 11, 2022 on ESPN. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Up front, their line was anchored by Pro Bowl guard Doug Wilkerson. Theres stuff we can clean up, for sure.". Thats hard to take. The third quarter ended tied at 31. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. The playoffs had been a cruel mistress to San Diego, with head coach Don Coryells group knocked off as heavy favorite in the 1979 Divisionals by the Houston Oilers. Incredibly, a poll in the 1990s among Dolphins fans also saw The Epic in Miami voted as the greatest game their team ever played in, despite losing it and having won two previous Super Bowls. For the Chargers, The Epic in Miami is almost inarguably the greatest victory in franchise history. There were a lot of good things from all three phases. Said Chargers coach Don Coryell after the game: "I have coached for 31 or 32 years and this is tremendousThere has never been a game like this. The postseason tournament concluded with the San Francisco 49ers defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI, 26-21, on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan . All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Its the closest theyd get. Again, the Chargers blocked the kick. "I just don't buy it. The following is a list of all regular season and postseason games played between the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins. The Pro Football Hall of Fame named it the "NFL's Game of the '80s.". Faced with 3rd down and 7 inside the red zone later in the drive, Anderson kept the drive going with a 16-yard completion to Isaac Curtis on the Chargers 1-yard line, and fullback Pete Johnson scored a touchdown run on the next play, giving them a 177 lead. Both teams were coming off extremely narrow wins in the divisional playoffs. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Then on the Dolphins' next drive, David Woodley was intercepted by Chargers safety Glen Edwards, who returned the ball 35 yards, setting up Fouts' 8-yard touchdown pass to James Brooks. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bob Baumhower anchored the line, while linebackers A. J. Duhe and Earnie Rhone excelled at blitzing and pass coverage,[citation needed] combining for four interceptions. After intercepting the pass, Blackwood quickly lateraled the ball to Gerald Small, who returned it to the Chargers 15-yard line, setting up Nathan's 12-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter and giving Miami its first lead of the game. It really just goes back to the details of how we play our offense, and were not all dialed in with that.. Do you have a blog? It looked like the outcome of the game was already decided. On the opening drive of the second half, San Diego drove to the Bengals 38-yard line, only to lose their fourth turnover of the day when Reggie Williams stripped the ball from Chuck Muncie and Cincinnati lineman Ross Browner recovered it. . I will always think of that game as the greatest game ever in the NFL. The defense did an incredible job, Herbert said. Aided by a pair of receptions by Chandler and a 39-yard catch by Joiner, Fouts led his team 74 yards to Miami's 10-yard line, where Benirschke attempted a 29-yard field goal. Austin Ekeler, who finished with 104 scrimmage yards, had a 1-yard run off left tackle on fourth-and-goal with 18 seconds left in the quarter to extend the lead to 17-7. 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. Thank God we got out alive. Miami's defense also dominated Fouts, limiting him to 15 of 34 completions and intercepting him five times. Chargers cornerback Michael Davis slipped in coverage at the LA 40, allowing Hill to make an easy catch and saunter untouched to the end zone to get Miami to 17-14. Woodley was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1984 and spent the rest of his career as a backup before retiring after the 1985 season. Then Benirschke missed a 50-yard field goal try on the next play. Mike Williams 10 Yd pass from Justin Herbert (Cameron Dicker Kick), Tyreek Hill 57 Yd Fumble Recovery (Jason Sanders Kick), Austin Ekeler 1 Yd Run (Cameron Dicker Kick), Tyreek Hill 60 Yd pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Jason Sanders Kick). The Dolphins came in with the league's top-ranked pass offense. Woodley had a rather mediocre year, throwing for only 2,470 yards (6.7 yards per throw) and 12 touchdowns, with 13 interceptions and a passer rating of only 69.8, but he was a good scrambler, gaining 272 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 games in NFL history, and the San Diego Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins clash in the 1981 AFC Divisional Round lands at No. A picture of an exhausted Winslow being helped off the field by two teammates after the game is an enduring image in NFL lore and has been replayed constantly ever since. Nevertheless, the Bengals stormed right back on a drive set up by David Versers 40-yard kickoff return to the 46-yard line. 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]. Dolphins vs. Chargers score Dolphins vs. Chargers live updates, highlights from 'Sunday Night Football' (All times Eastern) Final: Chargers 23, Dolphins 17 11:24 p.m. The Dolphins. Theres a lot of investment, and its not good enough, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. [11]", "A great gameMaybe the greatest "NFL 100 Greatest" counts down the top 100 characters in NFL history, and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton lands at No. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Miami Dolphins 21 at San Diego Chargers 22 on January 8th, 1995 - Full team and player stats and box score. After a Bengals punt, Chandler gave the Chargers good field position with a 7-yard return to the 45-yard line. Ekeler finished with eight receptions for 59 yards. In an interview with NFL Network for its program "America's Game: The Missing Rings", Fouts later explained Brooks was not even supposed to be a receiver on the play. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. San Diego won their 3rd straight AFC West title in 1981 with a 10-6 record, based on a better division record over Denver, who also finished 10-6. 52. However, Miami ended up losing Super Bowl XVII to the Washington Redskins, 2717. 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. 29. They lack pizazz and flair for three quarters, but a field goal as time expires or a touchdown in the final minute leaves the impression of grandeur spanning 60 minutes. Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had a chance to win the game with four seconds left, but San Diego tight end Kellen Winslow blocked Uwe von Schamann's 43-yard field goal attempt, forcing overtime. Muncie rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown. Then, for us to make it a two-possession game, that was definitely what we wanted. A future Hall of Fame tight end, Winslow had his capstone performance that humid Florida night. His attempts, completions, and passing yards were all NFL postseason records. Almost 40 years later, its memory endures. As a sidenote, Cincinnati head coach Forrest Gregg had already participated in one of the coldest games in NFL history prior to this one. Brooks returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the 43-yard line. It was more of 'Thank God that's over. 4. video 'NFL 100 Greatest'. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The Chargers' high-powered offense led the NFL in scoring (478 points), passing yards (4,739), and total yards (6,744). Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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. San Diego also had an outstanding rushing attack, led by Pro Bowl running back Chuck Muncie, who rushed for 1,144 yards and a league-leading 19 touchdowns, while also catching 43 passes for 362 yards. But what seemed like an automatic, game-winning chip shot sailed wide left. His favorite targets were receivers Charlie Joiner (70 receptions, 1,188 yards, seven touchdowns) and Wes Chandler (52 receptions, 857 yards, five touchdowns in 12 games with San Diego, along with Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow (88 receptions, 1,075 yards, 10 touchdowns). Strock, a career backup, had the game of his life. The air temperature was 9F (23C), and wind chill was 59F (51C). Find out more. The "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 games in NFL history, and the San Diego Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins clash in the 1981 AFC Divisional Round lands at No. 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". Miami made it back to the Super Bowl in 1984, but they lost Super Bowl XIX to the San Francisco 49ers 3816. 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. ever. Miami scored and the Orange Bowl, once quiet, was whipped into bedlam. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. San Diego won the coin toss and marched down the field, driving inside the Dolphins 10-yard line. The Chargers (7-6) moved into position for the final AFC playoff berth, ahead of the New York Jets. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. After Miami's next drive resulted in an incompletion, two sacks, and a fumble (which Miami recovered), coach Don Shula replaced Woodley with Don Strock early in the second quarter to see whether he could spark the Dolphins offense, and that's precisely what he did, completing a 17-yard pass to Duriel Harris on his first play and leading them down the field to score their first points of the game on a 34-yard field goal by Uwe von Schamann. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. It was the first time in NFL history that two quarterbacks passed for more than 400 yards in a game. Do you have a sports website? The pass sailed over Winslow's head, but went right into the arms of Brooks for a touchdown to tie the game. Find out more. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Taking the ball back after the missed field goal, Cincinnati put the game away with a 14-play touchdown drive. Do you have a blog? "[12], The game featured many new records by players of both teams. With the exception of a 76-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Cefalo in the first quarter, Woodley had a poor performance, completing only 4 of 14 passes for 97 yards and one touchdown, with one interception. 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. How many were played in a historical venue and include a 24-0 lead, a late comeback by the team which blew said advantage, and goes almost a full five periods in sweltering heat? Hill became the only player in the Super Bowl era to score TDs via receiving, rushing, kick return, punt return and fumble return. Or write about sports? "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1992 Dallas Cowboys, who finished the regular season 13-3 and defeated the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in Super Bowl XXVII, land at No. 1994 NFL Scores & Schedule; San Diego Chargers Schedule; Miami Dolphins Schedule; On this page: Scoring; Game Info; Expected Points Summary; Team Stats; Passing, Rushing, & Receiving; With the players of both teams exhausted and dehydrated, everyone was hoping for a quick end to overtime, but that would not be the case. It became legendary. For the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins, their 1981 AFC Divisional playoff was supposed to be a good game. The Chargers broke 15 divisional playoff team records and tied two others. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Brooks had been assigned to stay in the backfield as a blocker, but with no Miami players coming at him from his side of the field, he decided to run a pass route into the end zone, and by simply running in the same direction as Fouts, he just happened to end up in the right spot to catch the pass intended for Winslow.[8]. Its pretty hard to believe that a guy would bite on that with six seconds to go, Strock told FOX Sports of 87 Circle Curl Lateral, but when it worked, it made every high school coach in the world happy because every high school has that play.. Cincinnati also had several stars on offense. But this time, San Diego managed to counter with a score of its own. In the strike shortened 1982 NFL season, David Woodley led Miami to a 72 record and 3 playoff wins to lead the Miami Dolphins to an NFL championship appearance in Super Bowl XVII. 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. 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. 11 spot. Johnson rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown, while also catching a pass for 14 yards. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Fouts, Winslow and Joiner all went on to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, without playing in a Super Bowl. "That's what Muhammad Ali said in Manila and that's how I felt out there at the end.". He spent the rest of his career as a backup and retired after 1988 as a backup for the Cleveland Browns. Former New England Patriots tight end Ben Watson goes ALL OUT in memorable chase-down play. In 2010, Jailen Cooper's wish was granted when he got to practice with the Raiders and tackle Darren McFadden. The Dolphins' "Killer B's" defense (nicknamed for the plethora of starters whose last name began with the letter "B") that had been Miami's strength all year wilted in the wake of the Chargers' "Air Coryell" aerial attack. In Miami it was called "The Miracle That Died." Do you have a blog? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 12 spot. Strock had the best single game performance of his career, completing 29 of 43 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns, a record that still stands for a quarterback coming off the bench. The game was played on January 10, 1982, at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, and televised by NBC, with announcers Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen. The Chargers defense was completely surprised and Nathan took it untouched for 29 yards down the sideline and a touchdown to cut the deficit to 2417. Miami Dolphins lead series 19-17- LA Chargers vs Miami Keenan Allen had three catches for 32 yards on the drive and finished with 12 receptions for 92 yards. 14. . How many represent the apex of an iconic team, while simultaneously representing the start of its end? All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. With the ball on the Miami 12, Bernischke had a chance for redemption. Seattle will not pick up the fifth-year option on starting inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks ahead of Tuesday's deadline, a source said. '[11], "If you didn't like this football game, you didn't [sic] like football. Game summary of the Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers NFL game, final score 17-23, from December 11, 2022 on ESPN. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins on Jan. 2, 1982 at the Orange Bowl, played in the oven-like heat of the south Florida night, was a see-saw affair that lasted 13:52 into overtime. 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. One of the playoff wins was a 3413 divisional win against the Chargers, avenging their loss from the previous season. 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. Several plays later, Chuck Muncie scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Five players had more than 100 yards in. In a play known as a "hook and lateral", Strock took the snap and threw to Duriel Harris at the right side of the 25-yard line. But this time, they could not return the AFC Championship Game for the third straight year, as the Dolphins avenged their defeat 3413 in the AFC Second Round playoffs, also in Miami. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 1986 New York Giants, who defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI, land at the No. My ball was intended for Kellen; Kellen was exhausted and really, out of nowhere flashes JB to make the catch for the score. 15. But the enduring image of the game was Winslow being carried from the field on the arms of his teammates. Find out more. San Diego won their 3rd straight AFC West title in 1981 with a 106 record, based on a better division record over Denver, who also finished 106. San Diego started out the game by driving down the field, featuring a 47-yard completion from Dan Fouts to Wes Chandler on 3rd and 14, and scoring with kicker Rolf Benirschke's 32-yard field goal. Safety, R. Davis tackled Parmalee in end zone. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. This time defensive end Leroy Jones got his hand in the way. After recovering a Chuck Muncie fumble, they moved into position for von Schamann to try a 34-yard field goal. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. . In National Football League lore, the Freezer Bowl is the nickname given to the 1981 AFC Championship Game between the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The following is a list of all regular season and postseason games played between the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers. Dolphins coach Don Shula said, "We knew afterwards that it had certainly one of the greatest games that's ever been played." The game was a showcase for Winslow, who in his third Charger season had already twice led the league in receptions. Woodley recovered from his poor performance in the Epic in Miami and regained his position as the Dolphins starting quarterback in the following season. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. On Miamis ensuing drive, he blocked Uwe von Schamanns 43-yard field goal attempt in the dying seconds, forcing sudden death. "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. 51. For the Chargers, elation. Following a 4-yard run by Charles Alexander, the Bengals scored a touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Anderson to tight end M. L. Harris, increasing their lead to 100. "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 teams in NFL history, and the 2004 New England Patriots, who defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX behind the play of quarterback Tom Brady, running back Corey Dillon, wide receivers Deoin Branch and Tr. (This game) is the main reason, I believe, that hes considered one of the greatest of all time and a Hall of Famer, Fouts said of Winslow on the Chargers site. San Diego then drove 55 yards and cut their deficit to 107 when Fouts, desperately trying to avoid a hit from lineman Eddie Edwards, managed to fire a pass to Kellen Winslow, who subsequently raced from the line of scrimmage 33 yards down the right sideline for a score. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 2:31PM. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. ", Miami linebacker Kim Bokamper said, "Every time I see it you wonder whether he should have gotten an Academy Award for the performance. Then linebacker Rick Razzano forced a fumble from Chargers rookie kick returner James Brooks, and Don Bass recovered for the Bengals on the San Diego 12-yard line. "Defensively we answered all the challenges in the game that we had to face. [13] Joiner caught seven passes for 108 yards. This time, his kick was good, giving the Chargers a 4138 win after 13 minutes and 52 seconds of overtime play.[10]. The "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 games in NFL history, and the Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders clash in Week 16 of the 2003 season lands at No. They did not cover, so people who took the Chargers won. Miami's defense ranked fifth in the NFL in fewest points allowed (275). However, Miami stormed right back with Strock completing numerous passes, the last one a 50-yard scoring strike to tight end Bruce Hardy, tying the game again at 31. 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. [5] Going into the locker rooms at halftime, the Dolphins had closed the game to within one score and regained the momentum. However, Cincinnati's defense halted the drive at the 18-yard line and it ended with no points when Rolf Benirschke, kicking into the fierce wind, missed a 37-yard field goal attempt. In addition to his 56-yard punt return touchdown, Chandler caught six passes for 106 yards. He ran the base line of the end zone. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. I would say the defenses that weve played have been playing exactly what weve expected them to play," Tagovailoa said. The Chargers defense quickly gave the offense another scoring opportunity, forcing a punt from Pat McInally that went just 32 yards to the Bengals 45. Harris caught six passes for 106 yards. In front of a prime-time audience, the Bolts responded with one of their best games of the season. He finished the contest with 13 catches (a divisional playoff record) for 166 yards and a touchdown plus the critical blocked field goal, all the while battling debilitating fatigue and muscle cramps. Copyright: ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. In a furious rally, the Dolphins got to within a touchdown of the lead at the end of the first half, a 17-point run punctuated by the famous "hook and ladder" play: Strock to Duriel Harris to Tony Nathan for the score on the last play of the first half.
