The Epic in Miami

NFL single game infobox
name=The Epic in Miami


caption=
visitor=San Diego Chargers
visitor abbr=SD
visitor coach=Don Coryell
visitor record=10-6
home=Miami Dolphins
home abbr=MIA
home coach=Don Shula
home record=11-4-1
visitor qtr1=24
visitor qtr2=0
visitor qtr3=7
visitor qtr4=7
visitor qtr5=3
visitor total=41
home qtr1=0
home qtr2=17
home qtr3=14
home qtr4=7
home qtr5=0
home total=38
date=1982-01-02
stadium=Miami Orange Bowl
city=Miami, Florida
referee=
attendance=
odds=
network=NBC
announcers=Don Criqui and John Brodie|

The Epic in Miami is the name given to a National Football League AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins that took place on January 2, 1982 in the Miami Orange Bowl. The game is one of the most famous in National Football League lore because of the conditions on the field, the performances of players on both teams, and the numerous records that were set [ [http://www.chargers-stats.com/Miami.html 1981 Miami Playoff Game ] ] . 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". The game aired on NBC with Don Criqui and John Brodie calling the action and Bryant Gumbel serving as the anchor.

Background

The Dolphins finished the 1981 regular season by winning the AFC East with an 11-4-1 record. Their offense was led by quarterbacks David Woodley and Don Strock. Woodley had a rather mediocre year, throwing for only 2,470 yards and 12 touchdowns, with 13 interceptions, but he was a good scrambler, gaining 272 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Strock was widely considered to be one of the best reserve quarterbacks in the league and had played in 15 of 16 regular-season games [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=STROCDON01 Don Strock Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com ] ] . Receivers Jimmy Cefalo (29 receptions, 631 yards, three touchdowns) and Duriel Harris (53 receptions, 911 yards, two touchdowns) provided the main deep threat on the team. Halfback Tony Nathan was the top rusher on the Dolphins with 782 yards on just 147 carries, giving him a league-leading 5.3-yards-per-carry average, while also catching 50 passes for 432 yards and scoring eight touchdowns. Fullback Andra Franklin provided the team with good blocking, and he was also a good ball carrier, rushing for 711 yards and seven touchdowns. Miami’s offensive line was anchored by Pro Bowl guard Ed Newman and center Dwight Stephenson.

Miami’s defense ranked fifth in the NFL in fewest points allowed (275). Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bob Baumhower anchored the line, while linebackers A. J. Duhe and Earnie Rhone excelled at blitzing and pass coverageFact|date=July 2007, combining for four interceptions. The Dolphins' secondary, consisting of Mike Kozlowski, Fulton Walker and brothers Lyle and Glenn Blackwood was also extremely talentedFact|date=July 2007.

San Diego finished the season with a 10-6 record. The Chargers' high-powered offense led the NFL in scoring (478 points), passing yards (4,873), and total yards (6,878). Quarterback Dan Fouts made the Pro Bowl for the third year in a row, completing 360 of 609 passes for an NFL record 4,802 yards and 33 touchdowns, with only 17 interceptions. His favorite targets were receivers Charlie Joiner (70 receptions, 1,188 yards, seven touchdowns) and Wes Chandler (69 receptions, 1,142 yards, six touchdowns), along with Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow (88 receptions, 1,070 yards, 10 touchdowns). 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 46 passes for 362 yards. Rookie running back James Brooks was also a major contributor, rushing for 525 yards, catching 46 passes for 329 yards, and adding another 1,239 yards returning punts and kickoffs. Up front, their line was anchored by Pro Bowl guard Doug Wilkerson.

However, San Diego's defense ranked only 26th in the league (at the time there were only 28 teams) in points allowed (390) and 27th in total yards allowed (6,520). Only defensive tackle Gary Johnson from the Chargers defense made the Pro Bowl. One of the few other bright spots on their defense was defensive back Willie Buchanon, who led the team with five interceptions.

The Game

First Quarter

San Diego started out the game by marching down the field on the opening drive and scoring with kicker Rolf Benirschke's 32-yard field goal. The Chargers' defense then forced Miami to punt on their ensuing possession, and receiver Wes Chandler returned the ball 56 yards for a touchdown, increasing his team's lead to 10-0. Then on the ensuing kickoff, the Chargers caught another break when the ball surprisingly bounced back in their direction and was recovered by San Diego. Several plays later, Chuck Muncie scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Then on the Dolphins' next drive, David Woodley was intercepted by Chargers safety Glen Edwards, who returned the ball 35 yards, setting up Dan Fouts' 8-yard touchdown pass to James Brooks. By the time the first quarter ended, San Diego had a commanding 24-0 lead. It looked like the outcome of the game was already decided.

econd Quarter

But the Dolphins didn't give up. Coach Don Shula replaced Woodley with Don Strock early in the second quarter to see whether he could spark Miami's offense, and that's precisely what he did, leading them down the field to score their first points of the game on a 34-yard field goal from Uwe von Schamann. This seemed to fire up the Dolphins defense, who forced and recovered a fumble from San Diego on the ensuing drive, giving the ball back to the offense with great field position on the Chargers' 39-yard line. Several plays later, Strock converted the turnover into points with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joe Rose, cutting their deficit to 24-10. Later in the quarter, San Diego faced a fourth down on the Dolphins 37-yard line. 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. Three plays later, the Dolphins moved the ball to San Diego's 40-yard line with only 6 seconds left in the quarter and attempted one last play to score before halftime. In a play known as the "hook and lateral", Strock took the snap and threw a pass intended for Duriel Harris at the 20-yard line. Harris caught the ball and immediately lateraled it to Tony Nathan, who then took it 25 yards to the end zone, cutting the deficit to 24-17 at halftime.

Third and Fourth Quarters

The Dolphins' momentum continued into the next quarter. Early in the third quarter, Strock led the Dolphins 74 yards down the field and finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Rose, tying the game at 24. But this time, San Diego managed to counter with a score of their own. Fouts led the Chargers 60 yards in six plays, scoring on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow to regain the lead. However, Miami stormed right back with Strock completing six consecutive passes, the last one a 50-yard scoring strike to tight end Bruce Hardy, tying the game again at 31.

With less than a minute left in the third period, Lyle Blackwood intercepted a pass from Fouts and returned it eight yards to the Chargers 15-yard line, setting up Nathan's 12-yard touchdown run of the first play of the fourth quarter and giving Miami their first lead of the game. Later in the quarter, with Miami just trying to maintain their lead and run out the clock, Chargers safety Pete Shaw recovered a fumble from Andra Franklin on San Diego's 18-yard line with 4:39 left in regulation. Fouts then led his team down to Miami's nine-yard line. With only 58 seconds left in the game, a heavy Dolphins pass rush forced Fouts to throw a blind pass intended for Winslow in the end zone. The pass sailed over Winslow's head, but went right into the arms of Brooks for a touchdown to tie the game.

Miami took over on their own 40-yard line following Benirschke's squib kick, needing only a field goal to win. Strock then led the Dolphins to the Chargers 26-yard line where Von Schamann attempted a 43-yard field goal, but at the last second, Winslow broke through the Dolphins offensive line and blocked the kick, sending the game into overtime.

Overtime

With the players of both teams exhausted and dehydrated, everyone was hoping for a quick end in the extra period, but that would not be the case. San Diego won the coin toss and marched down the field, driving inside the Dolphins' ten-yard line. Benirschke then attempted a game winning 27-yard field goal, but a bad snap and poor hold threw off his timing and the kick sailed wide left. Miami then drove deep into Chargers territory, setting up a 34-yard field goal attempt for Von Schamann, but his kick was low, and defensive lineman Leroy Jones managed to leap in the air and block it.

San Diego took over at their own 16-yard line after the blocked field goal. Aided by a pair of receptions by Charlie Joiner for gains of 20 and 29 yards, Fouts led his team 74 yards to Miami's ten-yard line, where Benirschke attempted a 29-yard field goal. This time, his kick was good, giving the Chargers a 41-38 win after 13 minutes and 52 seconds of overtime play.

Post-game quotes

Said Chargers coach Don Coryell after the game:

"I have coached for 31 or 32 years and this is tremendous...There has never been a game like this. It was probably the most exciting game in pro football history [http://www.chargers-stats.com/Miami.html NFL FANS VOTE ’81 CHARGERS-DOLPHINS DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF NINTH MOST MEMORABLE GAME OF CENTURY] Chargers All-time Roster and Stats. Accessed 12 July 2007.] ."

Shula agreed:

"A great game...Maybe the greatest ever [http://www.chargers-stats.com/Miami.html NFL FANS VOTE ’81 CHARGERS-DOLPHINS DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF NINTH MOST MEMORABLE GAME OF CENTURY] Chargers All-time Roster and Stats. Accessed 12 July 2007.] ."

Chargers running back Hank Bauer:

"The locker-room celebration was more low key than other locker rooms I’d been in. It was more of "Thank God that’s over. Thank God we got out alive [http://www.chargers-stats.com/Miami.html NFL FANS VOTE ’81 CHARGERS-DOLPHINS DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF NINTH MOST MEMORABLE GAME OF CENTURY] Chargers All-time Roster and Stats. Accessed 12 July 2007.] ."

coring summary

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Chargers
R1=24
R2=0
R3=7
R4=7
R5=3
RT=41
Home=Dolphins
H1=0
H2=17
H3=14
H4=7
H5=0
HT=38

*SD - FG Benirschke 32 SD 3-0
*SD - Chandler 56 punt return (Benirschke kick) SD 10-0
*SD - Muncie 1 run (Benirschke kick) SD 17-0
*SD - Brooks 8 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick) SD 24-0
*MIA - FG von Schamann 34 SD 24-3
*MIA - Rose 1 pass from Strock (von Schamann kick) SD 24-10
*MIA - Nathan 25 lateral pass from Harris (von Schamann kick) SD 24-17
*MIA - Rose 15 pass from Strock (von Schamann kick) 24-24
*SD - Winslow 25 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick) SD 31-24
*MIA - Hardy 50 pass from Strock (von Schamann kick) 31-31
*MIA - Nathan 12 run (von Schamann kick) MIA 38-31
*SD - Brooks 9 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick) 38-38
*SD - FG Benirschke 29 SD 41-38

Records and Individual Performances

The game featured many new records by players of both teams. By the time it was over Miami and San Diego had set playoff records for the most points scored by both teams (79), most total yards by both teams (1,036), and most passing yards by both teams (836) [ [http://www.chargers-stats.com/Miami.html 1981 Miami Playoff Game ] ] .

Strock had the best single game performance of his career, completing 29 of 43 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns. Harris caught six passes for 106 yards. Nathan rushed for 48 yards, caught nine passes for 114 yards, and scored two touchdowns. Hardy caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Fouts finished the game completing 33 of 53 passing attempts for a franchise record 433 yards and three touchdowns. His attempts, completions, and passing yards were all NFL postseason records [ [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/decades/1980s/shootout.jsp History: The Classic Shootout - Pro Football Hall of Fame ] ] . Joiner caught seven passes for 108 yards. Muncie rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown. In addition to his 56-yard punt return touchdown, Chandler caught six passes for 106 yards. Brooks recorded 143 all-purpose yards (19 rushing, 31 receiving, 85 kickoff return, eight punt return) and a pair of touchdown catches [ [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/decades/1980s/shootout.jsp Playoff Classic in '81] Pro Football Hall of Fame. Accessed 12 July 2007.] .

But perhaps the best performance of the game was put in by Kellen Winslow. In addition to his blocked field goal, he recorded an NFL playoff record 13 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown, despite suffering numerous injuries. 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. 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 [ [http://www.chargers.com/news/headlines/news-1011340800.htm Chargers.com - News » Headlines » Chargers epic ’82 playoff win in Miami ] ] .

Aftermath

an Diego Chargers

One week after their victory over the Dolphins in Florida's scorching heat, the Chargers traveled to Cincinnati to face the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC championship game in the coldest game in NFL history based on the wind chill. The air temperature was -9 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 °C), and wind chill was -59 °F (-51 °C). This ended up being another famous game in NFL lore [http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=1148] , and has since became known as the Freezer Bowl. But this time, it did not end well for the Chargers. The Bengals defeated San Diego 27-7, eliminating their hopes for a Super Bowl.

The following season, which was shortened to nine games because of a players strike, Fouts led the Chargers to a 6-3 record and back to the divisional playoffs with a 31-28 wildcard win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. But this time, they could not make it to the AFC title game, losing a divisional game to the Dolphins 34-13.

The loss to Miami in the playoffs after the 1982 season was the last postseason game that Fouts, Winslow, Joiner, and coach Coryell would ever participate in, as the Chargers did not return to the postseason again until 1992. Fouts, Winslow and Joiner all went on to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but they never got to play in a Super Bowl. The only significant contributor in "The Epic in Miami" who did go to a Super Bowl was Brooks, made it to Super Bowl XXIII as a member of the Bengals.

Miami Dolphins

Woodley recovered from his poor performance in "The Epic in Miami" and regained his position as the Dolphins starting quarterback in the following season. In the strike shortened 1982 NFL season, David Woodley led Miami to a 7-2 record and 3 playoff wins to lead the Miami Dolphins to a NFL championship appearance in Super Bowl XVII. One of the playoff wins was a 34-13 divisional win against the Chargers, avenging their loss from the previous season. This time, Woodley was a key contributor for his team, completing 17 of 22 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, while also rushing for 14 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Miami's defense also dominated Fouts, limiting him to 15 of 34 completions and intercepting him five times. However, Miami ended up losing Super Bowl XVII to the Washington Redskins, 27-17. 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 following season, Woodley lost his starting spot to rookie Dan Marino. 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. Don Strock's incredible performance in "The Epic in Miami" ended up being the main highlight of his career. He spent the rest of his career as a backup and retired after 1988 as a backup to the Cleveland Browns.

Miami made it back to the Super Bowl in the 1984, but they lost Super Bowl XIX to the San Francisco 49ers 38-16. None of the primary players in "The Epic in Miami" ever won a Super Bowl ring except for left guard Bob Kuechenberg who was part of the Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins 1972 perfect team and 1973 team; however, two participants, coach Donald F. Shula and center Dwight Stephenson went on to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Officials

*Referee: Fred Wyant

References

External links

* [http://www.chargers.com/news/headlines/news-1011340800.htm Chargers epic ’82 playoff win in Miami]
* [http://pro-football-reference.com/ pro-football-reference.com]
* [http://databasefootball.com/ databasefootball.com]
* [http://www.chargers-stats.com/Miami.html Chargers-stats.com's story on the game, contains many quotes and interviews, and a detailed recap]
* [http://www.chargers.com/news/headlines/news-1011340800.htm story on the game from the Chargers official website]
* [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/decades/1980s/shootout.jsp pro football hall of fame story on the game, includes the complete box score]