1976: Cards Beat Chargers in Preseason Game in Tokyo

It was a National Football League first on August 16, 1976 when the San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Cardinals met for a preseason game in Tokyo, Japan. While NFL contests had been played in Canada, never before had one occurred outside of North America.

The game was referred to as the Mainichi Star Bowl since it was jointly sponsored by the Mainichi Newspaper Company and the Sports Nippon Newspaper Company as part of the United States Bicentennial celebration.

There were 38,000 fans in attendance in a misty rain at the Korakuen Stadium, normally used for baseball. The crowd was mostly Japanese with some Americans for the Monday night contest and the atmosphere was festive. Fans were enthusiastic and occasionally engaged in chants during the contest, such as “Chargers, Chargers, Banzai! Banzai!” and “Cardinals, attack the ball!”

Many citizens of the city of Suwa in central Japan, which had engaged in several cultural exchanges with St. Louis, were at the game, led by Mayor Setsuji Iwamoto. Four firemen played Japanese army assault marches on their bugles while another citizen of the city banged on a drum.

“They are such nice people, and they respond very quickly to our action,” said Lori West, a University of Missouri student and cheerleader for the Cardinals.

As for the participants on the field, it was the third preseason game for each club. The Cardinals, coached by Don Coryell for the fourth year, were coming off of consecutive NFC East titles and had been 11-3 in 1975. San Diego was a less successful club under the direction of Head Coach Tommy Prothro and posted a 2-12 record the previous year, its sixth straight losing season. In a rebuilding mode, the Chargers hired Bill Walsh away from Cincinnati to be offensive coordinator and especially to provide guidance for young QB Dan Fouts.

Neither team generated much of a ground attack in the early going. In the first quarter, Jim Bakken kicked a 30-yard field goal for the Cards and, in the second quarter, St. Louis again moved into scoring position thanks to a nine-yard carry by HB Jerry Latin and a run by HB Wayne Morris that picked up five for a first down at the San Diego 15. From there, QB Bill Donckers threw a touchdown pass to WR Pat Tilley and Bakken converted to put the Cards up by 10-0. San Diego finally got on the board with four seconds left in the first half as Sergio Albert booted a 30-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, a bad punt by a heavily-rushed Terry Joyce of the Cards, kicking from his own end zone, gave the Chargers possession at the St. Louis 28. Dan Fouts tossed a four-yard completion to WR Charlie Joiner before throwing a 23-yard TD pass to WR Dwight McDonald and Albert added the extra point that tied the contest at 10-10.

The Cardinals came right back as Jim Hart went long to WR Ike Harris in a play that covered 52 yards for a touchdown. Bakken closed out the scoring with a 10-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and St. Louis won by a final tally of 20-10.

The game was pass-heavy, with the Cards running 41 times for 105 yards and San Diego gaining just 34 yards on 19 attempts. St. Louis had 20 first downs to 12 for the Chargers.

Bill Donckers and Jim Hart both threw 14 passes apiece for the Cardinals, with Donckers, the backup, completing 10 for 94 yards and a touchdown and Hart 9 for 111 yards and a TD. Neither was intercepted. Wayne Morris gained 49 yards on 14 carries and Pat Tilley caught 4 passes for 54 yards.

For the Chargers, Dan Fouts completed just 4 of 10 passes for 70 yards while backup Jesse Freitas was successful on 9 of 20 for 85 yards and was intercepted once. FB Jim Harrison had 28 yards on 6 carries to pace the club in rushing. Dwight McDonald caught two passes for 44 yards and a TD.

In the regular season, St. Louis put together a 10-4 record but just missed the playoffs this time, ending up third in the NFC East. The Chargers improved to 6-8 and third in the AFC West.

As a side note, Bill Walsh stayed for a year with the Chargers before departing for Stanford, and Dan Fouts, who showed much improvement under Walsh’s guidance, would go on to Hall of Fame success after Don Coryell left the Cards and came to San Diego to replace Tommy Prothro.

As for the NFL playing outside of North America, the next overseas preseason game occurred in London, UK in 1983, and London would become a regular host to preseason and, eventually, regular season contests. The NFL would also return to Tokyo, but not until 1989, and for preseason games only.

1973: Cards Hire Don Coryell as Head Coach

On January 18, 1973 the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL dipped into the college ranks to hire Don Coryell as the new head coach. The 48-year-old Coryell of San Diego State replaced Bob Hollway, who was fired directly following a second straight 4-9-1 record in 1972 with one year remaining on his three-year contract. The Cardinals had not reached the postseason since 1948, although they were contenders several times under Wally Lemm and Charley Winner during the 1960s.

Coryell’s record at San Diego State was 104-19-2 over twelve seasons, including 10-1 in 1972. Prior to that, the former college defensive back spent one year as coach at Wenatchee Junior College in Washington in 1955 and then coached a service team at Fort Ord in California that went undefeated in ’56. Moving on to Whittier College, his teams had a 23-5-1 record and won three conference championships.

Prior to his arrival in 1961, the Aztecs had gone through lean years and hit rock bottom with back-to-back 1-6-1 records in the two seasons immediately preceding. Coryell recruited junior college players and his teams were known for their pass-oriented offense. He had success with future pro quarterbacks Don Horn, Dennis Shaw, and Brian Sipe, and notable wide receivers included Gary Garrison, Isaac Curtis, and Haven Moses. John Madden and Joe Gibbs were assistant coaches, and Gibbs rejoined Coryell in St. Louis along with two of his current assistants, Rod Dowhower and Jim Hanifan, who all went on to head coaching jobs in the NFL.

Asked about his decision to move to a pro team, Coryell explained that “I was as far as I could go in the situation I was in.” He had a written a letter to owner Bill Bidwill expressing his interest in the job.

“I’m not a disciplinarian in the way I try to get people to do things,” said the soft-spoken Coryell of his manner of handling players. “They do it or they don’t play.”

“I believe in a wide-open style of play,” said Coryell with regard to his offensive strategy, which ran counter to the prevailing wisdom in the NFL at the time. “I like to throw the ball. I believe in attacking the defense.”

The quarterback Coryell inherited was Jim Hart (pictured at left), a 29-year-old veteran who had been unheralded coming out of Southern Illinois in 1966, showed great promise when forced into the starting job in ’67, but had endured challenges from Pete Beathard, Gary Cuozzo, and Tim Van Galder in recent years.  A classic drop-back passer who was at his best throwing long, Hart prospered in Coryell’s offense.

TE Jackie Smith was a talented veteran receiver and WR Mel Gray was up-and-coming. HB Donny Anderson was still effective at age 30, but was joined by speedy rookie Terry Metcalf out of Long Beach State. There were also good young linemen in OT Dan Dierdorf, G Conrad Dobler, and C Tom Banks, in addition to savvy veteran OT Ernie McMillan. The defense included a good group of linebackers in Larry Stallings, Pete Barnes, and Mark Arneson. CB Roger Wehrli was the best of the defensive backs and DT Dave Butz was a promising rookie. To top things off, Jim Bakken was an accomplished placekicker who had been with the club since 1962.

The Cardinals duplicated their 4-9-1 record in 1973. Hart performed capably but played with injuries during the second half of the season and missed two games altogether (rookie Gary Keithley, also the punter, filled in). Moreover, the team ranked 12^th in the league in offensive production but 26^th in defense.

St. Louis broke out with a 10-4 record in 1974, making it into the postseason for the first time in 26 years. Hart had a Pro Bowl year as he threw for 2411 yards and led the NFC in touchdown passes (20) and completions (200), while giving up just eight interceptions. He was sacked only 16 times, a tribute to the improvement on the offensive line. Metcalf also gained Pro Bowl recognition for his outstanding all-around performance, gaining a total of 2058 yards (718 on 152 rushing attempts, 377 on 50 catches, 623 on 20 kickoff returns and 340 on 26 punt returns). FB Jim Otis provided inside power and Mel Gray also reached the Pro Bowl. The dependable Jackie Smith had a new backup and heir apparent in rookie J.V. Cain.  The defense, under the direction of coordinator Ray Willsey, was significantly better, allowing 147 fewer points and almost a thousand less yards than in ’73. Wehrli was chosen to the Pro Bowl and CB Norm Thompson intercepted six passes, while DT Bob Rowe was outstanding on the line that lost Butz for the year in the season’s opening week. After getting off to a 7-0 start, the Cards had a rougher time during the second half of the season but still topped the NFC East. They lost to Minnesota in the Divisional playoff round.

The Cardinals repeated as division champs in 1975 with an 11-3 record. The offense was even more productive. Hart threw more interceptions (19) but also 19 touchdowns and 2507 yards and again was chosen to the Pro Bowl. Metcalf outdid himself by setting a NFL record with 2462 all-purpose yards, scoring 13 touchdowns with at least one apiece via rushing, pass receiving, returning a punt, and returning a kickoff, and Otis led the NFC in rushing with 1076 yards. Both joined Hart as Pro Bowl choices, and so did Dan Dierdorf and Conrad Dobler on the line that allowed just eight sacks.  Gray was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection as well (48 catches, 926 yards, 11 TDs). On defense, the pass rush was still unexceptional, but Wehrli and Thompson intercepted 13 passes between them, and the former was also a consensus first-team All-Pro. But once more the Cards couldn’t win in the postseason, losing to the Rams.

The record in 1976 was still strong at 10-4, although in the highly-competitive NFC East that was only good for third place (thanks to being swept by the Redskins, who managed the same record) and the Cards missed the playoffs. Hart had a third straight Pro Bowl year, tossing 18 touchdown passes while his yardage increased (2946) and his interceptions dropped (13). Metcalf and Otis had lesser, if still good, seasons. WR Ike Harris emerged with 52 catches for 782 yards across from Gray, still a dangerous deep threat and Pro Bowler. Bakken was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection for the second straight year with perhaps his greatest season in his 15^th year, connecting on 20 of 27 field goal attempts, several of which were pivotal in victories. But the pass rush continued to be disappointing and injuries were a problem at middle linebacker.

The Cards dropped down to 7-7 in 1977. Hart, Metcalf, Gray, Dierdorf, Dobler, Banks, and Wehrli were still Pro Bowl performers, but after breaking out to a 7-3 start, the club lost its last four games. Friction developed with the front office, where Bidwill insisted on cutting costs and salary disputes with several veterans affected team morale. Coryell also chafed at not having a voice in personnel decisions, the team had not drafted well, and he became increasingly outspoken about the situation. 

Coryell resigned as head coach following the season, having compiled a 42-27-1 record that included two division titles. In just five years, he had become the winningest coach in the team’s long history (he was eventually surpassed by Ken Whisenhunt). At a time when zone defenses ruled and teams tended toward ground-oriented offenses, Coryell proved that an aggressive passing offense could still be successful.

Coryell did not remain out of work long, returning to San Diego as head coach of the Chargers during the 1978 season and remaining there until 1986, enjoying even more success (if still never achieving a championship).  With outstanding personnel and rules changes that went into effect in ’78 to benefit the passing game, Coryell was able to further innovate and develop an even more explosive offensive attack.

Bidwill and the Cardinals again went with a successful college coach to replace Coryell, although in this instance it was 62-year-old Bud Wilkinson, who had last manned the sidelines at Oklahoma 15 years earlier before moving to the broadcast booth. With the loss of key personnel, including Metcalf, who jumped to the CFL, and Harris and Dobler, dealt to New Orleans, the result was a drop to 6-10 in ’78. It was the first of four straight losing seasons until the team went 5-4 in the strike-shortened 1982 season under Jim Hanifan, the former Coryell assistant.

1981: Chargers Overcome Bills with Fouts TD Pass in AFC Divisional Playoff Game

The NFL’s most productive passing offense was up against the top passing defense as the San Diego Chargers hosted the Buffalo Bills in an AFC Divisional Playoff game on January 3, 1981. Under Head Coach Don Coryell, the Chargers were highly potent through the air as QB Dan Fouts (pictured at right) broke his own season passing yardage record with 4715 and an unprecedented three receivers gained over a thousand yards – WR John Jefferson (1340), TE Kellen Winslow (1290), and WR Charlie Joiner (1132). The addition of RB Chuck Muncie in a midseason trade with the Saints added an effective rushing element. While overshadowed by the offense, the defensive line was strong and led the league with 60 sacks. The Chargers topped the AFC West with an 11-5 record and, having been upset by the Oilers in the first round of the playoffs the previous year, were hungry to win.

Buffalo under Chuck Knox, a defensive-minded coach formerly with the Rams, was back in the postseason for the first time since 1974 after winning the AFC East, also at 11-5. NT Fred Smerlas anchored a tough defensive line and inside linebackers Jim Haslett and Shane Nelson were solid. FS Bill Simpson, an ex-Ram, was inserted into the lineup when Jeff Nixon went down for the season with a knee injury with good results.  QB Joe Ferguson directed a ground-oriented offense that benefited from the addition of rookie RB Joe Cribbs, who gained 1600 yards from scrimmage and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

There were 52,253 fans in attendance for the Saturday afternoon contest at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Buffalo’s Joe Ferguson reinjured his ankle five plays into the game, but after it was re-taped, he returned to action (it was only well afterward that it was discovered he had a hairline fracture). Meanwhile, backup QB Dan Manucci was under center for the remainder of Buffalo’s series, but the Bills failed to score when Nick Mike-Mayer’s 44-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright.

San Diego also had injury problems in the early going, losing Gregg McCrary, their second tight end, and DE Charles DeJurnett for the remainder of the game. Still, the Chargers advanced to the Buffalo four and scored first on a 22-yard field goal by Rolf Benirschke.

On Buffalo’s second series, which stretched into the early moments of the second quarter, the Bills responded by driving 72 yards to a one-yard touchdown carry by FB Roosevelt Leaks. Mike-Mayer added the extra point that put the visitors up by 7-3.

San Diego had a chance to narrow the margin, but Benirschke was short on a 43-yard field goal attempt. With time running out in the first half, the Bills got a break on defense when CB Charles Romes forced Charlie Joiner to fumble and Bill Simpson recovered at the San Diego 33. Four plays later, Ferguson (pictured at left) passed to WR Frank Lewis for a TD with 16 seconds remaining on the clock. Mike-Mayer again converted and Buffalo took a 14-3 lead into the intermission.

Facing a potential upset, San Diego had first possession in the second half and went 70 yards in just four plays. Chuck Muncie had an 18-yard carry and Fouts connected with Joiner for a 45-yard gain to the Buffalo eight. Fouts went to Joiner again for a nine-yard touchdown and, with Benirschke adding the PAT, Buffalo’s lead was cut to 14-10.

The Bills had an opportunity to add to their lead, but an apparent 43-yard pass play from Ferguson to Lewis that would have put the ball on the San Diego 21 was nullified by a holding penalty.

Later in the period, the Bills were pinned back at their eight yard line and had to punt, giving the Chargers the ball at the Buffalo 49. After advancing to the one, and as the game entered the final period, an illegal procedure penalty moved them back and they settled for a 22-yard Benirschke field goal.

Down by a point, the Chargers again reached Buffalo territory but failed to score when WR Ron Smith couldn’t hold onto a pass that was picked off by Simpson at the Buffalo seven. The Bills had a chance to score after SS Mike Fuller fumbled on a punt return in his own territory, but, following two runs and a short pass, Mike-Mayer missed a 49-yard field goal with four minutes remaining in regulation.

It did not look promising for the Chargers on their next series, especially when a second-down pass was nearly intercepted by Romes, who stepped in front of Jefferson but couldn’t hold onto the ball that bounced off of his chest. Facing a third-and-ten situation with 2:08 left on the clock, the Chargers lined up with five receivers. Fouts threw to Smith, who gathered the ball in at the 24 just ahead of Simpson and went the distance for a 50-yard touchdown. Benirschke added the extra point and San Diego was ahead by six points.

There was still time remaining, but FS Glen Edwards intercepted a desperation pass by Ferguson, his second of the game, to seal the 20-14 win for the Chargers.

San Diego had the lead in total yards (397 to 214) and first downs (21 to 17). The teams were essentially even in rushing yards (97 to 96 in favor of the Bills) but the Chargers were far ahead in net passing yards (301 to 147). San Diego recorded three sacks, at a cost of 33 yards, while Buffalo had two for 13 yards. Each team turned the ball over three times.

Dan Fouts completed 22 of 37 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, giving up one interception. Chuck Muncie (pictured below) rushed for 80 yards on 18 carries and had 6 catches for 53 more yards. John Jefferson had 7 pass receptions for 102 yards while Charlie Joiner added 83 yards on four catches that included a TD.

Ron Smith caught only four passes during the regular season after being obtained from the Rams following the preseason. He had caught a long touchdown reception in LA’s upset of the Cowboys in the playoffs the previous year and his lone catch against Buffalo, following two drops, resulted in the game’s biggest play.

For the Bills, the hobbled Joe Ferguson put on a gritty performance and was successful on 15 of 29 throws for 180 yards and a TD, although he was intercepted three times. Joe Cribbs was held to 53 yards on 18 rushing attempts and compiled another 36 yards on four receptions. TE Mark Brammer led the team with 62 yards on his four catches and Frank Lewis contributed three receptions for 45 yards and a score.

“It’s one of the oldest plays in the book – throwing to the man who has the least amount of coverage,” explained Dan Fouts regarding the winning touchdown play.

“I saw the middle of the field open and I took advantage of it,” added Ron Smith. “Their defense was rotating to Jefferson and that left me one-on-one on their safety in the corner.”

“I had a pretty good game,” said Bill Simpson from the Buffalo perspective. “I had a fumble recovery, an interception, a lot of tackles. But everyone is going to remember that last play, including myself. That’s going from the penthouse to the outhouse in a matter of minutes.”

The Chargers faced the division-rival Oakland Raiders, who had qualified for the playoffs as a Wild Card, for the AFC Championship and lost a close contest. They won a third consecutive division title in 1981. Buffalo again reached the postseason, this time as a Wild Card, and was again eliminated at the Divisional level.

Ron Smith was back with San Diego in 1981, but after catching three passes in nine games, he was released and picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles. He finished out the year with the Eagles and stayed with them during the strike-shortened ’82 season, when he had his most productive year in the NFL, catching 34 passes for 475 yards (14.0 avg.) and one touchdown. But the two most notable events in his career would be the playoff touchdowns for the Rams and Chargers. 

1982: Raiders Overcome 24-Point Deficit to Beat Chargers in LA Debut

The Raiders made their long-delayed regular season home debut as a Los Angeles team against the San Diego Chargers on November 22, 1982. Having made the move from Oakland to LA in the face of much resistance from the NFL, the Raiders won their first two games on the road before the 57-day players’ strike put the entire league on hiatus.

The Raiders, coached by Tom Flores, fell to 7-9 in ’81, which was their first sub-.500 record since 1964, and were looking to rebound. QB Jim Plunkett had been troubled by injuries but was healthy again and HB Marcus Allen (pictured above), the first draft choice out of USC, was a welcome addition to the offense – indeed, the game against the Chargers marked his return to the stadium where he had starred in college and won the Heisman Trophy. Todd Christensen took over as starting tight end in place of the injured Derrick Ramsey with promising results. On defense, DE Lyle Alzado was obtained from the Browns and combined with second-year DE Howie Long to provide an enhanced pass rush.

San Diego came into the game at 1-1 following the long layoff. Under offensive-minded Head Coach Don Coryell, the Chargers boasted the league’s most prolific passing attack, guided by QB Dan Fouts and including TE Kellen Winslow and wide receivers Charlie Joiner and Wes Chandler. RB Chuck Muncie provided power and all-purpose RB James Brooks speed.

Skies were overcast for the nationally-televised Monday night game at the Memorial Coliseum with just 42,162 fans in attendance. Fans were disgruntled from the long work stoppage and, as was the case at other locales in this first post-strike weekend, there were many no-shows. The Chargers had the first possession and drove 79 yards in 12 plays. Dan Fouts was quick to go to the air and completed six passes along the way, the longest to TE Eric Sievers for 21 yards, and two penalties on the Raiders helped the visitors along. But with first-and-goal at the one, three carries by Chuck Muncie netted a loss of a yard and Rolf Benirschke kicked a 19-yard field goal.

The Raiders were forced to punt following their first series and San Diego moved quickly to another score, advancing 83 yards in just four plays. Following a five-yard run by Muncie, Fouts (pictured below) connected on passes of 12 yards to Sievers and 22 yards to Charlie Joiner. A personal foul on the Raiders added another ten yards and then Fouts threw to WR Dwight Scales for a 29-yard touchdown. Benirschke added the extra point and the Chargers were ahead by 10-0.

QB Jim Plunkett was intercepted by FS Tim Fox on the next possession, but while Fouts completed passes to Muncie for 27 yards and three to WR Wes Chandler that picked up a total of 41 yards, the Chargers ultimately had to punt. As the game headed into the second quarter, the Raiders also punted and, with good starting field position at the LA 48, San Diego moved quickly down the field. Fouts had completions to Chandler for 24 yards and Kellen Winslow for 19 yards to reach the five yard line, and two plays later Muncie ran up the middle for a two-yard TD. Benirschke added the point after to make it a 17-0 contest.

The Raiders moved well on their next series as Plunkett completed three passes, the longest to WR Malcolm Barnwell for a gain of 25 yards. Marcus Allen picked up 15 yards on a sweep and HB Greg Pruitt ran for another 13, but after reaching the San Diego 29, Plunkett was sacked by DE Leroy Jones for an 11-yard loss and then was intercepted by LB Cliff Thrift. The Chargers made the most of the turnover, going 57 yards in six plays, although it was a 42-yard pass interference penalty on CB Ted Watts that moved them all the way to the LA two. Muncie dove for a one-yard touchdown shortly thereafter and, with Benirschke’s PAT, the visitors extended their lead to 24-0.

Now in a deep hole, the Raiders stormed back. Plunkett completed five passes, with throws to WR Cliff Branch for 16 yards and FB Kenny King (pictured at left) for 28. Allen ran effectively, including a 17-yard carry on a trap play. But Plunkett was again thrown for a loss while rolling out on a third down play and Chris Bahr missed wide to the left on a 36-yard field goal attempt.

LA got a break on the next play, however, as Muncie fumbled the handoff and LB Ted Hendricks recovered for the Raiders at the San Diego 17. Five plays later, Plunkett connected with TE Todd Christensen for a one-yard touchdown to finally get the Raiders on the board. Bahr converted and the score was 24-7 at halftime.

The Raiders punted after a short series to start the third quarter and the Chargers lost ground due to two penalties and a sack of Fouts by Hendricks. Maury Buford punted and the shanked kick traveled only 27 yards to the LA 36. Plunkett came out throwing, hitting Christensen twice for 11 and 12 yards. King and Allen then combined for 40 yards on the ground with the star rookie gaining the last three for a TD. Bahr added the PAT and San Diego’s lead was cut to ten points at 24-14.

Following the kickoff, Fouts threw to Winslow for 21 yards to midfield, but three plays later Winslow fumbled when hit by DB Odis McKinney after catching a short pass and NT Ruben Vaughn recovered for the Raiders. LA scored again in four plays, highlighted by King running for a 21-yard gain up the middle, and Allen swept for the last three yards and another touchdown. Bahr’s extra point made it a three-point game.

The teams traded punts to finish out the period and San Diego started off the fourth quarter with a drive to the LA 15. James Brooks picked up 23 yards on three carries and Fouts had passes to Winslow for 15 yards and Chandler for nine. But the Chargers came up empty when Benirschke missed a 22-yard try for a field goal.

The Raiders responded by going 80 yards in nine plays. Plunkett was successful on three passes, including one to Christensen for 24 yards on a third-and-three play, and Barnwell gained 14 yards on a reverse. FB Frank Hawkins ran for a one-yard TD, Bahr added the point after, and the home team, once down by 24 points, was in front by four with 5:54 remaining to play.

San Diego fought back as Fouts fired to Chandler for completions of 30 and 24 yards. But after getting to the LA 18, Fouts threw into the end zone under a heavy rush and was intercepted by FS Vann McElroy. It in effect clinched the game for the Raiders as, with 1:56 remaining on the clock, they were able to maintain possession until the final seconds when Fouts threw a last desperation pass into the end zone that was batted away to nail down the 28-24 comeback win for Los Angeles.

The Chargers gained more total yards (411 to 326) and had the edge in first downs (26 to 23), but they also turned the ball over four times, to two by LA. The Raiders were dominant on the ground (181 yards to 72).

Marcus Allen rushed for 87 yards on 18 carries that included two touchdowns and caught 5 passes for 37 more yards. Jim Plunkett completed 18 of 25 passes for 163 yards and a TD while giving up two interceptions. Kenny King contributed 68 yards on 13 rushing attempts. Todd Christensen topped the club with 8 catches for 83 yards and a TD.

For the Chargers, Dan Fouts was successful on 24 of 42 throws for 357 yards and a touchdown while tossing two interceptions. Kellen Winslow (pictured below) caught 8 passes for 105 yards and Wes Chandler gained 118 yards on his 7 receptions. Chuck Muncie had six catches for 50 yards but was held to 23 yards on 15 rushing attempts that included two for TDs. James Brooks topped the club with 49 yards on eight carries.

"I don’t know what it is about Monday night football, but we’re very proud of our Monday night record,” said Coach Tom Flores, commenting on the fact that the come-from-behind win gave the Raiders a 19-2-1 record in Monday night contests.

The Raiders lost at Cincinnati the next week but didn’t drop another game during the remainder of the truncated regular season, finishing atop the AFC with an 8-1 record. With the divisions set aside, LA was the top seed in an eight-team conference postseason tournament and handily defeated the Browns in the first round before losing to the Jets in the second. San Diego, which lost to the Raiders again in the season finale, ended up at 6-3 and fifth-seeded in the AFC. The Chargers also won their first round game at Pittsburgh and lost to Miami in the second round.

Marcus Allen continued to have an excellent first season, receiving consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors as well as Rookie of the Year recognition. He rushed for 697 yards on 160 carries (4.4 avg.) and caught 38 passes for another 401 yards to lead the league in yards from scrimmage with 1098. His 14 touchdowns also led the circuit, as did his 84 points, making him the first rookie to lead the NFL in scoring since Gale Sayers in 1965.

As he had in each of the previous three seasons, Dan Fouts led the NFL in passing yards with 2883 and also topped the circuit in TD passes (17, tied with Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana) and yards per attempt (8.7). Kellen Winslow led the AFC in pass receptions (54) and Wes Chandler topped the league in pass receiving yards (1032). All three received consensus first-team All-NFL honors and were selected to the Pro Bowl. 

1985: Broncos Beat Chargers on Blocked FG in Overtime

The Denver Broncos were at 7-3 and on top of the AFC West as they hosted the San Diego Chargers on November 17, 1985 – a team they had lost badly to two weeks before. Coached by Dan Reeves, the Broncos featured third-year QB John Elway with a talented group of receivers led by Steve Watson while the ground game consisted of a running-backs-by-committee approach. The bend-but-don’t-break defense included SS Dennis Smith and CB Louis Wright (pictured above) – although their most notable accomplishments in this game would come on special teams.

The Chargers, coached by Don Coryell, featured a pass-oriented offense with QB Dan Fouts throwing to wide receivers Wes Chandler and Charlie Joiner. Star TE Kellen Winslow was returning from a major knee injury suffered during the previous season and RB Gary Anderson was now fully integrated into the offense after coming over from the USFL.

It was a sunny afternoon at Mile High Stadium with 74,376 fans in attendance.  The Chargers started off with a bang as Gary Anderson returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. Bob Thomas added the extra point for the early 7-0 lead.

The Broncos went three-and-out on their first series and, following the punt, San Diego accumulated three first downs on the way to the Denver 30. Dan Fouts completed three passes for 24 yards but the possession came to naught when Ralf Mojsiejenko’s 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

Following another short Denver series, Fouts again was moving the Chargers until a pass was intercepted by Louis Wright, who returned it 16 yards to give the Broncos good field position at the San Diego 44. The six-play drive, highlighted by John Elway throwing to RB Gene Lang for 24 yards, was capped by another Elway pass of four yards to WR Steve Watson for a TD. Rich Karlis tied the game with the extra point.

The next San Diego series featured Fouts throwing to TE Kellen Winslow for 26 yards and reached the Denver 31 before the veteran quarterback was again picked off, this time by DB Randy Robbins. However, two plays into the second quarter, it was Elway suffering an interception as FS Miles McPherson grabbed the long pass and returned it 30 yards to the Denver 12. Three plays later, Fouts threw to RB Lionel James for a 12-yard touchdown. The extra point was successfully added to again make it a seven-point contest.

The teams traded punts until, with just over two minutes remaining in the first half, the Chargers drove to the Denver 24, but a 41-yard field goal try by Thomas hit the right upright and was unsuccessful. The score remained 14-7 in favor of San Diego at the half.

After the teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter, the Broncos gained possession at their 13 and proceeded to methodically advance to the San Diego 10. Elway (pictured below) completed five passes, but they came up empty when Karlis was wide on a 28-yard field goal attempt. Two plays later, Denver got the ball back when Anderson fumbled. As the game moved into the fourth quarter, the home team concluded a four-play, 14-yard series with Lang running two yards up the middle for a TD. Karlis added the PAT and the game was tied once again.

Things went from bad to worse for the Chargers who no sooner got the ball back on offense when Fouts fumbled the snap and DE Andre Townsend recovered for Denver at the San Diego 19. Three plays later, it was Lang scoring again, this time from four yards out. Karlis converted and the Broncos had the lead for the first time.

Fouts went to the air five times on San Diego’s next series, hitting James three times for 32 yards. The drive finally stalled at the Denver 19 and Thomas kicked a 36-yard field goal to narrow the home team’s margin to four points.

Elway passed the Broncos down the field but was intercepted by LB Woodrow Lowe. The Chargers had to punt and, following the next Denver series, the Broncos lined up to do the same. However, Chris Norman’s kick was blocked by CB Wayne Davis. Starting at the Denver 24, the Chargers proceeded to score a touchdown in four plays, with RB Tim Spencer running the ball in from two yards out. Thomas made it a three-point lead game with the Chargers now back in front at 24-21.

There was just 1:09 remaining in regulation as the Broncos started their next series. Elway threw twice for 11 yards and then ran for five before tossing completions to RB Steve Sewell for six yards and WR Vance Johnson for 17 yards. A shovel pass by Elway to RB Sammy Winder was good for nine more yards and, with nine seconds left on the clock, Karlis booted a 34-yard field goal. The game went into overtime at 24-24.

The Chargers won the toss to receive the kickoff for the extra period and methodically moved down the field. James had a 16-yard run and Spencer converted on fourth-and-inches with a one-yard gain up the middle.  Fouts threw to Wes Chandler for 13 yards and Anderson gained six on the ground to reach the Denver 23. The drive stalled there but Thomas came on to attempt a 40-yard field goal to win the game. It appeared that the Chargers got a seemingly huge reprieve when the field goal try was blocked but they got the play back due to a timeout called by Denver right before the snap. However, on the re-try, Dennis Smith again blocked the kick and Wright picked up the loose ball, returning it 60 yards for a touchdown. There was no reprieve for the Chargers this time. In stunning fashion, the Broncos came away with a 30-24 win at 4:45 of overtime.

In a game in which plays by the special teams were so significant, San Diego held a slight edge in total yards (340 to 331) and first downs (22 to 21). The Chargers turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by Denver.

John Elway completed 28 of 50 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown while giving up two interceptions. Gene Lang rushed for 51 yards on 15 carries that included two TDs and also led the Broncos with 5 pass receptions, for 45 yards.  Vance Johnson compiled 48 yards on his four pass receptions.

For the Chargers, Dan Fouts was successful on 23 of 45 throws for 245 yards, with a TD and two interceptions. The versatile Lionel James (pictured at left) gained 64 yards on the ground in 15 carries and also caught 11 passes 93 more yards and a TD.

Don Coryell couldn’t believe how events transpired at the end: “The snap was a little high on the last field goal, but we got it down. It’s kind of ironic the way things turned out. We got the big break when they called the timeout, and it ends up working in their favor.”

The Broncos lost two of their next three games, both to the Raiders, and as a result finished second to that club in the AFC West with an 11-5 record and barely missed the postseason. San Diego came in fourth in the division at 8-8.

John Elway led the NFL with 605 pass attempts and ranked second in completions (327) and yards (3891), but also interceptions (23). Dan Fouts, heading in the opposite direction of Elway at age 34, led the league in yards per attempt (8.5) and was tied for second in touchdown passes (27). He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the sixth (and last) time.

Lionel James was a productive all-purpose performer throughout the season. Undersized at 5’6” and 170 pounds, he was nicknamed “Little Train” and set a new NFL record with 2535 total yards. That figure consisted of 515 on 105 rushing attempts, 1027 on 86 pass receptions, 213 on 25 punt returns, and 779 on 36 kickoff returns. It broke the previous record of 2462 set by Terry Metcalf of the Cardinals in 1974 and remained the standard until 2000, when Tennessee’s Derrick Mason accumulated 2690 yards.

1982: Bengals Dominate Chargers in Extreme Cold to Win AFC Title

It was a bone-chilling cold in Cincinnati for the AFC Championship game on January 10, 1982 – so much so that NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle considered postponing it. However, after consulting a medical specialist in cold weather conditions, he allowed the contest to be played. The scheduled halftime show by the Zanesville High School marching band was a casualty of the frigid conditions, however. The temperature was nine degrees below zero at game time with a wind chill of minus 59 (give or take a few degrees). Winds which gusted up to 30 mph played havoc on the passing game.

The host team, the Cincinnati Bengals, was coming off three straight losing records before making a stunning run through the 1981 schedule and topping the AFC Central at 12-4. Newly garbed in tiger-striped uniforms, Head Coach Forrest Gregg’s club packed plenty of scoring punch. QB Ken Anderson had a MVP season and benefited from the presence of rookie WR Cris Collinsworth, who teamed up well with veteran WR Isaac Curtis and TE Dan Ross. Big (6’0”, 249) FB Pete Johnson rushed for 1077 yards, caught 46 passes for 320 more, and scored 16 touchdowns. The defense lacked big names but was solid.  The Bengals defeated the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round to advance to the conference title game.

The visiting San Diego Chargers, under Head Coach Don Coryell, won their third straight AFC West title with a 10-6 record. Despite losing key players in WR John Jefferson and DE Fred Dean in trades forced by salary disputes, the Chargers were still a formidable team. To be sure, the defense missed Dean’s pass rushing skill, but the offense still maintained an outstanding aerial attack directed by QB Dan Fouts. Jefferson was ably replaced by WR Wes Chandler, who was obtained from the Saints and joined WR Charlie Joiner and TE Kellen Winslow. RB Chuck Muncie rushed for 1144 yards and rookie all-purpose RB James Brooks was productive as well. San Diego won a thrilling overtime game in Miami in the Divisional round which featured plenty of offense.

There were 46,302 hardy fans in attendance at frigid Riverfront Stadium. The Bengals stuck to their short, precision passing game to good effect. Cincinnati started off the scoring with a 10-play, 51-yard drive that followed a punt by the Chargers. Ken Anderson threw to Dan Ross for a first down at the San Diego 33 along the way and Pete Johnson then ran for 11 yards. The series stalled at the 13 yard line and Jim Breech kicked a 31-yard field goal.

A fumble by James Brooks on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by TE Don Bass to set up Cincinnati’s next score. It took just two plays as Anderson (pictured at right) connected with TE M.L. Harris for an eight-yard touchdown. The Chargers put together a scoring drive in the second quarter, advancing 55 yards in six plays. Fouts threw to Kellen Winslow for a 33-yard TD and the Cincinnati margin was narrowed to 10-7.

The Bengals came right back, however. WR David Verser returned the kickoff 40 yards and Cincinnati proceeded to go 55 yards in seven plays. Anderson passed to Isaac Curtis for a 15-yard gain that gave Cincinnati a first down at the San Diego one yard line and Johnson ran from there for a touchdown.

Two drives by the Chargers into scoring territory in the second quarter were blunted by the Bengals defense. First, a Fouts pass was intercepted by CB Louis Breeden at the Cincinnati six yard line, and later a throw into the end zone was picked off by safety Bobby Kemp.

In the third quarter, another turnover by the Chargers was turned into points by the Bengals. DE Ross Browner recovered a fumble by Chuck Muncie and Cincinnati took nine plays to drive 39 yards. Anderson completed a pass to Ross for 19 yards and also had a 13-yard run for a first down. Breech kicked a 38-yard field goal to extend the lead to 20-7.

Following a missed field goal attempt by the Chargers in the fourth quarter, the Bengals finished them off with a 14-play, 68-yard series that featured the ground game. Along the way, they converted a fourth down in San Diego territory with an eight-yard run by Johnson. Don Bass completed the drive by catching a pass from Anderson for a three-yard touchdown. The Bengals ended up winning handily by a score of 27-7.

Statistically, Cincinnati’s domination was less apparent as they edged the Chargers both in total yards (318 to 301) and first downs (19 to 18). However, San Diego turned the ball over four times, to one by the Bengals, and was very much off its typical level of performance. In a rarity for the Chargers, they ran the ball more often than they passed and their 301 total yards were the fewest generated in any game during the season. The Bengals also benefited from Jim Breech’s two field goals in as many attempts while San Diego’s Rolf Benirschke missed both of his tries.

Ken Anderson completed 14 of 22 passes for 161 yards with two touchdowns and none intercepted. Pete Johnson rushed for 80 yards and a TD on 21 carries. Dan Ross led the receivers with 5 catches for 69 yards.

For the Chargers, Dan Fouts (pictured below) was successful on just 15 of 28 throws for 185 yards and a touchdown with two costly interceptions. Chuck Muncie gained 94 yards on 23 rushing attempts. Wes Chandler had 6 pass receptions for 79 yards.

“This was the finest game I’ve ever seen a team play under such unbelievable conditions,” said Forrest Gregg, who as a player for Green Bay was part of some very big games in extreme winter conditions.

“The weather was no excuse,” said Don Coryell. “Football is played in all conditions, always has been and always will be. We were soundly beaten by a very fine team. We just didn’t do our job.”

The Bengals lost to another upstart team, the San Francisco 49ers, in the Super Bowl. They went 7-2 during the strike-shortened 1982 season to again make the playoffs but lost in the first round. San Diego was 6-3 and made it to the second round of the revamped postseason before falling. 

1977: Metcalf & Morris Lead Cardinals Past Saints

The St. Louis Cardinals were sporting a 2-3 record as they hosted the New Orleans Saints on October 23, 1977. The Cardinals, in their fifth season under Head Coach Don Coryell, had won in double figures in each of the preceding three years and gone to the postseason twice. But they started slowly in ’77, losing three of their first four contests before winning at Philadelphia the previous week. While there was feuding between coach and owner and players complaining about their salary levels, there was also talent, especially on an explosive offense that included QB Jim Hart, all-purpose HB Terry Metcalf, and WR Mel Gray.

New Orleans was coached by Hank Stram, formerly of the Chiefs, where he had enjoyed success. The Saints, a perennially losing club since coming into the league ten years earlier, were off to a 1-4 start and were without injured starting QB Archie Manning.

There were 48,417 fans in attendance at Busch Memorial Stadium and they saw the Cardinals start fast. Six minutes into the game, Hart threw to Gray for a 38-yard touchdown. FB Wayne Morris followed up with a one-yard scoring carry at 11:32 into the first quarter.

Shortly thereafter, LB Kurt Allerman blocked Tom Blanchard’s punt and on the first play of the second quarter Morris scored again on a nine-yard draw play. At 21-0, it seemed as though a rout was in progress.

However, New Orleans began to get back into the game after DT Derland Moore recovered a fumble by Terry Metcalf at the St. Louis 46. A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on DT Mike Dawson erased a loss by the Saints on the first play from scrimmage after the turnover. Two runs by FB Tony Galbreath got the ball to the 19 and from there HB Chuck Muncie ran for a touchdown on a sweep to the right.

The Cards responded with Metcalf returning the kickoff 51 yards to the New Orleans 44. The fleet halfback followed up with a pass reception for 11 more yards and two carries by FB Jim Otis advanced St. Louis to the 21. But after catching a pass from Hart, TE Jackie Smith fumbled at the eight and DE Joe Campbell recovered for New Orleans.

The Saints proceeded to drive to another score in eight plays. Muncie gained 22 yards on another sweep and QB Bobby Scott, the replacement for Archie Manning, passed to backup TE James Thaxton for 20. Thaxton caught a pass from Scott for a 25-yard touchdown and with another successful extra point New Orleans was only a TD behind.

Following a punt by the Cardinals, the Saints drove 80 yards to the tying touchdown. Scott threw to TE Henry Childs for a 53-yard TD and the teams went into halftime tied at 21-21.

The Cardinals moved back in front on their first series of the third quarter. They drove 70 yards in 14 plays, eating up 7:44 off the clock in so doing. The highlight of the drive was a Hart pass to HB Jerry Latin for 14 yards to the New Orleans six. Morris ran for five yards and then leaped into the end zone from a yard out for the touchdown.

The Saints roared back with a drive from their 24 to the St. Louis five. However, the Cards held as Scott tossed three incomplete passes and New Orleans had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Rich Szaro that narrowed the home team’s margin to 28-24.

In the fourth quarter, the Cards scored again on an option pass from Metcalf to Gray that covered 11 yards. New Orleans kept pace as Scott passed to Childs for a 29-yard TD with 7:18 left to play.

The Cardinals finally put the game away with just over a minute left on the clock as HB Steve Jones scored from a yard out. That possession was helped along by a fake field goal attempt in which holder/CB Roger Wehrli ran for 19 yards and a first down. They padded the lead following an interception by CB Lee Nelson when Morris scored his fourth TD with a 12-yard run with 44 seconds to go. Wehrli intercepted Scott’s final pass of the game to end it and St. Louis came away with a 49-31 win that, for most of the game, was closer than the final tally indicated.

The single-game total of 49 points was the most for the Cardinals in 12 years. They led in total yards (487 to 440), including 244 on 52 running plays, and first downs (31 to 23). Each team turned the ball over twice.

Jim Hart completed 17 of 24 passes for 225 yards with a touchdown and none intercepted. Wayne Morris had a notable performance, rushing for 95 yards on 25 carries that included four touchdowns. Terry Metcalf added 78 yards on 17 attempts, caught 5 passes for 62 yards, and completed both of his option passes, including one for a TD. Mel Gray also gained 62 pass receiving yards on three catches that included two for touchdowns.

For the Saints, Bobby Scott (pictured below) was successful on 16 of 35 throws for 285 yards with three TDs but also two interceptions. Chuck Muncie ran for 102 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries. The two tight ends were the most productive receivers for the club as Jim Thaxton had four pass receptions for 83 yards and a TD and Henry Childs caught three for 79 yards and two scores.

“We (backs) moved the ball real well, but the line did a fantastic job,” said Wayne Morris.

“In the final analysis, I thought we fought like hell,” summed up Hank Stram. “We never stopped. They (the Cardinals) are an excellent blocking team.”

The win evened the Cards’ record at 3-3 and put them in a three-way tie for second in the NFC East with the Giants and Redskins behind the Cowboys. It was also the second of six consecutive wins, but after peaking at 7-3 the team lost four straight to fall out of contention and end the year at 7-7 and third in the division. The feud between owner and coach led to Don Coryell departing afterward.

New Orleans won the next week against the Rams but ultimately finished at the bottom of the NFC West with another losing record at 3-11. Hank Stram was dismissed afterward.

Terry Metcalf ranked second in the NFL in all-purpose yards with 2022 that included 739 on 149 rushing attempts (5.0 avg.), 403 on 34 pass receptions, 772 on 32 kickoff returns, and 108 on 14 punt returns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time. Having played out his option, he jumped to the CFL for 1978.

Wayne Morris ended up running for 661 yards on 165 carries and caught 24 passes for 222 more yards. His four rushing TDs against the Saints were half of his season total of eight, and he had one pass receiving touchdown to give him nine on the year.

1985: Krieg to Turner TDs Lead Seahawks Past Chargers

In two seasons under Head Coach Chuck Knox, the Seattle Seahawks had made it into the playoffs for the first time in the young club’s history. They had put together a 12-4 record in 1984, which was all the remarkable since they lost star RB Curt Warner to a season-ending injury in the opening week. Unheralded QB Dave Krieg (pictured at right) developed into a star in his first full year as the starter and had Pro Bowl WR Steve Largent to pass to while the defense was opportunistic, leading the league in interceptions and fumble recoveries. For the ’85 season, they had Warner back in the lineup and won their opening game against Cincinnati.

For Week 2 on September 15, 1985 the Seahawks traveled to San Diego to take on the Chargers. The Chargers, under Head Coach Don Coryell, were coming off a disappointing 7-9 record in ’84. However, they still had a potent passing offense directed by QB Dan Fouts and including wide receivers Charlie Joiner and Wes Chandler, plus all-purpose RB/WR Lionel James. They were still without star TE Kellen Winslow, who had suffered a major knee injury in 1984 (he would return at midseason), and the defense was suspect, but San Diego could not be taken lightly and had won its opening game as well.

It was a clear day at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium with 54,420 in attendance. Midway through the first quarter, the Chargers erupted with a 64-yard scoring drive in four plays. Fouts threw completions on every down, including 25 yards to Chandler and 19 yards to Lionel James, who then hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass.

Following a three-and-out possession by the Seahawks, San Diego put together another series that put points on the board. Fouts again had a hot hand as he completed his first five passes, with Chandler pulling in three of them for 48 yards. But after getting to the Seattle four yard line, the drive stalled and Bob Thomas kicked a 21-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

Before the opening period was over, the Seahawks finally put together a scoring drive of six plays that covered 74 yards. Dave Krieg was successful on four passes, the last a 34-yard completion to WR Daryl Turner for a touchdown.

After the Chargers punted early in the second quarter, Seattle, with good field position, scored quickly thanks to three straight carries by Curt Warner (pictured at left), the last for three yards and the go-ahead TD. With the successful extra point, it was 14-10 in favor of the Seahawks.

The teams traded punts before San Diego came back with an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Fouts completed a pass to James for a 22-yard gain in a third-and-22 situation along the way and the series ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Joiner. NT Joe Nash blocked the extra point try, but the Chargers were back in front at 16-14.

The Seahawks moved back into San Diego territory on their next series when Krieg connected with Steve Largent for a 40-yard gain, but they were forced to punt three plays later when Krieg was sacked for an 11-yard loss on third down. The Chargers took just four plays to respond with another 80-yard possession that included James running for 17 yards on an end-around play, Fouts throwing to TE Eric Sievers for 29 yards, and Fouts then completing a 20-yard TD throw to Chandler. That was it for the first half scoring – San Diego had one last shot after a short Seattle series, but a 53-yard field goal attempt by Thomas on the final play before halftime was blocked following a bad snap.

Down 23-14, the Seahawks started off the third quarter with a 75-yard drive in 11 plays, ending with Largent catching a pass from Krieg for a six-yard touchdown. San Diego came right back as Fouts threw to Chandler for a 45-yard gain and, two plays later, to Sievers for 23 yards. He passed again to Sievers for a five-yard touchdown. Thomas missed the extra point attempt, but the Chargers were up by 29-21.

Seattle responded with another scoring drive, this time going 78 yards in six plays. Krieg threw to Largent for 17 yards and WR Byron Franklin for 28 before he connected with Turner for a 15-yard touchdown. With a successful PAT, San Diego’s lead was narrowed to one point at 29-28.

The Chargers were forced to punt on their next possession and the Seahawks scored more points. It took them five plays to cover 80 yards with Warner gaining 21 yards on a third-and-one carry and Krieg throwing to Largent for 20 yards and Turner once again for 30 yards and a touchdown. With the successful extra point, the Seahawks were ahead by the score of 35-29.

Things got worse for San Diego when safety John Harris intercepted a tipped Fouts pass. Helped along by a pass interference penalty, the Seahawks scored in five plays. Warner ran in from a yard out for the TD and it was 42-29 heading into the final period. Seattle had taken control of the game by putting 28 points on the board in the eventful third quarter.

The fourth quarter started off with another turnover by the Chargers as Fouts fumbled while being sacked by DE Jacob Green and LB Greg Gaines recovered. Warner ran the ball three straight times for 35 yards and Krieg threw once more to Turner for a seven-yard touchdown.

That, for all intents, finished off the Chargers. They scored a touchdown on a pass from backup QB Mark Herrmann to Charlie Joiner from a yard out and just 15 seconds remaining. Seattle, thanks to its second half barrage, won by a score of 49-35.

San Diego outgained the Seahawks (557 yards to 489) and had the edge in first downs (32 to 30). However, the Chargers also turned the ball over four times, while Seattle suffered no turnovers.

Dave Krieg completed 22 of 32 passes for 307 yards and five touchdowns with none intercepted – in the big third quarter alone, he was 12 of 14 for 192 yards. Daryl Turner (pictured below) was the receiving star with 7 catches for 121 yards and four of the TDs while Steve Largent contributed 6 receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. Curt Warner also had a noteworthy day, rushing for 169 yards and two TDs on 28 carries and pulling in 5 passes for another 34 yards.

For the Chargers, a great day by Dan Fouts went for naught as he was successful on 29 of 43 throws for 440 yards and four touchdowns with one intercepted. Wes Chandler accounted for 243 of those yards on 13 catches that included a TD. Lionel James led the club in rushing with 41 yards on 8 carries, caught 6 passes for 96 yards and a TD, and added 153 combined kick return yards to end up with 290 all-purpose yards.

“Dan Fouts was as hot as a pistol,” said Chuck Knox afterward. “He’s one of the greatest passers, in my opinion, in the history of the game. We just tried to put more pressure on him in the second half.”

Despite the promising beginning, the Seahawks lost their next two games, and that was precisely the pattern they followed for the remainder of their disappointing 8-8 season – the same record that San Diego finished with.

Dave Krieg passed for 3602 yards with 27 touchdown passes. Both he and Dan Fouts, who missed two games due to injury but still threw for 3638 yards, tossed 27 TD passes and 20 interceptions and, tellingly, were each sacked 52 times, which ranked third in the league.

Steve Largent had another Pro Bowl season (his fifth) with 79 catches for 1287 yards (16.3 avg.) and six touchdowns. Daryl Turner caught 34 passes for 670 yards (19.7 avg.) and remained a potent scoring threat, tallying 13 TDs. Curt Warner made a successful comeback as he rushed for 1094 yards and caught 47 passes for 307 more.

Wes Chandler was a Pro Bowl selection (for the fourth time) after catching 67 passes for 1199 yards (17.9 avg.) and 10 touchdowns. Lionel James continued to have big overall yardage totals as he set a new NFL record with 2535 all-purpose yards (516 rushing, 1027 receiving, 213 returning punts, 779 returning kickoffs).