The Epic in Miami

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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 considered one of the best games in NFL history and is one of the most famous in NFL lore, due to the conditions on the field, the performances of players on both teams, and the numerous records that were set. It was also semi-famously 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.

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[edit] Background

The Dolphins finished the 1981 regular season by winning the AFC Eastern Division 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 all 16 regular season games. 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 great 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 Ernie Rhone excelled at blitzing and pass coverage, combining for four interceptions. The Dolphins secondary, consisting of Mike Kozlowski, Fulton Walker, and bothers Lyle and Glenn Blackwood, was also extremely talented.

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 (52 receptions, 857 yards, five 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 had big problems, ranking 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). Not a single player from the Chargers defense made the Pro Bowl. One of the few bright spots on their defense was defensive back Willie Buchanon, who led the team with five interceptions.

[edit] The game

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' eight-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.

But the Dolphins didn't give up. Coach Don Shula replaced Woodley with Don Strock early in the second quarter to see if he could spark Miami's offense, and that's precisely what he did, leading them down the field to score their first points of 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 one-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 six seconds left in the quarter and attempted one last play to score before halftime. Strock took the snap and threw a pass intended for Duriel Harris at the 20-yard line. Harris caught the ball and immediately lateralled it to Tony Nathan, who then took it 25-yards to the end zone, cutting the deficit to 24-17 at halftime.

The Dolphins' momentum continued into the next quarter. Early in the third period, 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.

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 to 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.

"I have coached for 31 or 32 years and this is tremendous", said Chargers coach Don Coryell after the game. "There has never been a game like this. It was probably the most exciting game in pro football history." [1]

Shula agreed: "A great game", said the Dolphins head coach, despite being on the losing end. "Maybe the greatest ever."[2]

However many of the players were less than jubilant. According to 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."[3]

[edit] Scoring summary

1 2 3 4 OT Total
Chargers 24 0 7 7 3 41
Dolphins 0 17 14 7 0 38
  • SD - FG Benirschke 32
  • SD - Chandler 56 punt return (Benirschke kick)
  • SD - Muncie 1 run (Benirschke kick)
  • SD - Brooks 8 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)
  • MIA - FG von Schamann 34
  • MIA - Rose 1 pass from Strock (von Schamann kick)
  • MIA - Nathan 25 lateral pass from Harris (von Schamann kick)
  • MIA - Rose 15 pass from Strock (von Schamann kick)
  • SD - Winslow 25 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)
  • MIA - Hardy 50 pass from Strock (von Schamann kick)
  • MIA - Nathan 12 run (von Schamann kick)
  • SD - Brooks 9 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)
  • SD - FG Benirschke 29

[edit] Records and Individual Performances

The game featured many new records and incredible performances by players 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 (809).

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 443 yards and three touchdowns. His attempts, completions, and passing yards were all NFL postseason records. 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.[4]

But perhaps the best performance of the game was put in by Kellen Winslow. In addition to his blocked field goal, he recorded a 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 (shown here) after the game is an enduring image in NFL Lore and has been replayed constantly ever since.

[edit] Aftermath

[edit] San 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, and has since became known as the Freezer Bowl. But this time, it did not end well for the Chargers. The Bengals crushed 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 1983 season was the last postseason game that Fouts, Winslow, Joiner, and coach Coryell would ever participate in, as the Chargers did not record a winning record 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.

[edit] 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. He then led Miami to a 7-2 record and 3 playoff wins to earn his team a 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 Cefalo in the first quarter, Woodley had a fairly 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 Dan Marino. He then joined the Steelers in 1984 and spent the rest of his career as a backup before retiring after the 1985 season. Strock's incredible performance in the Epic in Miami ended up being the main highlight of his career. He spent the rest of it as a backup and retired after 1988.

Miami made it back to the Super Bowl in the 1984, with Marino breaking nearly every NFL single season passing record, 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, but two participants, coach Shula and center Dwight Stephenson went on to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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