The Epic in Miami
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
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. 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 coverage, combining for four interceptions. The Dolphins' secondary, consisting of Mike Kozlowski
, Fulton Walker and brothers Lyle
and Glenn Blackwood
was also extremely talented. The Dolphins had allowed just 27 points in their last three games prior to their playoff matchup against San Diego.
San Diego won their 3rd straight AFC West title in 1981 with a 10-6 record, based on a better division record over both Denver & Kansas City, who both also finished 10-6. 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.
to Wes Chandler
on 3rd and 14, and scoring with kicker Rolf Benirschke
's 32-yard field goal. The Chargers' defense then forced Miami to punt on their ensuing possession, and 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 high, short kick 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 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.
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, 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 from Uwe von Schamann
. This seemed to fire up the Dolphins defense, who forced and recovered a fumble from Fouts 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.
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, San Diego receiver Charlie Joiner
slipped while running a deep post route, causing Fouts' pass to go right into the arms of Miami's Lyle Blackwood
. 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 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. Following an incomplete pass, Strock's next throw was intercepted by Willie Buchanon
, but as he made the diving catch, he fumbled the ball back to Miami when he hit the ground. After that, Nathan's 17-yard reception and Tommy Vigorito
's 6-yard run moved the Dolphins to the Chargers 26-yard line where Von Schamann attempted a 43-yard field goal, but at the last second, Winslow extended his 6'5 frame at the line just enough to deflect the kick with his fingers, causing it to fall short of the goal posts and sending the game into overtime.
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 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.
after the game:
Shula agreed:
Chargers running back Hank Bauer
:
Miami QB Don Strock on the hook and lateral used in the second quarter:
Anchor Bryant Gumbel:
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. 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.
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.
"I've never felt so close to death before," Winslow said afterward. "That's what Muhammad Ali
said in Manila and that's how I felt out there at the end."
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, they were defeated 27-7 by the Bengals, ending the Chargers season one game short of the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year.
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
, without playing in a Super Bowl. The only significant contributors in The Epic in Miami who did go to a Super Bowl were Brooks, who made it to Super Bowl XXIII
as a member of the Bengals, and Chargers guard Ed White, who was a Minnesota Viking for four Super Bowls.
. 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 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 a member of the Dolphins' Super Bowl-winning teams in 1972 and 1973. Two participants, coach Don Shula and center Dwight Stephenson
were enshrined in the Hall of Fame
.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
AFC divisional playoff game
NFL playoffs, 1981-82
The NFL playoffs following the 1981 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XVI. Both conference champions had losing records the previous season, the only time this has happened. All four of the AFC playoff games were between teams who had never faced each other in the postseason before...
between the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
that took place on January 2, 1982 in the Miami Orange Bowl
Miami Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl, formerly Burdine Stadium, was an outdoor athletic stadium in Miami, Florida, west of downtown in Little Havana. Considered a landmark, it was the home stadium for the Miami Hurricanes college football team...
. The game is one of the most famous in National Football League lore
National Football League lore
National Football League lore is a collection of information that NFL fans retain and share.Since the NFL was founded in 1920, it has grown from an informal network of teams based mostly in small towns and cities into the most popular and successful sports league in the United States...
because of the conditions on the field, the performances of players on both teams, and the numerous records that were set. It was also referred to in the Miami Herald as The Miracle That Died, while Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
dubbed it The Game No One Should Have Lost. The game aired on NBC
NFL on NBC
NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998, when NBC lost the NFL American Football Conference rights to CBS...
with Don Criqui
Don Criqui
Don Criqui is an American sportscaster, currently employed as a play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports. Criqui's duties include occasional television coverage of National Football League games, women's and men's college basketball, occasional college football and radio play-by-play of ISP Sports'...
and John Brodie
John Brodie
John Riley Brodie is a former professional American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, and had a second career as a Senior PGA Tour professional golfer.-Early years and education:...
calling the action and Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Charles Gumbel is an American television journalist and sportscaster. He is best known for his 15 years as co-host of NBC's The Today Show. He is the younger brother of sportscaster Greg Gumbel.-Early life:...
serving as the anchor.
Background
The Dolphins finished the 19811981 NFL season
The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.-Major rule changes:...
regular season by winning the AFC East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
with an 11-4-1 record. Their offense was led by quarterbacks David Woodley
David Woodley
David Eugene Woodley was an American football player and quarterback for Louisiana State University , the National Football League's Miami Dolphins , and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
and Don Strock
Don Strock
Don Strock is a former professional football player who was the head coach of the Florida International University football team from 2002–2006.-College:Strock played college football at Virginia Tech, and graduated in 1973...
. 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. Receivers Jimmy Cefalo
Jimmy Cefalo
James Carmen Cefalo, , is an American sportscaster, game show host and former professional American football wide receiver.-High school:Cefalo attended Pittston Area High School in Pittston, Pennsylvania...
(29 receptions, 631 yards, three touchdowns) and Duriel Harris
Duriel Harris
Duriel LaDon Harris, Jr. is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and the Dallas Cowboys...
(53 receptions, 911 yards, two touchdowns) provided the main deep threat on the team. Halfback Tony Nathan
Tony Nathan
Tony Curtis Nathan is an American football coach and former running back.Nathan was a running back from Alabama who was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, with whom he played from 1979-1987...
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
Andra Franklin
Andra Bernard Franklin was an American running back in the National Football League from 1981 to 1984 for the Miami Dolphins. Franklin played collegiately at the University of Nebraska...
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
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
guard Ed Newman
Ed Newman
Ed Newman is a former Offensive Guard who, from 1973 to 1984, played 12 seasons with the Miami Dolphins.-Early life:...
and center Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Eugene Stephenson is a former American football offensive lineman and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 1998...
.
Miami’s defense ranked fifth in the NFL in fewest points allowed (275). Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bob Baumhower
Bob Baumhower
Robert Glenn Baumhower is a former American football player who played college football for the University of Alabama and professional football for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.-Collegiate and NFL awards:...
anchored the line, while linebackers A. J. Duhe
A. J. Duhe
Adam Joseph Duhe is a former American football linebacker who played eight seasons for the Miami Dolphins from 1977 to 1984 in the National Football League....
and Earnie Rhone
Earnie Rhone
Earnest "Earnie" Rhone is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins.-External links:*...
excelled at blitzing and pass coverage, combining for four interceptions. The Dolphins' secondary, consisting of Mike Kozlowski
Mike Kozlowski
Michael John Kozlowski was a safety for the Miami Dolphins . Kozlowski was a tailback at Colorado before switching to defense in the pros. Mike's brother, Glen Kozlowski played wide receiver at BYU and for six years with the Chicago Bears. Mike's nephew, Tyler, was a freshman wide receiver at BYU....
, Fulton Walker and brothers Lyle
Lyle Blackwood
Lyle Vernon Blackwood played safety position in the National Football League and is best known for teaming alongside his brother, Glenn Blackwood with the Miami Dolphins as part of the notorious "Killer B's" defense...
and Glenn Blackwood
Glenn Blackwood
Glenn Allen Blackwood was a safety who played nine seasons in the National Football League. Blackwood attended the University of Texas. His brother Lyle Blackwood also played in the NFL, and they were teammates from 1981 through 1986 with the Miami Dolphins...
was also extremely talented. The Dolphins had allowed just 27 points in their last three games prior to their playoff matchup against San Diego.
San Diego won their 3rd straight AFC West title in 1981 with a 10-6 record, based on a better division record over both Denver & Kansas City, who both also finished 10-6. The Chargers' high-powered offense led the NFL in scoring (478 points), passing yards (4,873), and total yards (6,878). Quarterback Dan Fouts
Dan Fouts
Daniel Francis Fouts is a retired Hall of Fame American football quarterback in the National Football League. Fouts played his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987...
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
Charlie Joiner
Charles B. Joiner Jr. is a former American football player who starred in professional football for eighteen seasons, virtually exclusively at the position of wide receiver. He retired with the most career receptions, receiving yards, and games played of any wide receiver in NFL history. He was...
(70 receptions, 1,188 yards, seven touchdowns) and Wes Chandler
Wes Chandler
Wesley Sandy "Wes" Chandler is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eleven seasons in the 1970s and 1980s...
(69 receptions, 1,142 yards, six touchdowns), along with Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow
Kellen Winslow
Kellen Boswell Winslow is a former American football tight end with the Missouri Tigers and the San Diego Chargers. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. He is currently the athletic director at Central State University.Winslow did not play high...
(88 receptions, 1,070 yards, 10 touchdowns). San Diego also had an outstanding rushing attack, led by Pro Bowl running back Chuck Muncie
Chuck Muncie
Harry Vance "Chuck" Muncie is a former American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984...
, 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
James Brooks (American football player)
James Brooks is a retired NFL football running back.-High school and college career:His young career started with success in elementary school. He led the Warner Robins High School Demons to a State championship and a National Championship ranking in 1976...
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
Doug Wilkerson
Douglas Wilkerson is a former American football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers. Wilkerson played college football at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina....
.
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
Willie Buchanon
Willie James Buchanon is a former cornerback for the National Football League's Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers; he was defensive rookie of the year in 1972 and a three-time Pro Bowl player...
, who led the team with five interceptions.
First quarter
San Diego started out the game by driving down the field, featuring a 47-yard completion from Dan FoutsDan Fouts
Daniel Francis Fouts is a retired Hall of Fame American football quarterback in the National Football League. Fouts played his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987...
to Wes Chandler
Wes Chandler
Wesley Sandy "Wes" Chandler is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eleven seasons in the 1970s and 1980s...
on 3rd and 14, and scoring with kicker Rolf Benirschke
Rolf Benirschke
Rolf Joachim Benirschke is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers from 1978 to 1987, and was the host of the NBC daytime Wheel Of Fortune in 1989.-Early career:...
's 32-yard field goal. The Chargers' defense then forced Miami to punt on their ensuing possession, and 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 high, short kick surprisingly bounced back in their direction and was recovered by San Diego. Several plays later, Chuck Muncie
Chuck Muncie
Harry Vance "Chuck" Muncie is a former American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984...
scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Then on the Dolphins' next drive, David Woodley
David Woodley
David Eugene Woodley was an American football player and quarterback for Louisiana State University , the National Football League's Miami Dolphins , and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
was intercepted by Chargers safety Glen Edwards, who returned the ball 35 yards, setting up Fouts' 8-yard touchdown pass to James Brooks
James Brooks (American football player)
James Brooks is a retired NFL football running back.-High school and college career:His young career started with success in elementary school. He led the Warner Robins High School Demons to a State championship and a National Championship ranking in 1976...
. 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.
Second quarter
But the Dolphins didn't give up. After Miami's next drive resulted in an incompletion, two sacks, and a fumble (which Miami recovered), Coach Don ShulaDon Shula
Donald Francis "Don" Shula is a former American football cornerback and coach.He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team he led to two Super Bowl victories, and to the National Football League's only perfect season. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated....
replaced Woodley with Don Strock
Don Strock
Don Strock is a former professional football player who was the head coach of the Florida International University football team from 2002–2006.-College:Strock played college football at Virginia Tech, and graduated in 1973...
early in the second quarter to see whether he could spark Miami's offense, and that's precisely what he did, completing a 17-yard pass to Duriel Harris
Duriel Harris
Duriel LaDon Harris, Jr. is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and the Dallas Cowboys...
on his first play and leading them down the field to score their first points of the game on a 34-yard field goal from Uwe von Schamann
Uwe von Schamann
Uwe Detlef Walter von Schamann is a former professional American football placekicker. He played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League, from 1979 to 1984.-Early life:...
. This seemed to fire up the Dolphins defense, who forced and recovered a fumble from Fouts 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
Tony Nathan
Tony Curtis Nathan is an American football coach and former running back.Nathan was a running back from Alabama who was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, with whom he played from 1979-1987...
, 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 WinslowKellen Winslow
Kellen Boswell Winslow is a former American football tight end with the Missouri Tigers and the San Diego Chargers. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. He is currently the athletic director at Central State University.Winslow did not play high...
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
Bruce Hardy
Bruce Alan Hardy , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 9th round of the 1978 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 232 lbs. tight end from Arizona State University, Hardy played his entire NFL career with the Dolphins from 1978-1989...
, tying the game again at 31.
With less than a minute left in the third period, San Diego receiver Charlie Joiner
Charlie Joiner
Charles B. Joiner Jr. is a former American football player who starred in professional football for eighteen seasons, virtually exclusively at the position of wide receiver. He retired with the most career receptions, receiving yards, and games played of any wide receiver in NFL history. He was...
slipped while running a deep post route, causing Fouts' pass to go right into the arms of Miami's Lyle Blackwood
Lyle Blackwood
Lyle Vernon Blackwood played safety position in the National Football League and is best known for teaming alongside his brother, Glenn Blackwood with the Miami Dolphins as part of the notorious "Killer B's" defense...
. After intercepting the pass, Blackwood quickly lateraled the ball to Gerald Small
Gerald Small
Gerald Small is a former professional American football player who played cornerback for seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons....
, who returned it 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
Pete Shaw (football player)
Kenneth Edward "Pete" Shaw is a former American football safety who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers and the New York Giants. He played college football at Northwestern University and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft...
recovered a fumble from Andra Franklin
Andra Franklin
Andra Bernard Franklin was an American running back in the National Football League from 1981 to 1984 for the Miami Dolphins. Franklin played collegiately at the University of Nebraska...
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
Squib kick
A squib kick is a term used in American football meaning a short, low, line drive kickoff that usually bounces around on the ground before it can be picked up by a member of the receiving team. The ball is kicked so short that it forces the receiving team's slower players to recover the ball first...
, needing only a field goal to win. Following an incomplete pass, Strock's next throw was intercepted by Willie Buchanon
Willie Buchanon
Willie James Buchanon is a former cornerback for the National Football League's Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers; he was defensive rookie of the year in 1972 and a three-time Pro Bowl player...
, but as he made the diving catch, he fumbled the ball back to Miami when he hit the ground. After that, Nathan's 17-yard reception and Tommy Vigorito
Tommy Vigorito
Thomas J. Vigorito is a former American football wide receiver and running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....
's 6-yard run moved the Dolphins to the Chargers 26-yard line where Von Schamann attempted a 43-yard field goal, but at the last second, Winslow extended his 6'5 frame at the line just enough to deflect the kick with his fingers, causing it to fall short of the goal posts and 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 JonesLeroy Jones (football player)
Leroy Jones is a former American football defensive end for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League.In 1980, Jones teamed with All-Pro's Fred Dean, Gary "Big Hands" Johnson, and Louie Kelcher on the defensive frontline as the Chargers led the NFL in sacks...
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 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 CoryellDon Coryell
Donald David Coryell was an American football coach, who coached in the NFL first with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1973–1977 and then the San Diego Chargers from 1978-1986. He was well known for his innovations to football's passing offense. Coryell's offense was commonly known as "Air 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."
Shula agreed:
"A great game...Maybe the greatest
ever."
Chargers running back Hank Bauer
Hank Bauer (football player)
Henry John Bauer is a former American football running back and professional television and radio broadcaster....
:
"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."
Miami QB Don Strock on the hook and lateral used in the second quarter:
“We called it 87 Circle Curl Lateral, and, believe me, the damn thing never worked in practice.”
Anchor Bryant Gumbel:
“If you didn't like this game then you don't like football.”
Scoring summary
- 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 (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 433 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.
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.
"I've never felt so close to death before," Winslow said afterward. "That's what Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
said in Manila and that's how I felt out there at the end."
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 BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
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
Freezer Bowl
In NFL lore, the Freezer Bowl was the 1981 AFC Championship Game between the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The game was played in the coldest temperature in NFL history in terms of wind chill...
. But this time, it did not end well for the Chargers, they were defeated 27-7 by the Bengals, ending the Chargers season one game short of the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year.
The following season
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
, 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
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, 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
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
. Fouts, Winslow and Joiner all went on to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
, without playing in a Super Bowl. The only significant contributors in The Epic in Miami who did go to a Super Bowl were Brooks, who made it to Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1988 regular season. This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held...
as a member of the Bengals, and Chargers guard Ed White, who was a Minnesota Viking for four Super Bowls.
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 XVIISuper Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
. 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
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, 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
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
, Woodley lost his starting spot to rookie Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
. Woodley was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1984
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
and spent the rest of his career as a backup before retiring after the 1985
1985 NFL season
The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:...
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
1988 NFL season
The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division....
as a backup to the Cleveland Browns.
Miami made it back to the Super Bowl in 1984
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
, but they lost Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX was an American football game played on January 20, 1985 at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1984 regular season...
to the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
38-16. None of the primary players in The Epic in Miami ever won a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
, except for left guard Bob Kuechenberg, who was a member of the Dolphins' Super Bowl-winning teams in 1972 and 1973. Two participants, coach Don Shula and center Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Eugene Stephenson is a former American football offensive lineman and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 1998...
were enshrined in the Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
.