Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

1981 San Diego Chargers season

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Record
  
10–6

Start date
  
1981

Head coach
  
Don Coryell

Division place
  
1st AFC West

Owner
  
Eugene V. Klein

Home field
  
Qualcomm Stadium

General manager
  
Johnny Sanders (Since 1976)

Playoff finish
  
Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) (41–38 OT) Lost AFC Championship (Bengals) (7–27)

Pro Bowlers
  
5 QB Dan Fouts RB Chuck Muncie TE Kellen Winslow G Doug Wilkerson DT Gary Johnson

AP All-Pros
  
6 QB Dan Fouts RB Chuck Muncie TE Kellen Winslow G Doug Wilkerson DT Gary Johnson DT Louie Kelcher

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1982 San Diego Chargers season

The 1981 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record in 1980. In the playoffs they beat the Dolphins in a game known as the Epic in Miami and lost to the Bengals in a game known as the Freezer Bowl.

Contents

1981 was the second straight season in which the Chargers reached the AFC Championship Game, as well as their second consecutive loss.

Running back Chuck Muncie enjoyed his best season, running for 1,144 yards and 19 touchdowns, tying the then-NFL season record for rushing touchdowns.

During this season, the Chargers lost two key players by way of trade. Before Week 3, wide receiver John Jefferson was dealt to the Green Bay Packers, while defensive end Fred Dean would be dealt to the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers by Week 5. The season was chronicled on September 18, 2008 for America's Game: The Missing Rings, as one of the five greatest NFL teams to never win the Super Bowl.

Week 1: at Cleveland Browns

  • Dan Fouts 19/25, 330 Yds
  • Chuck Muncie 24 Rush, 161 Yds
  • Charlie Joiner 6 Rec, 191 Yds

    • Week 2 vs. Detroit Lions

  • Dan Fouts 18/25, 316 Yds
  • Charlie Joiner 7 Rec, 166 Yds

    • Week 12: at Oakland Raiders

    Stats

  • Dan Fouts 28/44, 296 Yds, 6 TD, INT
  • Kellen Winslow 13 Rec, 144 Yds, 5 TD

    • Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills

    Stats

  • Dan Fouts 28/42, 343 Yds, 2 TD, INT
  • Chuck Munci 22 Rush, 113 Rush Yds, 1 Rush TD
  • Kellen Winslow 6 Rec, 126 Yds, 1 TD
  • Joe Ferguson 13/29, 248 Yds, 4 Rush Yds, 1 Rush TD
  • Roosevelt Leaks 8 Rush, 28 Rush Yds, 2 Rush TDs
  • Frank Lewis 5 Rec, 113 Yds

    • Week 15: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    The game came down to the wire. A late interception from Buccaneers Quarterback Doug Williams at the Chargers own 1 yard-line sealed the deal for San Diego

    Week 16: vs. Oakland Raiders

    Last regular season game of NFL season.

    Roster

    1981 San Diego Chargers Team Starters Rookies in italics Offense 14 Dan Fouts QB 46 Chuck Muncie RB 89 Wes Chandler WR 18 Charlie Joiner WR 85 Eric Sievers TE 80 Kellen Winslow TE 66 Billy Shields LT 63 Doug Wilkerson LG 62 Don Macek C 67 Ed White RG 70 Russ Washington RT Defense 68 Leroy Jones LDE 74 Louie Kelcher LDT 79 Gary Johnson RDT 90 John Woodcock RDE 57 Linden King LB 55 Bob Horn LB 51 Woodrow Lowe LB 28 Willie Buchanon LCB 29 Mike Williams RCB 44 Pete Shaw SS 27 Glen Edwards FS Kicking Team 6 Rolf Benirschke K 4 George Roberts P 21 James Brooks PR 21 James Brooks KR

    References

    1981 San Diego Chargers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA