1981 San Diego Chargers season

1981 San Diego Chargers season
Head coach	Don Coryell (4th season)
General manager	Johnny Sanders (Since 1976)
Owner	Gene Klein (Since 1966)
Home field	Jack Murphy Stadium
Results
Record	10–6
Division place	1st AFC West
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
← 1980 Chargers seasons 1982 →

1 2 3 4 Total • Chargers 10 10 14 10 44 Browns 0 7 7 0 14 Date: September 7 Location: Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OH Game start: 9:00 p.m. Game weather: 66°F; wind 6 TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith

Scoring summary Q1 SD Brooks 4 yard run (Benirschke kick) SD 7–0 Q1 SD Benirschke 50 yard field goal SD 10–0 Q2 CLE Feacher 18 yard pass from Sipe (Jacobs kick) SD 10–7 Q2 SD Muncie 9 yard run (Benirschke kick) SD 17–7 Q2 SD Benirschke 43 yard field goal SD 20–7 Q3 SD Brooks 13 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick) SD 27–7 Q3 CLE Pruitt 4 yard pass from Sipe (Jacobs kick) SD 27–14 Q3 SD Bauer 4 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick) SD 34–14 Q4 SD Benirschke 32 yard field goal SD 37–14 Q4 SD Smith 38 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick) SD 44–14

Scoring summary
Q1		SD	Brooks 4 yard run (Benirschke kick)	SD 7–0
Q1		SD	Benirschke 50 yard field goal	SD 10–0
Q2		CLE	Feacher 18 yard pass from Sipe (Jacobs kick)	SD 10–7
Q2		SD	Muncie 9 yard run (Benirschke kick)	SD 17–7
Q2		SD	Benirschke 43 yard field goal	SD 20–7
Q3		SD	Brooks 13 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)	SD 27–7
Q3		CLE	Pruitt 4 yard pass from Sipe (Jacobs kick)	SD 27–14
Q3		SD	Bauer 4 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)	SD 34–14
Q4		SD	Benirschke 32 yard field goal	SD 37–14
Q4		SD	Smith 38 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)	SD 44–14

1 2 3 4 Total Lions 3 0 10 10 23 • Chargers 7 0 7 14 28 Date: September 13 Location: Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, CA Game start: 4:00 p.m. Game weather: 73°F; wind 11

Scoring summary Q1 SD Muncie 1 yard run (Benirschke kick) SD 7–0 Q1 DET Murray 18 yard field goal SD 7–3 Q3 DET Danielson 11 yard run (Murray kick) DET 10–7 Q3 DET Murray 37 yard field goal DET 13–7 Q3 SD Winslow 7 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick) SD 14–13 Q4 DET Sims 12 yard run (Murray kick) DET 20–14 Q4 SD Muncie 1 yard run (Benirschke kick) SD 21–20 Q4 DET Murray 30 yard field goal DET 23–21 Q4 SD Cappelletti 2 yard run (Benirschke kick) SD 28–23

Scoring summary
Q1		SD	Muncie 1 yard run (Benirschke kick)	SD 7–0
Q1		DET	Murray 18 yard field goal	SD 7–3
Q3		DET	Danielson 11 yard run (Murray kick)	DET 10–7
Q3		DET	Murray 37 yard field goal	DET 13–7
Q3		SD	Winslow 7 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)	SD 14–13
Q4		DET	Sims 12 yard run (Murray kick)	DET 20–14
Q4		SD	Muncie 1 yard run (Benirschke kick)	SD 21–20
Q4		DET	Murray 30 yard field goal	DET 23–21
Q4		SD	Cappelletti 2 yard run (Benirschke kick)	SD 28–23

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

1 2 3 4 Total • Chargers 7 21 20 7 55 Raiders 7 14 0 0 21 Date: November 22 Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California Game start: 1:00 p.m. PST Game weather: 60°F, wind 9 mph Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

Scoring summary 1 Raiders Derrick Ramsey 66-yard pass from Marc Wilson (Chris Bahr kick) Raiders 7–0 1 Chargers Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick) Tie 7–7 2 Raiders Derrick Jensen 2-yard run (Chris Bahr kick) Raiders 14–0 2 Chargers James Brooks 12-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Tie 14–14 2 Raiders Marc Wilson 12-yard run (Chris Bahr kick) Raiders 21–14 2 Chargers Kellen Winslow 15-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Tie 21–21 2 Chargers Kellen Winslow 29-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chargers 28–21 3 Chargers Kellen Winslow 4-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chargers 35–21 3 Chargers Kellen Winslow 5-yard pass from Dan Fouts (kick failed) Chargers 41–21 3 Chargers Charlie Joiner 6-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chargers 48–21 4 Chargers Kellen Winslow 3-yard pass from Chuck Muncie (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chargers 55–21

Scoring summary
1		Raiders	Derrick Ramsey 66-yard pass from Marc Wilson (Chris Bahr kick)	Raiders 7–0
1		Chargers	Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Tie 7–7
2		Raiders	Derrick Jensen 2-yard run (Chris Bahr kick)	Raiders 14–0
2		Chargers	James Brooks 12-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Tie 14–14
2		Raiders	Marc Wilson 12-yard run (Chris Bahr kick)	Raiders 21–14
2		Chargers	Kellen Winslow 15-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Tie 21–21
2		Chargers	Kellen Winslow 29-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Chargers 28–21
3		Chargers	Kellen Winslow 4-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Chargers 35–21
3		Chargers	Kellen Winslow 5-yard pass from Dan Fouts (kick failed)	Chargers 41–21
3		Chargers	Charlie Joiner 6-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Chargers 48–21
4		Chargers	Kellen Winslow 3-yard pass from Chuck Muncie (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Chargers 55–21

Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers

1 2 3 4 Total • Bills 7 7 14 0 28 Chargers 7 14 3 3 27 Date: December 6 Location: Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California Game start: 4:00pm PST Game weather: 59°F, wind 9 mph Source: [1]

Scoring summary 1 Chargers Chuck Muncie 9 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chergers 7–0 1 Bills Joe Ferguson 3-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) Tie 7–7 2 Chargers Wes Chandler 17-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chargers 14–7 2 Bills Roosevelt Leaks 9-yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer) Tie 14–14 2 Chargers Kellen Winslow 67-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chargers 21–14 3 Bills Roosevelt Leaks 1-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) Tie 21–21 3 Chargers Rolf Benirschke 29-yard field goal Chargers 24–21 3 Bills Joe Cribbs 1-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) Bills 28–24 4 Chargers Rolf Benirschke 27-yard field goal Bills 28–27

Scoring summary
1		Chargers	Chuck Muncie 9 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Chergers 7–0
1		Bills	Joe Ferguson 3-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)	Tie 7–7
2		Chargers	Wes Chandler 17-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Chargers 14–7
2		Bills	Roosevelt Leaks 9-yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer)	Tie 14–14
2		Chargers	Kellen Winslow 67-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)	Chargers 21–14
3		Bills	Roosevelt Leaks 1-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)	Tie 21–21
3		Chargers	Rolf Benirschke 29-yard field goal	Chargers 24–21
3		Bills	Joe Cribbs 1-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)	Bills 28–24
4		Chargers	Rolf Benirschke 27-yard field goal	Bills 28–27

Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers

1 2 3 4 Total Raiders 0 3 7 0 10 • Chargers 7 10 3 3 23 Date: December 21 Location: Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California Game start: 6:00 p.m. PST Game weather: 63°F, wind 13 mph Television network: ABC Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

Scoring summary 1 Chargers James Brooks 28-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chargers 7–0 2 Raiders Chris Bahr 34-yard field goal Chargers 7–3 2 Chargers Rolf Benirschke 24-yard field goal Chargers 10–3 2 Chargers Charlie Joiner 29-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chargers 17–3 3 Raiders Mark van Eeghen 1-yard run (Chris Bahr kick) Chargers 17–10 3 Chargers Rolf Benirschke 27-yard field goal Chargers 20–10 4 Chargers Rolf Benirschke 39-yard field goal Chargers 23–10

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.

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.

Stats

Stats

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

Last regular season game of NFL season.

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