FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-63 12/1/99

Courage. Perseverance. Heart.

Those were among the qualities on display during the four-hour, three-minute 1981 AFC Divisional Playoff Game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers that today was announced as the ninth Most Memorable NFL Game of the Century.

On a hot, humid Saturday in Miami on January 2, 1982, the Dolphins and Chargers played to the point of exhaustion, both mentally and physically, until the game was decided by a 29-yard field goal 13 minutes into overtime to give San Diego a 41-38 victory.

To commemorate the end of the century, the National Football League invited fans to vote on nfl.com, the league’s official website, for the 10 most memorable games of the century. Fan voting began on October 13 and ended on November 19. Nearly 35,000 votes were cast. Each Wednesday, the next "most memorable" game will be announced, culminating in the announcement of the Most Memorable NFL Game of the Century during Super Bowl XXXIV week on Wednesday, January 26.

"A great game," said Dolphins head coach DON SHULA of the ’81 Divisional classic, despite being on the losing end. "Maybe the greatest ever."

The game is remembered not so much for the records it set -- most points scored in a playoff game (79), most total yards (1,036) and most passing yards (809) -- but more because it pushed every player involved to his limits.

"I never felt so close to death before," said Chargers tight end KELLEN WINSLOW. "That’s what MUHAMMAD ALI said in Manila and that’s how I felt out there at the end."

Winslow’s performance will forever be remembered as symbolic of the game. During the contest, he was treated for a pinched nerve in his shoulder, dehydration, severe cramps, and received three stitches in his lower lip. He was helped off the field numerous times only to continually return to set an NFL playoff record with 13 catches (for 166 yards). Winslow also added a 25-yard touchdown and had arguably the most famous blocked field goal in NFL history.

FIRST QUARTER – LIGHTNING BOLT

The Chargers got off to a lightning-quick start. Rolf Benirschke kicked a 32-yard field goal on the team’s opening drive. Then wide receiver WES CHANDLER returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball bounced backwards and San Diego recovered, setting up a one-yard scoring run by CHUCK MUNCIE. An interception on the next series led to a DAN FOUTS eight-yard touchdown pass to rookie running back JAMES BROOKS.

Before anyone could wipe the sweat off their brow, the Chargers led 24-0. "I wanted to dig a hole and crawl in it," said Dolphins tight end Joe Rose .

SECOND QUARTER – DOLPHINS "STROCK" BACK

Early in the second quarter, Shula replaced quarterback DAVID WOODLEY with 31-year old DON STROCK, a veteran who had successfully relieved second-year pro Woodley numerous times throughout the regular season.

Strock quickly led the club to its first points of the day, a 34-yard field goal by kicker UWE VON SCHAMANN.

Miami’s "Killer Bees" defense awoke and forced a fumble at the Chargers’ 39-yard line. Seven plays later, Strock hit Rose for a one-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-10.

"You could just sense the difference," said Chargers linebacker Linden King. "Strock had a real presence out there."

Near the end of the first half, the Chargers gambled and let Benirschke attempt a 55-yard field goal. He missed. Three plays later, the Dolphins had the ball at the Chargers’ 40-yard line with six seconds left.

With nothing to lose, Miami called for a "hook-and-ladder" play. Strock fired a pass to wideout DURIEL HARRIS, who caught the 15-yarder while falling back towards the line of scrimmage. In one motion, he lateraled to running back TONY NATHAN, who streaked 25 yards down the sideline for a spectacular touchdown to cut the deficit to seven.

"It was a beautiful, beautiful play," said Chargers head coach DON CORYELL. "Perfectly executed."

THIRD QUARTER – TIE GAME

The lateral signaled a momentum swing and the Dolphins capitalized. Strock continued his brilliance and hit Rose for a 15-yard TD, his second touchdown of the game to equal his regular-season total. Miami had come all the way back. The game was tied – 24-24.

But Fouts led the Chargers on a 60-yard, six-play drive, culminating with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Winslow and a 31-24 lead. Strock followed with five completions in a row, then a 50-yard touchdown pass to BRUCE HARDY. Tie game (31-31). Again.

FOURTH QUARTER – MISSED CHANCES

The Dolphins took their first lead with less than five minutes remaining on a 12-yard run by Nathan set up by a LYLE BLACKWOOD interception. Then, with Miami marching on a stake-in-the-heart drive deep in Chargers territory with less than five minutes left, safety PETE SHAW recovered a fumble to keep San Diego’s hopes alive.

The Chargers began at their own 18, needing a touchdown to tie. Fouts marched them down the field and hit Brooks in the back of the end zone for a nine-yard TD pass. The score was tied 38-38 with 58 seconds left.

San Diego squibbed the kickoff and Miami took over at their own 40, needing only a field goal for the win. The Dolphins drove to the Chargers’ 26. They called time out with four seconds left in regulation. Von Schamann had won seven games over the past two seasons (1980-81) and was poised to win this one with a 43-yard kick.

Winslow, exhausted and cramping, reached for everything he had and got his hand on the ball. "It was the biggest thrill of my life," said Winslow of the block. "I felt like I scored three touchdowns."

OVERTIME – RELIEF

Players were dehydrated, cramping and just dead tired. San Diego won the toss and again marched down the field. They set up for a 27-yard field goal that would win the game and the battle of attrition. But the snap and hold were off and Benirschke pulled the kick left – no good.

"I was totally frustrated," said Benirschke. "Especially after these guys put out that kind of effort all day. It was a very lonely feeling. But the coaches and players told me I’d get another chance."

Von Schamann would get his chance first. After having the game-winner in regulation blocked, Miami had moved downfield to set up a 34-yard chance for von Schamann. With everything on the line, the kick was blocked – again -- this time by defensive end LEROY JONES. "He kicked it kind of low," said Jones. "I stuck my arm up and got it."

The Chargers took over on their own 16 and marched 74 yards to the Dolphins’ 10 on the strength of consecutive passes to Chandler and CHARLIE JOINER of 20 and 29 yards, respectively. On first down, Coryell called for Benirschke. His game-winning kick sailed through the uprights so routinely that it defied the abnormality that dominated the day. Players didn’t move. They had trouble celebrating or mourning.

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