1980 Chargers vs 1981 Chargers

7DnBrnc53
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Re: 1980 Chargers vs 1981 Chargers

Post by 7DnBrnc53 »

The pass rush couldnt get to Plunkett enough in the 80/81 AFC Championship game, while Jefferson dropped two late TD passes that hurt their comeback attempts.
Also, they had two critical penalties:

1. When the Chargers cut the lead to 28-14 in the second quarter, they recovered a fumble on the kickoff. However, they were offsides.
2. With about six minutes left, the Raiders had a 3rd and 6, and Wilbur Young jumped offsides. The Raiders were able to convert the easier 3rd and 1, and they went on to run the clock out.
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Bryan
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Re: 1980 Chargers vs 1981 Chargers

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Brian wolf wrote:Though Chandler replaced Jefferson, the loss of Dean for the 81 AFC Championship hurt their chances of beating the Bengals. The 80 squad to me was their best chance, especially after beating the Eagles that season.
I think 1980 was their best chance as well. Mike Fuller was an important loss for the 1981 Chargers. He wasn't the caliber of Dean, and he wasn't very big, but Fuller was smart and the guy who held the secondary together (as well as being a good punt returner). The two guys the Chargers used in 1981 to replace Fuller, Pete Shaw and Bob Gregor, were pretty terrible.

In regards to the 1981 Bengals-Chargers, there was a controversy of the Bengals (Paul Brown?) opening the interior stadium gates when the Chargers had the ball, increasing the gusty conditions, and then closing the gates and decreasing the wind when the Bengals had the ball. I guess we'll never know what effect this had on the outcome of the game. The Chargers bulldozed the Bengals in the 'rematch' the following season.
Brian wolf
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Re: 1980 Chargers vs 1981 Chargers

Post by Brian wolf »

Since the HOF hasnt done it yet, could the HOVG take the lead and allow great assistant coaches, coordinators ?

Arnsparger's tough Miami defenses won two out of three SBs and shut down Fouts in the 82/83 postseason, easily. He also shut down Montana and the 49ers offense in an 83 regular season game. The next year after he left the Dolphins, their defense fell apart in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl ...
lastcat3
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Re: 1980 Chargers vs 1981 Chargers

Post by lastcat3 »

Bryan wrote: In regards to the 1981 Bengals-Chargers, there was a controversy of the Bengals (Paul Brown?) opening the interior stadium gates when the Chargers had the ball, increasing the gusty conditions, and then closing the gates and decreasing the wind when the Bengals had the ball.
Is there any truth to stories like this? Things like this sound like internet rumors that get developed over the years.
Brian wolf
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Re: 1980 Chargers vs 1981 Chargers

Post by Brian wolf »

My mistake on Bill Arnsparger's Miami defenses.
He won two out of four SB's. After shutting down the Fout's led Charger offense and Todd led Jet's offense in 82/83, the Dolphins defense ran out of gas against the former Charger coach, Joe Gibb's Washington offense led by John Riggins.
They were worn out because the Miami offense led by David Woodley, were ineffectual in the second half of that Super Bowl.
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Bryan
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Re: 1980 Chargers vs 1981 Chargers

Post by Bryan »

lastcat3 wrote:
Bryan wrote: In regards to the 1981 Bengals-Chargers, there was a controversy of the Bengals (Paul Brown?) opening the interior stadium gates when the Chargers had the ball, increasing the gusty conditions, and then closing the gates and decreasing the wind when the Bengals had the ball.
Is there any truth to stories like this? Things like this sound like internet rumors that get developed over the years.
It was mentioned in the newspaper stories about the game. The Sporting News did a bit on it. Here is a blurb from NY Daily News:

There was a bit of controversy, as well. Gregg had seen to it that the stadium doors were opened when the Chargers were going into the wind and Coryell briefly mentioned it afterward.
Brian wolf
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Re: 1980 Chargers vs 1981 Chargers

Post by Brian wolf »

Hopefully, more Charger offensive linemen will get elected to the HOVG or HOF someday. I believe Washington, Macek and Wilkerson are deserving, though their accolades are lighter ...
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