Todd Pence wrote:This next-to-the-last week of the regular season matchup featured teams from opposing conferences.
The quarterbacks were a future hall of famer who would never win a Super Bowl, and a non-HOFer who would be a future Super Bowl winner as a starter.
The winning team had a TD scored by a former Heisman Trophy winner, the final TD of his career.
The losing team had a TD scored by a player who had previously garnered two Super Bowl rings for his stint with another team. Also a pair of touchdowns scored by the same player, a rookie, in one quarter.
The game was won on a last-second field goal.
The result of the game sent both teams into the final week in a must-win situation to make the playoffs, but both of them came through, winning their respective division titles.
Sept. 13, 1981--Chargers 24, Buccaneers 23
The QBs were Dan Fouts and Doug Williams.
John Cappelletti scored the final TD of his career.
Theo Bell, who had won 2 Super Bowl rings with the Steelers, scored a TD for Tampa Bay.
Rookie James Wilder scored Tampa's other 2 TDs, both in the 4th quarter.
Rolf Benirschke kicked a last-second FG to win it for San Diego.