@Kirk Moore What are you - 12 years old? Well at least I know how old you are by the "asswhipe" comment. Funny how it wasn't a story anywhere else. I guess its easier to believe in a cheating scandal rather than admit that the Chargers always choked when it mattered.
@@whataboutrob442 I never read about the Oilers cheating.....I read that their DC discovered something in the way the offensive line placed their hands(??) It basically tipped him off as to if it was a run or a pass. That is definitely not cheating!!! That's what coordinators get paid to do...
I'll never forget that day, where I was at, who was over...nothing. I was 7 and it's all be down hill since then. Simply the greatest game ever and Exhibit 1 why you NEVER bail on a game.
100% Best game of all time in my opinion. I was a kid back then....I LOVED that Chargers team, and I'm from NY... Its a shame they never won a title!!.... They were awesome! I cant think of a more exciting team to watch
I'm 52 almost 53. Watching Dan Fouts play and the Chargers was amazing!!! I just want to thank you Dan for all those great years. I still cheer for the Chargers but it's not the same.
I could listen to Dan Fouts all day. Great qb. Great broadcaster. Real shame he didn't get a ring. Thanks for all the memories Dan and still terrific hearing you call games.
Each side just couldn't step up when they needed to in 1979 it was ALL on Fouts. In 80 it was the defense who couldn't get the ball back to the offense one more time and in 81 they just faced a superior team in Ken Anderson who could throw the ball and receivers could catch it and the offense couldn't in that cold weather. Their best shot was 1980 playing at home in th Championship and they failed.
@Kirk Moore I agree since 12-4 was there best record, but actually the '81 team scored more points and again in 2006. And many teams since have as well including the Ravens last year. Their biggest problem was that Fouts couldn't run and all defenses had to do was focus on him throwing it.
I remember the '79-81 Chargers well. I was 14 years old and a Cowboys fan, but I loved the Chargers. The most exciting team ever. No one could throw it like Dan Fouts
As a kid back then you had to be fascinated by those lightning bolt uniforms and the fact that all they did was throw the ball all over the field. They were so much fun to watch
@@Ryan2022 Considering that Chuck Muncie had over 1100 yards and 19 TDs rushing, the run game was strong too. James Brooks (vastly underrated) also had 500 rushing. But at the same time, if you "load the box" to stop Muncie or Brooks, good luck trying to stop Fouts, Winslow, Joined and Chandler playing man-to-man.
I’m about your age & like you, I couldn’t help but love those Chargers even though they weren’t my team. I loved to watch them play. Dan Fouts was a surgeon, Kellen Winslow a beast & Chuck Muncie was a gazelle.
I really believe they will be back in San Diego-LA will only embrace the Rams--even when they move to SoHo stadium their attendance will lag behind the Rams -ultimately they will move back
I grew up a dedicated and hardcore Eagles fan, of which I still am. However, the only team I followed almost as religiously as the Eagles were the Chargers. In 1980, when the Eagles were on their way to their first Super Bowl, the one team I worried about were the Chargers. We lost to them in the regular season, and I knew if we played them in the Super Bowl, they'd be a tall order. When the Chargers surprisingly lost to the Raiders in the AFC Championship game, I was incredibly relieved. How the Eagles lost to the Raiders, I still don't know. But when the '81 season started, I was quietly rooting for the Chargers to beat the snot out of the Raiders. Those Chargers teams from '79-'83 were some of the greatest, most entertaining teams in the history of the NFL. Hats off to Coryell, Fouts, Winslow, Muncie, Joiner, Brooks, Jefferson, Kelcher, Wilkerson, Benirschke, and all the great players of those early 80's Chargers teams.
I remember as a kid watching the freezer bowl game in January of 1981 when the Chargers went to Cincinnati. That game if I am right was the coldest in NFL history, I sat in front of my television and I even felt cold watching that game, that's one game I'll never forget. Even though Fouts and company lost to the Anderson led Bengals it was still an awesome season flying on Air Coryell
When Norv Turner was the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990's, he admitted that he used Don Coryell's plays to help the Cowboys win the Superbowls in 92 and 93.
I still can't get over the fact they went 14-2 in the 2006 season, entered the playoffs as the #1 seed(by far), were #1 in the power rankings in every single poll the last month of the season, and then proceed to BLOW it, choke, and lose 24-21 to the Pats in San Diego. That was the FIRST time the Chargers had lost at home ALL season. The Bolts may never again have a better chance to go all the way, than they did that season.
Marty Schottenheimer was snakebit. If Marlon McCree just falls down after intercepting Tom Brady, they win that game. Of course, one also has to wonder how that team would have looked had they not let Drew Brees walk in free agency…
Bills fan here.. and i have to say i already miss the Chargers being in San Diego.. L.T. and Rivers should have a ring and same goes for the Fouts and Winslow era.. tough
He was a great offensive mind to be sure. Only Bill Walsh was better at offense. Where Coryell failed was at defense and talent evaluation. His only great draft picks from 1979-85 were Kellen Winslow, James Brooks, and Ernest Jackson - and Brooks and Jackson got into his doghouse. He traded high draft picks for John Cappelletti, Willie Buchanan, Tim Fox, and Abdul Salaam who were all washed up. The Chargers went from having a good defense in 1979-80 to the NFL's worst in 1981-82.
@@tomryugo5742 LOL. Bill Walsh was not better at offense. His talent evaluation must have been pretty good because he turned around a horrible St. Louis team and made them winners and a horrible San Diego team and made them into winners.
I liked their cleaned up look from the latter part of the 80's [Self Edit] 1987 to be specific. Darker royal (not navy) with white and gold. And the Shazam bolt on top of a thick stripe on the pants. Royal blue and or dark royal with white always looks classy.
The Chargers losing John Jefferson seemed like a massive blow at the time, he was a great player, but their offense actually got better without him, going from fourth in scoring in 1980 to first in 1981 as well as accumulating more yards, so they were still the best offense in the league. But 16:46 was what REALLY hurt them, losing Fred Dean, a future Hall of Fame defensive end. In 1980, the Chargers had the 6th ranked defense in the NFL, they lose Fred Dean early on in 1981, and their defense is ranked 27th that season, second worst in the league as well as giving up more points (18th in points allowed in 1980 to 26th in 1981). Meanwhile, Fred Dean goes to San Francisco, adding an established veteran to a young 49ers defense, and you could argue that Dean was the last piece of the puzzle for the 49ers as they went on to win their first Super Bowl in 1981, kicking off their dynasty. So Gene Klein letting Fred Dean go has to be one of the biggest blunders in Chargers history.
Bengals fan here Cincinnati born & raised my parents were at the game my aunt (moms sister) was there also she spilt a beer & it froze. My dad worked on the railroad believe or not he’s worked in conditions worse then that. On the drive to the game they drove down to Riverfront Stadium with no heat on dad was trying to get them use to how tough it was gonna be.
@@ericradford2142 I was a Charger fan in the late 70s early 80s but I became a Steelers fan in 92 when Bill Cowher became the coach. I was in the Military and didn't follow football in the 80s didn't catch too many games.
grew up in Minneapolis, Mn.. Loved watching the chargers play the afternoon game in san diego. a 3 p.m. start time, by halftime it was dark in MSP and 10 below but always sunny in san diego. I remember saying to myself, I need to get out of this crap hole and live somewhere warm. Now I live in SD and the chargers moved, oh well, still have the beach.
"You play to win, you play to go to a Superbowl, if you don't get there...... you don't get there, but it doesn't mean your a failure. You put it out there you try, you win you lose you reach your goals you don't, that's all part of it thats part of life." This hits home for me. Great into
After two years I was FINALLY able to find out what the song used at 4:38 is. It's called "The Legacy" by NFL Films music composer David Robidoux. As of this post you can find it on APM music. I think it's the perfect song for the Chargers of this era.
Decisions are never made for the benefit of the team or fans. It's always the owner getting the chance to pay 10 cents less for a gallon of gas or any other tiny benefit they would get for moving a team
The owner called the city’s bluff. The city said you can’t get a better deal, so we’re going to give you bubkus, the owner said well if your going to play hardball I can too!
@@caliwaiiankev2279 LA doesn't "make" anything. They buy championships. Its the only time you people show up. At least San Diego had a real love affair with its team. How many teams you been through now? Four?
I remember when Super Bowl XVI was called The Cinderella Bowl, because at the time, everyone expected The Dallas Cowboys and The San Diego Chargers to meet in Super Bowl XVI. Nobody, I mean, NOBODY expected The San Francisco 49ers or The Cincinnati Bengals to make it.
And the real head-scratcher is that TO THIS DAY, Super Bowl XVI has the highest Household Rating (average percentage of U.S. households with a TV set that were watching the game) in Super Bowl history, 49.1. People wanted to watch that Cinderella match-up.
When all is said and done, the Chargers under Air Coryell were entertaining and are still remembered by football followers. The Chargers post-Coryell were forgettable until Ross's teams of the early 1990s. The Chargers pre-Coryell were forgettable following Sid Gillman's departure. So Dan Fouts is right. In a way, the Chargers left behind a legacy which included legendary games like The 80 AFC Championship Game, The 81 Freezer Bowl and The 81 Winslow Game, 4 Hall of Fame players, 4 playoff appearances including 3 AFC West titles, quite a few playoff disappointments (79-82) and a host of strategic offensive innovations that teams still employ to this day.
I always thought 1980 was the Chargers "missing ring" season. They were the #1 seed in the AFC and had the AFC championship game at home. They even had a regular season win over the Eagles that year. I think that they were so exhausted from the Miami win and now had to go to Cincy and play in -59 windchill weather it was just too much. The Bengals were favorite so their win was no great upset. The 1980 AFC championship was theirs to win and didn't.
jacktheripoff1888 how about the 1979 Chargers? They had the #1 seed and blew out the Steelers and Rams....the teams that went to the Super Bowl.....they beat Pittsburgh 35-7 and LA 40-16 in the regular season.....then they choked in the playoffs
@@scottross4374 The 1979 team lost because Houston stole their play signals from the sideline to Fouts. The Oilers defense always knew what play was coming. Houston was missing starting QB Dan Pastorini and, most importantly, MVP RB Earl Campbell. The 1980 team got unlucky against the Raiders. Raiders scored on a deflected pass - Plunkett's pass bounced off Kenny King and went right to TE Raymond Chester who ran untouched to the end zone. The Chargers were driving for a score and had the ball near the Raiders 20 when a Dan Fouts pass bounced off Charlie Joiner's hands and went right to Burgess Owens at the goal line - killing the drive.
@@tomryugo5742 Yes you're right about Houston taking away the play signals from the Chargers.Read about it online a while back. If it wasn't for that the Chargers may have made it to the Super Bowl that season;who knows.
@@tomryugo5742 people always forget the Oilers stole their signals. That game is hard to watch seeing Bingham shift over to where the ball is going on every single play
ditto, as a 1981 baby myself (and just for the sake of pointing it out, so is Philip Rivers haha - so good year to come into the world) except I was born in Midway area of SD :)
Loved those Charger teams. They were fun to watch, shame they never won the SB. But that's not an indication of the Great talent those teams had. Fouts was 1 of the best QB to ever take a snap, Kellen Winslow was the best TE in football at that time. Muncie was a great back (couldn't believe Saints traded him). Chargers were my adopted team,as I lived in SD for 2 yrs. The owner traded the defensive talent. He's as much to blame as anyone, IMO. Still Fouts numbers,Winslows numbers, & other great players on that team, deserve more respect than they've been given IMO. TBH I'd take Winslow & Fouts in their prime,& be happy. Life goes on.
So fun to watch back then the Chargers of the late 70s and early 80s. Their place even without that Super Bowl appearance is immortalized in NFL history.
I've always had so much respect for the S.D. Chargers, especially those years with "Air-Coryell" How do you think I feel? I'm now in my 48th Season as a Viking.... Your Powder Blue Uniforms, OMG! Love the AFL's History…..
Being a small kid I Remember all the Excitement of my dad n his friends watching these seasons.. was always Exciting. Times were different in NFL back then
I was 9 years to be born but I've read and watched much on these teams, truly a missing ring. I feel like if they don't trade Ted Dean before 1981 they would've probably flipped a couple close losses and forced the Bengals to come to San Diego, had they faced the 49ers who knows what would've happened. Would've been a hell of a game. Regardless it's good that this team isn't forgotten, the Air Coryell Chargers changed the game forever, their footprints are on every NFL offense. If you think about it, a Chargers/49ers Super Bowl would've almost been a glimpse into the future, the West Coast offense vs. Air Coryell. Fouts was an incredible quarterback, Winslow maybe the best TE of all time, Charlie Joyner I feel gets lost in history. Amazing offense.
Will never forget late 60's, early 70's Saturday night San Diego State Aztecs football games in sold out Jack Murphy Stadium, those packed houses the result of Don Coryell's innovative, high charged offense that put the beloved red and black uniformed Aztecs in the top 20 every year as a division 2 team. The beer flowed and let me tell you, the fans had plenty to scream about as every game was a BLOWOUT! Fast forward to Coryell's return as Chargers head coach and we all knew what was coming, and how fortunate could a football fan be? I don't know if there has ever been a more high drama, nerve wracking, edge of your seat NFL football team like those Air Coryell San Diego Chargers? All of which was made possible by a super talented, devoted to Coach Coryell, fun loving hardcore group of football players. Two things I don't understand - how did the team get away, to LA of all places, and why is the legend, Don Coryell not in the pro football Hall of Fame? And one thing I do know well - the Chargers never got a ring, not because of the defense - but because of owner Gene Klein, who put bottom line principal before glory, despite having the cash.
Same here. I originally got interested in the Chargers for the same reason the mid 70s Colts interested me. A young, dynamic front four combined with a young QB.
At 37:12, the fact that not only Hank Bauer, but the ENTIRE team sounded so defeated because of the conditions signaled them losing this game before the ball was ever kicked off. Further evidence of this, at 38:24, is Kellen Winslow saying that they weren't focused on getting 1st downs or punching it in the end zone, but simply "Survival."
From 79-82. This team made me cry as a 10-14 old. To lose to quarterbacks Gifford Neilson, Jim Plunkett, David Woodley my God! Gene Klein cheapest Bastard ever. Would,nt pay quality players what they were worth! Fouts, Marino, Kelly, 0-5 in Superbowls.
Fouts was never in a Super Bowl so you shouldn't mention him in your 0-5 list. :) And to be fair, Kelly was responsible for 4 of those 5 games. And to be fair, if Scott Norwood made a 47 yard field goal at the end of the Bills first SB against the Giants, everything would be different.
Plunkett would be a hall of famer if he played his whole career with the raiders. He was drafted by a terrible team and later traded to a terrible team, before finally finding his right place with the raiders.
Rick Hummel and “to be fair”, if the Bills were as great as everyone loves proclaiming they are (most folks pretend they got SB XXV stolen from them or something), then it shouldn’t have had to come down to a last second field goal by Norwood. Everyone was (stupidly) expecting the Bills to blow the Giants out of the water
Pmerk game shouldn’t have been close. Buffalo was lucky Simms didn’t play that night. Plus they were only 4-3 agianst teams with winning records that year, and were only the 7th best offense in the league. They were never a superbowl caliber team no suprise they always got blown out or outplayed.
I’d love to see one on the 2007 Patriots. I know it’ll probably never happen because they’ve won plenty, but HOW that team ended up without a ring is still a mystery to me. Literally no weak links in any phase of their game Also the 2016 Falcons. One of the most embarrassing choke jobs I’ve ever seen
I say 2007 San Diego Chargers, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2020 Buffalo Bills, and 2021 Cincinnati Bengals are my next Missing Rings episodes.
"79 Chargers lost their playoff game to Houston because Houston cracked their signal code and knew what was coming. That's why they had 5 interceptions. Houston admitted it. There was an article in Sports Illustrated about it.
Was Altuve banging on a garbage can to let them know what was coming? What's with Houston and cheating? Makes me wonder if the Rockets put out a hit on Michael Jordan's dad so he'd retire for two years.
There was a story about Hank Bauer giving up football. At age 29, his doctor told him he'd had it. Vertebrae in his neck had fused. He woke up one morning and couldn't lift a frying pan. Bauer said all the years of wedge busting and he was never scared but that morning, he was terrified.
Well, that was as close as the 1981 chargers were from the Super Bowl-they were good, but not enough in the near-zero weather they had to contend with when they played the bengals in the afc championship game-it really hurt San Diego so much they felt they tried-that’s my opinion! 👍👍👍👍🏈🏈🏈
1980 was their year and best chance. One heck of a team. 1981 was a great year for San Diego but beating Cincinnati in Cincinnati with no John Jefferson and Fred Dean in January was a tall order.
I remember that day so well. 100 miles north in Champaign, IL. it was even colder. I admire Chicago, Green Bay and Cleveland for keeping outdoor stadiums when the weather gets so cold. (Other teams too, but those are the closest to me.)
This was very well done! I'm a Raider lifer, but I always liked the Chargers as well. Couldn't help myself. Who didn't like Air Coryell? Fouts & Co. were amazing to watch.
Losing Fred Dean to SF cost them big likely SB. 49ers played Cowboys they just got Dean... Bill Walsh revamped secondary Rodney Lot and knew needed one more piece. 49ers won blowout vs a top Dallas team met NFC Championship with homefield. SD gave up 40+ to Bengals cost them likely homefield and Seahawks 40+ loss.
The three games that really cost them were the losses to the Vikings, Bears and Bills -by a total of six points. They should have won all three and with Dean and Jefferson, they most likely would have.
I think the real MISSING RING for the Chargers was 1980 when they lost the AFC Championship to the Raiders. They played at home, the Raiders were a wild-card team, they had all the advantage. Even though I'm a hard-core Raiders fan, I think they were the better team that year too.
In the America's Game episode on the 1980 Raiders, Matt Millen said he wasn't concerned about playing the Eagles in Super Bowl XV because he thought Oakland had already played the best team in the NFL, that team being the San Diego Chargers.
Though I consider myself a 49ers fan today, I grew up watching the chargers and while many say they are a team with no identity I'd argue that they are one of the most talented teams...who haven't won anything since the days of the AFL. They beat some of the best teams in the league in which they usual have no right beating and they were statistically the best team in football in 2010 but never made the playoffs(SB Nation). They are a modern trajedy, they might win a superbowl one day but only if they learn one thing...how to finish a season!
So true. I can only think of Warren Moon and the run and shoot even close to San Diego not getting to the super bowl. They could light you up but always choked somehow
The Oilers couldn't get past the divisional round because the Run & Shoot is a gimmicky offense that can't burn time off the clock when they get the lead. Power running just doesn't work when you don't have a fullback or tight end on the roster.
The people were smarter than the people of Indiana; we're still paying taxes for Lucas Oil Stadium. They weren't going to be cadged into paying for a billionaire's stadium, nor should any other municipality.
@@indy_go_blue6048 That's not the way California's government works. The stadium referendum went out to a state-wide vote to see if people were willing to foot the bill for a city stadium. Incredibly asinine government run by incompetent officials -- to this day. There's an exodus of people leaving CA as we speak because of the incompetence. You can't tell me a football team doesn't bring in profit for the city. The problem is always the same thing -- incompetence. Look at how the Raiders are leaving not just Oakland, but the state of California!
This was the Bengals and Ken Anderson's year--beating the Chargers in San Diego by 3 TDS and then again in -59F in Cincinnati Freezer Bowl. Dan's consolation is the Hall of Fame (the committee has apparently locked the door on Anderson, as though a small-college record-setter shouldn't be admitted) and the victory, on Monday Night Football and here on RUclips, over the Bengals in San Diego (thanks to the extra 150 yards from Muncie's running and passing). In the play-offs it was Freeman McNeil who did the same thing to the Bengals. Pete Johnson was neither a passer or a breakaway running threat. The Chargers would give the Bengals what they needed when they traded James Brooks for Pete who, unlike the Super Bowl, had no trouble scoring TDs from inside the 5 yard line.
I was a 49er/Raider fan living in San Diego in those years which may be some of the best years San Diego ever enjoyed. I had my ups and downs then but overall it was a fun place to be. If you were there you know what I mean and the Chargers were a big part of the joy win or lose. And who can forget the chorus of 'San Diego Super Chargers!'.
To those who blame the cold for the Chargers losing the AFC Championship Game to Cincinnati, don't forget that earlier in the year the Bengals played the Chargers IN San Diego and clobbered them, 40-17.
What a mind-blowing gauntlet of extreme weather -- to play in the high heat and humidity of Miami one week and then in the most brutal of cold the next.
Air Coryell was awesome!!! I'm not even a Chargers fan but I couldn't wait to see these guys play. One of the great teams of all time to NOT win a Super Bowl. That's sad, but they sure were fun to watch!! If it weren't for mother nature & that minus 59 degree AFC championship game, I think they would have won it all!!
How about a missing rings segment about the 76' Steelers. They were a much better team than the 81' Chargers. And they were on their way to winning a third straight super bowl until injuries to Franco Harris and Blier derailed them.
I was only 8 years old that season in 81, was heartbroken when they traded JJ, but Wes Chandler was a great replacement! Bummer they did not go all the way, but I am still a boltz fan today and raising my son that way because of players like Fouts, Winslow, Bauer, Muncie, Chandler, etc. Fouts was my hero growing up, and I never got a chance to meet him... and today my son’ s hero is Phillip Rivers, another stand up, hard working, great QB who has failed to get to a super bowl, but will be in the HOF hopefully! Also high hopes for this upcoming season. Like the teams of 79,80, & 81, this year we are once again loaded with offensive weapons like Rivers, Gordon(if we can get him paid), Allen, Henry( if he can stay healthy) and a defense and special teams that is awesome like Bosa, Ingram, and King. The AFC west these days is one of the fastest, strongest, most talented in the league, and it will be tough to be there in the end, but the ghosts of Fouts, Winslow, Bauer, Air Corryell etc will be guiding us to the finish line! Go Chargers!!!! Fan for life:)
I was a chargers fan for more than 40 years. They broke my heart so many times. If they had a decent defense they would have been the team of the 80's. Now, the Spanos ownership doesn't give a damn about building a championship team, but, rather, is in it for the money. I stopped following them when they left San Diego. Now, I don't give a damn about them.
The Air Cornell Chargers were the reason I became a football fan. The Chargers under Don Coryell were the most prolific and most imaginative offense in football history period. The Chargers were sooo fun to watch.
PLEASE!!! The DALLAS COWBOYS were the only other team in 1981. The DALLAS COWBOYS hands down win Super Bowl if Drew Pearson is not tackled by Eric Wright. The Catch DID NOT beat the Cowboys, the tackle on Pearson did. Also. the NFL's DREAM SUPER BOWL would have been the Dallas Cowboys vs the SD Chargers. That would have been one of the greatest games of all time. The game they played in 1980 was great and so was the game in 1983. Both teams split. Honestly, I fell asleep before the 49ers Bengals started and I woke up after the game. My Mom and Dad said the game was horrible. True we were and always will be a Cowboys household in Philadelphia, but we could b objective. That game sucked. The Cowboys should have been in three straight Super Bowls.
That's fine but honestly, I do not care the about the qualifications to be on this show and my Cowboys can never have enough rings. the years they had to best team in the NFL and did not win are: 1967, 1970, 1972, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982 ,1994 and 1996
PS. That is why Kenny Houston told me at the Cowboys hotel in 1996 night before the last game at RFK "I can talk football for hours with you." BTW, I be you don't even know who that is do you? Now go trade in your gang banger Sean Taylor jersey in for a Guice jersey. They should be on sale now since he is DONE already.
No. I was a Raiders fan then, and the Chargers always scared the hell out of me. It was like trying to just hang on for 60 minutes, because they could score so quickly. If they had even a mediocre defense, they would have won multiple Super Bowls. They didn't underachieve; they didn't have enough players on defense.
I agree with what somebody else said here. The 81' Chargers were overrated. They had a great offense but they also had a shitty defense that blew a 21 point lead against the Dolphins in the playoffs. And they did absolutely nothing against the Bengals in the AFC Championship game
@@idovbnc Remember, though, that Cincinnati was running the "West Coast" offense (which was developed by Bill Walsh and Kenny Anderson in Cincinnati). Considering the success Bill had with it in San Francisco, I wonder what would have happened had Paul Brown not passed over Bill Walsh as head coach in favor of Bill Johnson. Paul Brown's biggest douche move.
1979 Chargers defense with the 1981 offense and they might have won it all. As it was great era 78-84 was pretty good. Now, with Phillip Rivers carving out a similar career, he may be working on Missing Rings part II.
They got to be kidding? This team went 10-6 with 3 of the wins by a total of 4 points. They barely made the playoffs, and needed about 10 miracles to get out of the first round. Their defense had become a running joke at this point. The memorable Chargers vs Miami playoff game is the only reason they are on this list I would have to assume, sad. That was a dramatic historically memorable game so let's put them on the list just for the heck of it.
If anything they should have done the video for the 1979 and 2006 team. The 1981 team weren't that good but have became overrated due to their offense.
@@mooseclamps Not really considering they singled out the 1981 squad for this video, still not the best choice when they could have chose 1979 or even 1980 squad.
Great video! Hank Bauer is SO full of crap. You don't, EVER, replace John Jefferson. I loved Wes Chandler (I liked him when he was a Saint, for Christ's sake, so I'm not biased against him) and thought he was great, but he was not even in JJ's league...stupid ass... And the loss of Fred Dean was brutal CHALLENGE---someone, ANYONE, please explain to me why this is about the 1981 Chargers and NOT the 1980 Chargers? The '80 Chargers were much, MUCH better--they actually had a defense and still had JJ/Dean. I'm STILL in awe, to this day, that they lost to the '80 Raiders, a VASTLY inferior team.... '81 was a MUCH worse team than '80 Chargers. It's INSANE and pathetic. The '80 Chargers are the team that should have been chronicled and considered one of the best teams to not win a ring. '81? PLEASE...
My bet is NFL Films picked the '81 team so they could feature the Epic In Miami. Otherwise I think the 1980 team was the best. First, because they weren't new to the playoffs anymore and actually won a playoff game. Second because they only narrowly lost to the Raiders in the conference championship where the ball just bounced Oakland's way more than it bounced in San Diego's favor.
That and the -59 wind chill in the AFC Championship Game. Not to mention it was the Chargers' last stand at possibly getting to the SuperBowl under the Coryell era. Yea, the 81 Chargers were not the best team of this era, but it had the best story, which is why it was picked.
Yeah, it seems to be a better story, but when I think a "missing ring," I'm thinking their best shot at a ring. The '81 Chargers were just about the worst of that era to pick. Cincy was far, far better in '81. They spanked them both in the regular season, as well as the playoffs. I highly doubt it was a fluke
The 1979-80 Chargers were their really good teams because they had some defense. Unlike the 1981 team that finished last in yardage allowed. Those Charger teams fell victim to bad luck and Gene Klein's skinflint ways. Klein knowingly screwed his best players and refused to renegotiate. RB Joe Washington held out in 1978. He got traded for an over-the-hill Lydell Mitchell. Washington became a great all-around rusher, receiver, and return man for the Colts and later the Redskins, helping Washington win a Super Bowl. The 79 team could have used him. The 1980 team traded for Chuck Muncie which they wouldn't have had to do if Washington stayed. Fred Dean held out in 1981 and got traded to San Francisco. He picked up two Super Bowl rings in SF. The 79 team was probably the best because it had a good defense. San Diego crushed both Super Bowl teams, beating the Rams 40-16 and the Steelers 35-7. They faced the wild card Oilers who were missing QB Dan Pastorini and MVP RB Earl Campbell both injured. The Chargers were heavily favored. But they looked awful. Dan Fouts threw five interceptions - mainly to strong safety Vernon Perry. Houston seemingly pulled a rabbit out of the hat with a 17-14 win. It turned out that the Oilers had cracked the Chargers' sideline play-calling signals and relayed that to the defense. The Oilers always knew what play was coming. Perry downplayed it some, saying "You still have to stop make the plays." The 1980 team is probably still scratching its head over the 34-27 loss to Oakland in the AFC Championship. Oakland scored first on the third play of the game when a Jim Plunkett pass bounced off Kenny King right to Raymond Chester who ran untouched for a 65 yard TD. Late in Q1, Oakland faced 3rd and 19 from its own 15. Plunkett somehow escaped a furious pass rush and heaved a 48 yard pass to Cliff Branch. The Raiders later scored a TD. They scored another after Mike Thomas fumbled at the Charger 29. San Diego suffered bad luck where Oakland had good luck. At the Raiders 20 yard line, Dan Fouts threw high to Charlie Joiner who got a hand on it but the ball went right to safety Burgess Owens at the goal line and he ran back to the 25. Then, after the Chargers roared back to close the score to 28-24, the Raiders took advantage of the heavy rain that fell the day before. They went to the ground game with a 10 play drive that took 5:24 off the clock. After a quick three and out, the Raiders mounted another 10 play drive that took another 5:14 off the clock. Those two drives wore down the defense. A SD FG came with 6:43. The Raiders went to the ground and the Chargers were too gassed to stop them. They ran out the entire clock.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I remember crying as a kid when Chargers lost to Oilers in 79 and my brother taking me to see The Jerk to cheer me up.
If they didn't lose to Houston, they woulda lost to Pittsburgh.
@Kirk Moore They never admitted to stealing their playbook... nice imagination!😆
@Kirk Moore Barry Bonds is a bum, of course I know he was juiced. I am not from Houston so its not like I am a homer. Show me a link.
@Kirk Moore What are you - 12 years old? Well at least I know how old you are by the "asswhipe" comment. Funny how it wasn't a story anywhere else. I guess its easier to believe in a cheating scandal rather than admit that the Chargers always choked when it mattered.
@@whataboutrob442 I never read about the Oilers cheating.....I read that their DC discovered something in the way the offensive line placed their hands(??) It basically tipped him off as to if it was a run or a pass. That is definitely not cheating!!! That's what coordinators get paid to do...
That Miami playoff game was the best game I have ever watched.
Amen to that.I am from Baltimore so of course i hated shula.Fouts another tragedy not getting a ring
I'll never forget that day, where I was at, who was over...nothing. I was 7 and it's all be down hill since then. Simply the greatest game ever and Exhibit 1 why you NEVER bail on a game.
100%
Best game of all time in my opinion.
I was a kid back then....I LOVED that Chargers team, and I'm from NY...
Its a shame they never won a title!!.... They were awesome!
I cant think of a more exciting team to watch
Oh my god yes!! Hands down !! Kellen Winslow's game was incredible!!
Hook and lateral TD was one of the all-time exciting plays.
I'm 52 almost 53. Watching Dan Fouts play and the Chargers was amazing!!! I just want to thank you Dan for all those great years. I still cheer for the Chargers but it's not the same.
I could listen to Dan Fouts all day.
Great qb. Great broadcaster.
Real shame he didn't get a ring.
Thanks for all the memories Dan and still terrific hearing you call games.
I agree. He should have won at least one.
Each side just couldn't step up when they needed to in 1979 it was ALL on Fouts. In 80 it was the defense who couldn't get the ball back to the offense one more time and in 81 they just faced a superior team in Ken Anderson who could throw the ball and receivers could catch it and the offense couldn't in that cold weather. Their best shot was 1980 playing at home in th Championship and they failed.
Great QB. Not a great announcer.
@Kirk Moore I agree since 12-4 was there best record, but actually the '81 team scored more points and again in 2006. And many teams since have as well including the Ravens last year. Their biggest problem was that Fouts couldn't run and all defenses had to do was focus on him throwing it.
@Kirk Moore I agree they would have been a better team now, and those run and shoot Oiler teams as well.
A lot of people forget Joe Gibbs was the offensive coordinator of those Charger teams.
He was in Washington in '81. Ernie Zampese was OC that year
@@DNSKansas Zampese wasn't OC until 1983. Larrye Weaver was the OC from 81-82.
Muncie fumbled the ball in critical moments while in san diego....
He was from 1979-1980. As people have said, he was HC of the Redskins in 81.
Joe Gibbs was not the O coordinator he was with the BUCS in 1981 he was HC of the Redskins
We love you Dan. You made my childhood so happy! We had season tickets in 78, 79 and 80. It was a magical time
I remember the '79-81 Chargers well. I was 14 years old and a Cowboys fan, but I loved the Chargers. The most exciting team ever. No one could throw it like Dan Fouts
As a kid back then you had to be fascinated by those lightning bolt uniforms and the fact that all they did was throw the ball all over the field. They were so much fun to watch
Totally agree. The best
@@Ryan2022 Considering that Chuck Muncie had over 1100 yards and 19 TDs rushing, the run game was strong too. James Brooks (vastly underrated) also had 500 rushing.
But at the same time, if you "load the box" to stop Muncie or Brooks, good luck trying to stop Fouts, Winslow, Joined and Chandler playing man-to-man.
As a lifelong fan I can’t watch this video without tears. Still pains me that they couldn’t get to the Super Bowl.
I’m about your age & like you, I couldn’t help but love those Chargers even though they weren’t my team. I loved to watch them play. Dan Fouts was a surgeon, Kellen Winslow a beast & Chuck Muncie was a gazelle.
The Chargers belong in San Diego.
I bet if the Chargers have went and won a Superbowl in the mid to late 2000s they would still be in San Diego
@@rivalstorm7216 Had the Chargers won it all last year, 250 people would show up at the victory parade.in LA.
I really believe they will be back in San Diego-LA will only embrace the Rams--even when they move to SoHo stadium their attendance will lag behind the Rams -ultimately they will move back
david graham the NFL is considering taking them to London b/c they’ve had trouble attracting fans in San Diego and LA now
@@Rastafarianinja California is full of illegals who care only about soccer and communist pansies who don't care about sports in general.
I grew up a dedicated and hardcore Eagles fan, of which I still am. However, the only team I followed almost as religiously as the Eagles were the Chargers. In 1980, when the Eagles were on their way to their first Super Bowl, the one team I worried about were the Chargers. We lost to them in the regular season, and I knew if we played them in the Super Bowl, they'd be a tall order. When the Chargers surprisingly lost to the Raiders in the AFC Championship game, I was incredibly relieved. How the Eagles lost to the Raiders, I still don't know. But when the '81 season started, I was quietly rooting for the Chargers to beat the snot out of the Raiders. Those Chargers teams from '79-'83 were some of the greatest, most entertaining teams in the history of the NFL. Hats off to Coryell, Fouts, Winslow, Muncie, Joiner, Brooks, Jefferson, Kelcher, Wilkerson, Benirschke, and all the great players of those early 80's Chargers teams.
I'm an Eagles fan too!!! I'm 53 but man did I love watching the Chargers back then as a kid.
The Raiders peaked at the right time and only got better each game they played.
I remember as a kid watching the freezer bowl game in January of 1981 when the Chargers went to Cincinnati. That game if I am right was the coldest in NFL history, I sat in front of my television and I even felt cold watching that game, that's one game I'll never forget. Even though Fouts and company lost to the Anderson led Bengals it was still an awesome season flying on Air Coryell
ruclips.net/video/rf24LbTMwdE/видео.htmlsi=-8Qw_xTwnPRIjZF2 stumbled upon this awesome interview with Dan. Fox camera guys take you behind the scenes
When Norv Turner was the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990's, he admitted that he used Don Coryell's plays to help the Cowboys win the Superbowls in 92 and 93.
YUP...and a lil bit of Ernie Zampeezie(sp)..
See that.
I still can't get over the fact they went 14-2 in the 2006 season, entered the playoffs as the #1 seed(by far), were #1 in the power rankings in every single poll the last month of the season, and then proceed to BLOW it, choke, and lose 24-21 to the Pats in San Diego. That was the FIRST time the Chargers had lost at home ALL season.
The Bolts may never again have a better chance to go all the way, than they did that season.
It’s OK you fire Schottenheimer because it was all his fault and then you won the championship the next four seasons
Power Rankings don’t mean shit people get all farts and giggles over them
Marlon “bleeping” McCree
@@nnnnnnnp 14-2 is 14-2 is 14-2. You cannot argue with 14-2. That's an incredible record.
The Chargers had a better team; the Patriots had a better coach. Belichick just plain out coached Schottenheimer.
The chargers are cursed I swear.
They could make another “missing rings” for the mid 2000’s chargers, especially the 2006 chargers.
I definitely agree. That 2006 Chargers team. Was the best team they ever had. Should have beaten New England.
@@ericwicker2223 Marlon McCree
The Vikings of the afc lol, always losing in such heartbreaking fashion 😪 I bleed purple so I feel for the chargers
Marty Schottenheimer was snakebit. If Marlon McCree just falls down after intercepting Tom Brady, they win that game. Of course, one also has to wonder how that team would have looked had they not let Drew Brees walk in free agency…
The Chargers should have won the Super Bowl in 2006! I am sure that the Chargers were victims of the Spygate Scandal by the Patriots!
Bills fan here.. and i have to say i already miss the Chargers being in San Diego.. L.T. and Rivers should have a ring and same goes for the Fouts and Winslow era.. tough
Don Coryell should be in the HOF
I couldn't agree more.
I'm a devout Raiders fan, but I have nothing but the highest respect for Don Coryell!
Can't agree with that. I think getting to the Super Bowl is a requirement for HOF consideration for head coaches.
@@tomryugo5742 Marv Leavy & Bud Grant I argue.
He got in
You got your wish
Bring back the SAN DIEGO Chargers!
Don Coryell is one of the most underrated coaches
ChildOfThe1970s I agree
He was a great offensive mind to be sure. Only Bill Walsh was better at offense.
Where Coryell failed was at defense and talent evaluation. His only great draft picks from 1979-85 were Kellen Winslow, James Brooks, and Ernest Jackson - and Brooks and Jackson got into his doghouse. He traded high draft picks for John Cappelletti, Willie Buchanan, Tim Fox, and Abdul Salaam who were all washed up. The Chargers went from having a good defense in 1979-80 to the NFL's worst in 1981-82.
He created one of the most potent offenses but he never had a defense to match with it.
@@tomryugo5742 LOL. Bill Walsh was not better at offense. His talent evaluation must have been pretty good because he turned around a horrible St. Louis team and made them winners and a horrible San Diego team and made them into winners.
They sell liquor in Boone County Kentucky on Sundays now.
Good one
Too little too late 🍻😃
Mark R 😂
@@Jdalio5 what are you talking about?
" don't cha know, boy"
Chargers royal blue still the best uniform ever.
Agree, with the darker blue/midnight helmets
I liked their cleaned up look from the latter part of the 80's [Self Edit]
1987 to be specific.
Darker royal (not navy) with white and gold.
And the Shazam bolt on top of a thick stripe on the pants.
Royal blue and or dark royal with white always looks classy.
The Chargers losing John Jefferson seemed like a massive blow at the time, he was a great player, but their offense actually got better without him, going from fourth in scoring in 1980 to first in 1981 as well as accumulating more yards, so they were still the best offense in the league. But 16:46 was what REALLY hurt them, losing Fred Dean, a future Hall of Fame defensive end. In 1980, the Chargers had the 6th ranked defense in the NFL, they lose Fred Dean early on in 1981, and their defense is ranked 27th that season, second worst in the league as well as giving up more points (18th in points allowed in 1980 to 26th in 1981). Meanwhile, Fred Dean goes to San Francisco, adding an established veteran to a young 49ers defense, and you could argue that Dean was the last piece of the puzzle for the 49ers as they went on to win their first Super Bowl in 1981, kicking off their dynasty. So Gene Klein letting Fred Dean go has to be one of the biggest blunders in Chargers history.
That season broke my heart I was a huge Charger fan, and they lost to Bengals in the AFC Championship. 9 below 0 temperatures.
Bengals fan here Cincinnati born & raised my parents were at the game my aunt (moms sister) was there also she spilt a beer & it froze. My dad worked on the railroad believe or not he’s worked in conditions worse then that. On the drive to the game they drove down to Riverfront Stadium with no heat on dad was trying to get them use to how tough it was gonna be.
2006 would like to have a word with you.
@@ericradford2142 I was a Charger fan in the late 70s early 80s but I became a Steelers fan in 92 when Bill Cowher became the coach. I was in the Military and didn't follow football in the 80s didn't catch too many games.
Fouts’ commitment to that beard over the decades is impressive
grew up in Minneapolis, Mn.. Loved watching the chargers play the afternoon game in san diego. a 3 p.m. start time, by halftime it was dark in MSP and 10 below but always sunny in san diego. I remember saying to myself, I need to get out of this crap hole and live somewhere warm. Now I live in SD and the chargers moved, oh well, still have the beach.
"Horses are never gonna renegotiate." Great line!
The San Diego Diego of this area should have won a superbowl championship. Don Coryell should be in the NFL hall of fame.
"You play to win, you play to go to a Superbowl, if you don't get there...... you don't get there, but it doesn't mean your a failure. You put it out there you try, you win you lose you reach your goals you don't, that's all part of it thats part of life."
This hits home for me. Great into
After two years I was FINALLY able to find out what the song used at 4:38 is. It's called "The Legacy" by NFL Films music composer David Robidoux. As of this post you can find it on APM music. I think it's the perfect song for the Chargers of this era.
Thank you for adding captions. It is very considerate of you and not overlooked by me. Thanks!
Wasn't born in '81 to live watch San Diego vs Miami. But you don't need to be to see what a beautiful game this was.
It once was yes
The team should have stayed in San Diego
Decisions are never made for the benefit of the team or fans. It's always the owner getting the chance to pay 10 cents less for a gallon of gas or any other tiny benefit they would get for moving a team
You're replying to someone in Seattle. I know what's behind the decisions.
The owner called the city’s bluff. The city said you can’t get a better deal, so we’re going to give you bubkus, the owner said well if your going to play hardball I can too!
For what, so they could be losers for another 56 years? My native city of LA will finally make the Bolts Super Bowl Champions !
@@caliwaiiankev2279 LA doesn't "make" anything. They buy championships. Its the only time you people show up.
At least San Diego had a real love affair with its team. How many teams you been through now? Four?
I remember when Super Bowl XVI was called The Cinderella Bowl, because at the time, everyone expected The Dallas Cowboys and The San Diego Chargers to meet in Super Bowl XVI. Nobody, I mean, NOBODY expected The San Francisco 49ers or The Cincinnati Bengals to make it.
Charles Washington dallas a Cinderella? I've got nothing but hate for them. But they were not Cinderellas
CrushingRock It was cinderella bowl because of 49ers n Bengals. Cowboys were expected to make it but didn't because the Cinderella 49ers beat them
Dashoost ok thanks dude I get it now
And the real head-scratcher is that TO THIS DAY, Super Bowl XVI has the highest Household Rating (average percentage of U.S. households with a TV set that were watching the game) in Super Bowl history, 49.1.
People wanted to watch that Cinderella match-up.
Always wondered why it was a cinderella bowl when the forty Niners crushed Dallas during the regular season.
When all is said and done, the Chargers under Air Coryell were entertaining and are still remembered by football followers. The Chargers post-Coryell were forgettable until Ross's teams of the early 1990s. The Chargers pre-Coryell were forgettable following Sid Gillman's departure. So Dan Fouts is right. In a way, the Chargers left behind a legacy which included legendary games like The 80 AFC Championship Game, The 81 Freezer Bowl and The 81 Winslow Game, 4 Hall of Fame players, 4 playoff appearances including 3 AFC West titles, quite a few playoff disappointments (79-82) and a host of strategic offensive innovations that teams still employ to this day.
I always thought 1980 was the Chargers "missing ring" season. They were the #1 seed in the AFC and had the AFC championship game at home. They even had a regular season win over the Eagles that year. I think that they were so exhausted from the Miami win and now had to go to Cincy and play in -59 windchill weather it was just too much. The Bengals were favorite so their win was no great upset. The 1980 AFC championship was theirs to win and didn't.
jacktheripoff1888 how about the 1979 Chargers? They had the #1 seed and blew out the Steelers and Rams....the teams that went to the Super Bowl.....they beat Pittsburgh 35-7 and LA 40-16 in the regular season.....then they choked in the playoffs
@@scottross4374
The 1979 team lost because Houston stole their play signals from the sideline to Fouts. The Oilers defense always knew what play was coming. Houston was missing starting QB Dan Pastorini and, most importantly, MVP RB Earl Campbell.
The 1980 team got unlucky against the Raiders.
Raiders scored on a deflected pass - Plunkett's pass bounced off Kenny King and went right to TE Raymond Chester who ran untouched to the end zone.
The Chargers were driving for a score and had the ball near the Raiders 20 when a Dan Fouts pass bounced off Charlie Joiner's hands and went right to Burgess Owens at the goal line - killing the drive.
They really wanted to talk about the epic in miami and the freezer bowl, so they choose the year to talk about em.
@@tomryugo5742 Yes you're right about Houston taking away the play signals from the Chargers.Read about it online a while back. If it wasn't for that the Chargers may have made it to the Super Bowl that season;who knows.
@@tomryugo5742 people always forget the Oilers stole their signals. That game is hard to watch seeing Bingham shift over to where the ball is going on every single play
Thanks for posting the Missing Rings. I don't know why the NFL Network doesn't show any more of these. I guess some players don't want to relive that
This team is special to me because I was born in 1981, in La Jolla.
If you are talking about Scripps memorial on Genesee Ave.. that's hardly la Jolla! Nice try, status seeker
ditto, as a 1981 baby myself (and just for the sake of pointing it out, so is Philip Rivers haha - so good year to come into the world) except I was born in Midway area of SD :)
Loved those Charger teams. They were fun to watch, shame they never won the SB. But that's not an indication of the Great talent those teams had. Fouts was 1 of the best QB to ever take a snap, Kellen Winslow was the best TE in football at that time. Muncie was a great back (couldn't believe Saints traded him). Chargers were my adopted team,as I lived in SD for 2 yrs. The owner traded the defensive talent. He's as much to blame as anyone, IMO. Still Fouts numbers,Winslows numbers, & other great players on that team, deserve more respect than they've been given IMO. TBH I'd take Winslow & Fouts in their prime,& be happy. Life goes on.
After watching this, it is difficult to dislike the Chargers. Fouts and Winslow are upstanding guys.
CBS 70sfan what happened to Winslow’s son?
So fun to watch back then the Chargers of the late 70s and early 80s. Their place even without that Super Bowl appearance is immortalized in NFL history.
I've always had so much respect for the S.D. Chargers, especially those years with "Air-Coryell" How do you think I feel? I'm now in my 48th Season as a Viking.... Your Powder Blue Uniforms, OMG! Love the AFL's History…..
Being a small kid I Remember all the Excitement of my dad n his friends watching these seasons.. was always Exciting. Times were different in NFL back then
I was 9 years to be born but I've read and watched much on these teams, truly a missing ring. I feel like if they don't trade Ted Dean before 1981 they would've probably flipped a couple close losses and forced the Bengals to come to San Diego, had they faced the 49ers who knows what would've happened. Would've been a hell of a game. Regardless it's good that this team isn't forgotten, the Air Coryell Chargers changed the game forever, their footprints are on every NFL offense. If you think about it, a Chargers/49ers Super Bowl would've almost been a glimpse into the future, the West Coast offense vs. Air Coryell. Fouts was an incredible quarterback, Winslow maybe the best TE of all time, Charlie Joyner I feel gets lost in history. Amazing offense.
They would have still lost. Bill Walsh and Joe Montana would not be denied.
Fred Dean
Hank Bauer seems like just a freakin fun dude to hang with and have beers with.
He's a ham
Best part is Dan Fouts at 39:35
No liquor in Boone County Kentucky on Sundays, don't ya know, boy?!
Yep, still a cauky sob even to this day.
I say! I say!
“Don’t you understand “ 😂😂
Will never forget late 60's, early 70's Saturday night San Diego State Aztecs football games in sold out Jack Murphy Stadium, those packed houses the result of Don Coryell's innovative, high charged offense that put the beloved red and black uniformed Aztecs in the top 20 every year as a division 2 team. The beer flowed and let me tell you, the fans had plenty to scream about as every game was a BLOWOUT! Fast forward to Coryell's return as Chargers head coach and we all knew what was coming, and how fortunate could a football fan be? I don't know if there has ever been a more high drama, nerve wracking, edge of your seat NFL football team like those Air Coryell San Diego Chargers? All of which was made possible by a super talented, devoted to Coach Coryell, fun loving hardcore group of football players. Two things I don't understand - how did the team get away, to LA of all places, and why is the legend, Don Coryell not in the pro football Hall of Fame? And one thing I do know well - the Chargers never got a ring, not because of the defense - but because of owner Gene Klein, who put bottom line principal before glory, despite having the cash.
Awesome stuff. Charlie Joiner was an unsung hero in that offense. Great possession receiver. Did they even mention his name?
Im a Vikings Fan but I really enjoyed the great years the Chargers had in the this era
Same here. I originally got interested in the Chargers for the same reason the mid 70s Colts interested me. A young, dynamic front four combined with a young QB.
At 37:12, the fact that not only Hank Bauer, but the ENTIRE team sounded so defeated because of the conditions signaled them losing this game before the ball was ever kicked off.
Further evidence of this, at 38:24, is Kellen Winslow saying that they weren't focused on getting 1st downs or punching it in the end zone, but simply "Survival."
Weak
@@shanetrimble9265 as weak as YOU are....😆 🤣 😂
@@bobbym.2130 I was agreeing with you. I thought it was weak that they were so beaten before the game even started.
@@shanetrimble9265 Sorry about that. I misunderstood.....👍👌✔
the 1981 dolphins vs chargers AFC semi final- the greatest game ever played. and then to have to go play in -59 degree weather...
They should have more of The Missing Rings episodes. The Vikings one was really sad.
I remember watching that game live
@NO PATS JIM That may happen in the near future.
Add another member to the Pro Football Hall of Fame from the 1981 San Diego Chargers: Don Coryell.
What is often overlooked is that Coryell's Chargers gained all those yards through the air *without* the shotgun formation.
Unfortunately Bauer doesn't understand that when you use the clock on offense the other team has less time to expose your defense.
From 79-82. This team made me cry as a 10-14 old. To lose to quarterbacks Gifford Neilson, Jim Plunkett, David Woodley my God! Gene Klein cheapest Bastard ever. Would,nt pay quality players what they were worth! Fouts, Marino, Kelly, 0-5 in Superbowls.
Fouts was never in a Super Bowl so you shouldn't mention him in your 0-5 list. :) And to be fair, Kelly was responsible for 4 of those 5 games. And to be fair, if Scott Norwood made a 47 yard field goal at the end of the Bills first SB against the Giants, everything would be different.
Losing to Plunkett is nothing to be ashamed up....the other two...yeah, I see what you mean...
Plunkett would be a hall of famer if he played his whole career with the raiders. He was drafted by a terrible team and later traded to a terrible team, before finally finding his right place with the raiders.
Rick Hummel and “to be fair”, if the Bills were as great as everyone loves proclaiming they are (most folks pretend they got SB XXV stolen from them or something), then it shouldn’t have had to come down to a last second field goal by Norwood. Everyone was (stupidly) expecting the Bills to blow the Giants out of the water
Pmerk game shouldn’t have been close. Buffalo was lucky Simms didn’t play that night. Plus they were only 4-3 agianst teams with winning records that year, and were only the 7th best offense in the league. They were never a superbowl caliber team no suprise they always got blown out or outplayed.
We as football fans need more America's Game Missing Rings.
I’d love to see one on the 2007 Patriots. I know it’ll probably never happen because they’ve won plenty, but HOW that team ended up without a ring is still a mystery to me. Literally no weak links in any phase of their game
Also the 2016 Falcons. One of the most embarrassing choke jobs I’ve ever seen
2016 Falcons, 28-3 Heartbreak would be the NEWEST! Not even a Falcons fan, but I hate that Super Bowl!
I say 2007 San Diego Chargers, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2020 Buffalo Bills, and 2021 Cincinnati Bengals are my next Missing Rings episodes.
Modern day viewers and young people don't care about classic sports. It will never happen
"79 Chargers lost their playoff game to Houston because Houston cracked their signal code and knew what was coming. That's why they had 5 interceptions. Houston admitted it. There was an article in Sports Illustrated about it.
Oh Houston.
Was Altuve banging on a garbage can to let them know what was coming? What's with Houston and cheating? Makes me wonder if the Rockets put out a hit on Michael Jordan's dad so he'd retire for two years.
That “Hook and Ladder” Dolphin game was EPIC!!! Will never forget it.
I would love to drink some beer with Hank Bauer
So would I and I am not a drinker.
Oh hell yes! That guy is funny and crazy and yes, a definite drinking buddy!
How about it? He's got a great personality!
There was a story about Hank Bauer giving up football. At age 29, his doctor told him he'd had it. Vertebrae in his neck had fused. He woke up one morning and couldn't lift a frying pan. Bauer said all the years of wedge busting and he was never scared but that morning, he was terrified.
Why? The guy was really a non-factor in any success the Chargers had. He was more mascot/buffoon than a contributing player
Well, that was as close as the 1981 chargers were from the Super Bowl-they were good, but not enough in the near-zero weather they had to contend with when they played the bengals in the afc championship game-it really hurt San Diego so much they felt they tried-that’s my opinion! 👍👍👍👍🏈🏈🏈
ruclips.net/video/rf24LbTMwdE/видео.htmlsi=gY-nmBxtH6FT3TQQ great interview by Fox camera guys interviewing Dan Fouts
They wouldn’t have beat the Bengals regardless
1980 was their year and best chance. One heck of a team. 1981 was a great year for San Diego but beating Cincinnati in Cincinnati with no John Jefferson and Fred Dean in January was a tall order.
I remember that day so well. 100 miles north in Champaign, IL. it was even colder. I admire Chicago, Green Bay and Cleveland for keeping outdoor stadiums when the weather gets so cold. (Other teams too, but those are the closest to me.)
This was very well done! I'm a Raider lifer, but I always liked the Chargers as well. Couldn't help myself. Who didn't like Air Coryell? Fouts & Co. were amazing to watch.
Losing Fred Dean to SF cost them big likely SB. 49ers played Cowboys they just got Dean... Bill Walsh revamped secondary Rodney Lot and knew needed one more piece. 49ers won blowout vs a top Dallas team met NFC Championship with homefield.
SD gave up 40+ to Bengals cost them likely homefield and Seahawks 40+ loss.
The three games that really cost them were the losses to the Vikings, Bears and Bills -by a total of six points. They should have won all three and with Dean and Jefferson, they most likely would have.
With Dean, yes. They didn't lose a thing with Chandler instead of Jefferson.
Chandler ended up having a better career than Jefferson.
The late Gene Klein was a cheap son of a bitch. He should have paid Fred Dean what he wanted!
@@Aztecism At the cost of their defense.
That's my team for life ! Began fanship at age 8, now 52 !
I think the real MISSING RING for the Chargers was 1980 when they lost the AFC Championship to the Raiders. They played at home, the Raiders were a wild-card team, they had all the advantage. Even though I'm a hard-core Raiders fan, I think they were the better team that year too.
They couldn't handle Lester Hayes.
Also they put up a better fight than the Eagles would later on.
In the America's Game episode on the 1980 Raiders, Matt Millen said he wasn't concerned about playing the Eagles in Super Bowl XV because he thought Oakland had already played the best team in the NFL, that team being the San Diego Chargers.
Though I consider myself a 49ers fan today, I grew up watching the chargers and while many say they are a team with no identity I'd argue that they are one of the most talented teams...who haven't won anything since the days of the AFL. They beat some of the best teams in the league in which they usual have no right beating and they were statistically the best team in football in 2010 but never made the playoffs(SB Nation). They are a modern trajedy, they might win a superbowl one day but only if they learn one thing...how to finish a season!
The 1981 San Diego Chargers were perhaps one of the most explosive offensive teams in NFL history....... that has never been to The Super Bowl.
So true. I can only think of Warren Moon and the run and shoot even close to San Diego not getting to the super bowl. They could light you up but always choked somehow
The Oilers couldn't get past the divisional round because the Run & Shoot is a gimmicky offense that can't burn time off the clock when they get the lead. Power running just doesn't work when you don't have a fullback or tight end on the roster.
1996 Broncos were pretty good, as proven by 97 & 98, great game plan by Coughlin to beat them. Pats were not the best AFC team that year.
'98 Vikings ... anyone!?
I remember Chargers vs. Dolphins in '81. Best game Ever ! I am a diehard Steelers fan
,too .
I can't believe the city of San Diego let their Chargers leave.. Now they can't even sell-out a little soccer stadium..
The people were smarter than the people of Indiana; we're still paying taxes for Lucas Oil Stadium. They weren't going to be cadged into paying for a billionaire's stadium, nor should any other municipality.
@@indy_go_blue6048 That's not the way California's government works. The stadium referendum went out to a state-wide vote to see if people were willing to foot the bill for a city stadium. Incredibly asinine government run by incompetent officials -- to this day. There's an exodus of people leaving CA as we speak because of the incompetence.
You can't tell me a football team doesn't bring in profit for the city. The problem is always the same thing -- incompetence. Look at how the Raiders are leaving not just Oakland, but the state of California!
San Diego native. Coryell, Fouts, JJ, Joiner, Winslow, Bauer! The streets were quiet on those Charger Sundays. Those were the days! Cheers!
Other than Marino , imagine how much more respect if Fouts won
This was the Bengals and Ken Anderson's year--beating the Chargers in San Diego by 3 TDS and then again in -59F in Cincinnati Freezer Bowl. Dan's consolation is the Hall of Fame (the committee has apparently locked the door on Anderson, as though a small-college record-setter shouldn't be admitted) and the victory, on Monday Night Football and here on RUclips, over the Bengals in San Diego (thanks to the extra 150 yards from Muncie's running and passing). In the play-offs it was Freeman McNeil who did the same thing to the Bengals. Pete Johnson was neither a passer or a breakaway running threat. The Chargers would give the Bengals what they needed when they traded James Brooks for Pete who, unlike the Super Bowl, had no trouble scoring TDs from inside the 5 yard line.
The 79 Chargers beat both Superbowl teams in that regular season. Rams and Steelers!
I was a 49er/Raider fan living in San Diego in those years which may be some of the best years San Diego ever enjoyed. I had my ups and downs then but overall it was a fun place to be. If you were there you know what I mean and the Chargers were a big part of the joy win or lose.
And who can forget the chorus of 'San Diego Super Chargers!'.
Dan Fouts is criminally underrated. He's an all time great, yet isn't mentioned as often as he should be.
To those who blame the cold for the Chargers losing the AFC Championship Game to Cincinnati, don't forget that earlier in the year the Bengals played the Chargers IN San Diego and clobbered them, 40-17.
Don Criqui the legend :)
What a mind-blowing gauntlet of extreme weather -- to play in the high heat and humidity of Miami one week and then in the most brutal of cold the next.
When I was a kid I wanted to be John Jefferson
Me too
I even wore goggles when I played catch back then.
Who didn't? When I was a kid John Jefferson signed an autograph for me. He was a nice man that cared about his fans.
Air Coryell was awesome!!! I'm not even a Chargers fan but I couldn't wait to see these guys play. One of the great teams of all time to NOT win a Super Bowl. That's sad, but they sure were fun to watch!! If it weren't for mother nature & that minus 59 degree AFC championship game, I think they would have won it all!!
They should make a Missing Ring film to the 1981 Bengals also
The Chargers missed the ring because the Bengals were a much better team.
I didn't realize how badly Cincy beat them both times.
They have a missing ring segment for the 88 Bengals.
Don Coryell was probably the coach that innovated the TWO TIGHT END OFFENSE, but Joe Gibbs PERFECTED IT!!!
How about a missing rings segment about the 76' Steelers. They were a much better team than the 81' Chargers. And they were on their way to winning a third straight super bowl until injuries to Franco Harris and Blier derailed them.
They already had two, and would win two more.
thomas warner Da RADAHS kicked the SHIT out for the 76 Steelers
@Joe Ayers Hamilton hit Snake in the head, Can't do that...even in 1976
@@jimmyfranklin3862 Exactly!
I was only 8 years old that season in 81, was heartbroken when they traded JJ, but Wes Chandler was a great replacement! Bummer they did not go all the way, but I am still a boltz fan today and raising my son that way because of players like Fouts, Winslow, Bauer, Muncie, Chandler, etc. Fouts was my hero growing up, and I never got a chance to meet him... and today my son’ s hero is Phillip Rivers, another stand up, hard working, great QB who has failed to get to a super bowl, but will be in the HOF hopefully! Also high hopes for this upcoming season. Like the teams of 79,80, & 81, this year we are once again loaded with offensive weapons like Rivers, Gordon(if we can get him paid), Allen, Henry( if he can stay healthy) and a defense and special teams that is awesome like Bosa, Ingram, and King. The AFC west these days is one of the fastest, strongest, most talented in the league, and it will be tough to be there in the end, but the ghosts of Fouts, Winslow, Bauer, Air Corryell etc will be guiding us to the finish line! Go Chargers!!!! Fan for life:)
More like the missing "D"
Best Front 4 of all time n Pete Shaw wasn't enough.
@@salvatoreperez5113 They traded Fred Dean which left a gaping hole in the line so it wasn't a "Front 4" after what happened.
At 15:07 one of the greatest catches I ever saw in person. And I am a Bengals fan.
Their defense was terrible, one of the best offenses of all time. I think Coryell was quoted in a game one time let em score I want the ball back.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Don Coryell was a GREAT man.
I was a chargers fan for more than 40 years. They broke my heart so many times. If they had a decent defense they would have been the team of the 80's. Now, the Spanos ownership doesn't give a damn about building a championship team, but, rather, is in it for the money. I stopped following them when they left San Diego. Now, I don't give a damn about them.
22:34 she's just wearing a bra
Brah
The Air Cornell Chargers were the reason I became a football fan. The Chargers under Don Coryell were the most prolific and most imaginative offense in football history period. The Chargers were sooo fun to watch.
PLEASE!!! The DALLAS COWBOYS were the only other team in 1981. The DALLAS COWBOYS hands down win Super Bowl if Drew Pearson is not tackled by Eric Wright. The Catch DID NOT beat the Cowboys, the tackle on Pearson did. Also. the NFL's DREAM SUPER BOWL would have been the Dallas Cowboys vs the SD Chargers. That would have been one of the greatest games of all time. The game they played in 1980 was great and so was the game in 1983. Both teams split. Honestly, I fell asleep before the 49ers Bengals started and I woke up after the game. My Mom and Dad said the game was horrible. True we were and always will be a Cowboys household in Philadelphia, but we could b objective. That game sucked. The Cowboys should have been in three straight Super Bowls.
Pearson WAS tackled by Wright. The catch DID happen. Shoulda coulda woulda.
j poppy ha, took the words right out of my mouth.
That's fine but honestly, I do not care the about the qualifications to be on this show and my Cowboys can never have enough rings. the years they had to best team in the NFL and did not win are: 1967, 1970, 1972, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982 ,1994 and 1996
all true…...but not part of the NFL lore. That game was far from over and Montanna was throwing the ball away
PS. That is why Kenny Houston told me at the Cowboys hotel in 1996 night before the last game at RFK "I can talk football for hours with you." BTW, I be you don't even know who that is do you? Now go trade in your gang banger Sean Taylor jersey in for a Guice jersey. They should be on sale now since he is DONE already.
Love those charger uniforms. As a kid and a Broncos fan I always thought "why do we have to wear clown suits?".
The Chargers,
Overrated: Underachieved
No. I was a Raiders fan then, and the Chargers always scared the hell out of me. It was like trying to just hang on for 60 minutes, because they could score so quickly. If they had even a mediocre defense, they would have won multiple Super Bowls. They didn't underachieve; they didn't have enough players on defense.
@@thehaughtcorner Still an overrated team.
Especially 1981.
Grew up watching my Raiders beat up on the crazy talented Chargers teams in early 80's. Chargers were nice, Chuck Muncie and James Brooks were my guys
I agree with what somebody else said here. The 81' Chargers were overrated. They had a great offense but they also had a shitty defense that blew a 21 point lead against the Dolphins in the playoffs. And they did absolutely nothing against the Bengals in the AFC Championship game
That Arena Football offensive-style doesn't work in cold weather. If they had played in San Diego they may have won, or at least had a chance.
@@idovbnc Remember, though, that Cincinnati was running the "West Coast" offense (which was developed by Bill Walsh and Kenny Anderson in Cincinnati). Considering the success Bill had with it in San Francisco, I wonder what would have happened had Paul Brown not passed over Bill Walsh as head coach in favor of Bill Johnson. Paul Brown's biggest douche move.
Actually, they blew a 24 point lead....lol. Kinda makes it worse!!
1979 Chargers defense with the 1981 offense and they might have won it all. As it was great era 78-84 was pretty good. Now, with Phillip Rivers carving out a similar career, he may be working on Missing Rings part II.
They got to be kidding? This team went 10-6 with 3 of the wins by a total of 4 points. They barely made the playoffs, and needed about 10 miracles to get out of the first round. Their defense had become a running joke at this point. The memorable Chargers vs Miami playoff game is the only reason they are on this list I would have to assume, sad. That was a dramatic historically memorable game so let's put them on the list just for the heck of it.
If anything they should have done the video for the 1979 and 2006 team. The 1981 team weren't that good but have became overrated due to their offense.
u will never play in the nfl so shut the fuck up
+daniel tilson - The point stands kid.
Pretty sure this is more about the Chargers during that stretch. They could have won the SB from 79-82
@@mooseclamps Not really considering they singled out the 1981 squad for this video, still not the best choice when they could have chose 1979 or even 1980 squad.
10:04 "I really didn't make myself clear, I meant. Well, I think I understood you, is that what you wanted, a touchdown?!"
Classic!
Great video!
Hank Bauer is SO full of crap. You don't, EVER, replace John Jefferson. I loved Wes Chandler (I liked him when he was a Saint, for Christ's sake, so I'm not biased against him) and thought he was great, but he was not even in JJ's league...stupid ass...
And the loss of Fred Dean was brutal
CHALLENGE---someone, ANYONE, please explain to me why this is about the 1981 Chargers and NOT the 1980 Chargers? The '80 Chargers were much, MUCH better--they actually had a defense and still had JJ/Dean. I'm STILL in awe, to this day, that they lost to the '80 Raiders, a VASTLY inferior team....
'81 was a MUCH worse team than '80 Chargers. It's INSANE and pathetic. The '80 Chargers are the team that should have been chronicled and considered one of the best teams to not win a ring. '81? PLEASE...
My bet is NFL Films picked the '81 team so they could feature the Epic In Miami. Otherwise I think the 1980 team was the best. First, because they weren't new to the playoffs anymore and actually won a playoff game. Second because they only narrowly lost to the Raiders in the conference championship where the ball just bounced Oakland's way more than it bounced in San Diego's favor.
I loved JJ but Chandler was just as good. JJ choked in that '80 AFC Championship loss to Oakland. He must've dropped 5 passes that game. 2 sure TDs.
That and Wilbur Young jumping offside on 3rd and 5 at midfield with 5 minutes left. the raiders just ran out the clock after that..
That and the -59 wind chill in the AFC Championship Game. Not to mention it was the Chargers' last stand at possibly getting to the SuperBowl under the Coryell era.
Yea, the 81 Chargers were not the best team of this era, but it had the best story, which is why it was picked.
Yeah, it seems to be a better story, but when I think a "missing ring," I'm thinking their best shot at a ring. The '81 Chargers were just about the worst of that era to pick. Cincy was far, far better in '81. They spanked them both in the regular season, as well as the playoffs. I highly doubt it was a fluke
The 1979-80 Chargers were their really good teams because they had some defense. Unlike the 1981 team that finished last in yardage allowed.
Those Charger teams fell victim to bad luck and Gene Klein's skinflint ways. Klein knowingly screwed his best players and refused to renegotiate. RB Joe Washington held out in 1978. He got traded for an over-the-hill Lydell Mitchell. Washington became a great all-around rusher, receiver, and return man for the Colts and later the Redskins, helping Washington win a Super Bowl. The 79 team could have used him. The 1980 team traded for Chuck Muncie which they wouldn't have had to do if Washington stayed. Fred Dean held out in 1981 and got traded to San Francisco. He picked up two Super Bowl rings in SF.
The 79 team was probably the best because it had a good defense. San Diego crushed both Super Bowl teams, beating the Rams 40-16 and the Steelers 35-7. They faced the wild card Oilers who were missing QB Dan Pastorini and MVP RB Earl Campbell both injured. The Chargers were heavily favored. But they looked awful. Dan Fouts threw five interceptions - mainly to strong safety Vernon Perry. Houston seemingly pulled a rabbit out of the hat with a 17-14 win. It turned out that the Oilers had cracked the Chargers' sideline play-calling signals and relayed that to the defense. The Oilers always knew what play was coming. Perry downplayed it some, saying "You still have to stop make the plays."
The 1980 team is probably still scratching its head over the 34-27 loss to Oakland in the AFC Championship. Oakland scored first on the third play of the game when a Jim Plunkett pass bounced off Kenny King right to Raymond Chester who ran untouched for a 65 yard TD. Late in Q1, Oakland faced 3rd and 19 from its own 15. Plunkett somehow escaped a furious pass rush and heaved a 48 yard pass to Cliff Branch. The Raiders later scored a TD. They scored another after Mike Thomas fumbled at the Charger 29. San Diego suffered bad luck where Oakland had good luck. At the Raiders 20 yard line, Dan Fouts threw high to Charlie Joiner who got a hand on it but the ball went right to safety Burgess Owens at the goal line and he ran back to the 25. Then, after the Chargers roared back to close the score to 28-24, the Raiders took advantage of the heavy rain that fell the day before. They went to the ground game with a 10 play drive that took 5:24 off the clock. After a quick three and out, the Raiders mounted another 10 play drive that took another 5:14 off the clock. Those two drives wore down the defense. A SD FG came with 6:43. The Raiders went to the ground and the Chargers were too gassed to stop them. They ran out the entire clock.
The chargering of the Chargers was there long before they moved to L.A.
And still no rings.... smh.
Barnabe Romero The Chargers have a AFC Championship ring from the 1994 season...
@@johnphilpot5205 Rings given to SB losers...
Those were the two most interesting playoff games I ever seen back to back...when I saw them as a kid.