1982 San Diego Chargers season

[3] Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts was named Pro Football Writers of America MVP, and 1982 AP Offensive Player of the Year.

At running back, Chuck Muncie had another strong all-around year, rushing for 569 yards, catching passes for a further 207, and scoring nine touchdowns while throwing for two more.

While the San Diego offense wasn't at its best, Benirschke made two of four field goal attempts in before halftime, and another in the 3rd quarter after Bob Gregor had intercepted Craig Morton and Wes Chandler had caught a 40-yard pass from Dan Fouts.

Debutant Andre Young added another interception on the next Denver drive, and San Diego drove 88 yards in 13 plays to take a 16-3 lead.

Chandler twice lined up in the backfield and converted third downs by running the ball, and Fouts found Scott Fitzkee in the end zone for his only Charger touchdown.

San Diego were forced to punt on their first possession, and Maury Buford's kick was blocked and recovered in the end zone to set the tone for the first half.

Fumbles by Brooks and Fouts set up Chief field goals, a Benirschke kick was wiped out by a holding penalty, and it was 16-0 at the break.

Wilbur Young sacked Bill Kenney on the next drive - backed up near to their own goal line, the Chiefs then committed a penalty in their own end zone, resulting in a safety and pulling the Chargers within seven.

They moved the ball with ease in the first half, opening up with a 72-yard field goal drive, and following that by going 83 yards in just four plays, Dwight Scales scoring with a 29-yard reception.

Jim Plunkett was intercepted by Tim Fox and Cliff Thrift as the first half wore on, and Muncie added a pair of short touchdowns runs to make it a four-score game with barely 22 minutes played.

Fouts threw a Hail Mary into the back of the end zone, which the Raiders batted down; Joiner was in the area, but couldn't make up the ground in time, catching the ball on the first bounce.

San Diego came straight back with a 13-play, 86-yard drive, ending with Winslow bobbling the ball multiple times before possessing it for just long enough to claim a 3-yard touchdown.

Leroy Jones recovered a fumble two plays later, setting up a Benirschke field goal, before Winslow capped a 9-play, 86-yard drive by taking a catch over the middle and breaking away for a 28-yard touchdown.

Five consecutive possessions then resulted in turnovers, the last of these coming when Rick Ackerman sacked DeBerg, forcing a fumble that Keith Ferguson recovered at the Denver five-yard line.

A Mike Williams interception and a 24-yard Brooks punt return set up the Charger offense with short fields for consecutive 1st quarter drives, both of which ended with 1-yard Muncie touchdowns.

Montana led San Francisco 74 yards in 8 plays in response, scoring himself when he spun out of an attempted Ferguson sack and scrambled in from the 11.

Chandler appeared to have struck again on the next drive, but former Charger Fred Dean had drawn a holding penalty from Billy Shields; the score was wiped out, and San Diego settled for a field goal.

James Brooks returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the San Diego 40; after missing on one pass, Fouts then strung together four completions in a row, the final one a 25-yard touchdown to Eric Sievers.

Two passes then fell incomplete in the end zone, Ronnie Lott dropping an interception on the first of these, and Benirschke kicked a 41-yard field goal to stretch the lead to four.

San Francisco responded with their third consecutive touchdown drive, Dwight Clark catching the go-ahead pass in the front of the end zone, on 3rd and goal from the 7.

Anderson began the next drive with completions on five consecutive plays, and ended it by dodging Gary Johnson in the backfield and scrambling up the middle for a 12-yard touchdown.

A penalty wiped out a long return of the ensuing kickoff, forcing the Bengals to start at their own 7; Gary Johnson burst into the backfield on the next play, and brought Anderson down for a go-ahead safety.

Anderson led his team to the Charger 28, but then committed the lone Bengal turnover of the day - Fox's interception and 41-yard return gave San Diego the ball in Cincinnati territory.

For the third consecutive week, San Diego piled up 40+ points and 500+ yards; unlike their previous two opponents, the winless Colts lacked the firepower to make a close contest of it.

Down 23-0, the Colts produced a mini-comeback, taking advantage of a pair of Charger turnovers and scoring 13 points on three possessions sandwiched around halftime.

Both teams had long-since clinched spots in the expanded playoffs, and were jockeying for position: the Chargers would be #2 with a win and #5 with a loss; Los Angeles could be as high as #1 or slip as far as #4.

After Los Angeles put up the next ten points, Chandler drew a 43-yard pass interference penalty, giving San Diego a 1st and goal at the six.

Starting at the Raider 19, Muncie caught a 16-yard pass (he lost the ball, but was controversially ruled down by contact) and finished the drive with a couple of runs up the middle.

Level now, San Diego forced a punt after Keith Ferguson sacked Jim Plunkett, then went 80 yards in 7 plays to take the lead.

The powerful San Diego passing attack was shut down in the final playoff game for the principal stars of Air Coryell.