My son and I were watching the game last night and we somehow got on the topic of Dan Fouts. He asked me for a current day comp to Fouts and the Chargers, and I thought the closest for him would be the Saints.
I caught the end of Fouts' career, don't really remember the team much outside of him and Winslow and some of the crazy offensive performances. I do recall that they were one of those teams that were viewed as unable to get to the big game, bounced late in the playoffs despite having beaten one if not both of the SB winners in each of those seasons.
The other crazy stat I came across after digging a little was that the Chargers turned the ball over at a crazy rate in the playoffs from 79-82.
For those old enough to have seen them and remember them well enough, what kept them from getting over the hump at to the Super Bowl? Was their D a problem? How the hell did they turn over the ball so often in their playoff appearances?
They were really good in '79 or '80, but lost to Houston in the playoffs where Fouts threw something like 4 INTs. I think he had a wrist or thumb issue. But that was a very balanced team.
They were very good in '80 or '81 when they lost at Cincinnati in the AFC Championship in bitter cold and wind. The weather that day simply derailed their wide open attack.
After that, San Diego was still very prolific offensively but their D started to slip considerably. So they basically had to outscore most of their opponents.
They did have Chuck Muncie at RB at one point and his nickname was Chuck "Fumble" Muncie. I'm sure that was a problem with their turnovers. And I think their other RB James Brooks could also be prone to turnovers. But I'm mostly guessing at this point how that figured in the big picture...
Supposedly, the Oilers were able to pick off 5 passes in 1979 playoff game because they had decoded the hand signals used to relay plays between the sideline and Fouts (this was pre-wireless mic in the helmet days).
In 1980, the Chargers got down by 14 in the first half (Plunkett was on a tear in the playoffs if I recall) and then staged a comeback in the 2nd half. But, the Charger defense let the Raiders run out like the last half of the 4th quarter and SD couldn't get the ball back.
And then the following year, I think they played the Bengals in the AFC championship game and it was really, really cold. For an aerial circus like the Chargers, it did not go well.
Great team, 2 conference championship games in 3 years is nothing to sneeze at.
3 turnovers in each of the playoff games in 1980 (and 8 games in the regular season with 3 or more, including a few with 6 or 7)
4 in each of their playoff games in 1981
7 in their playoff loss to the Dolphins in 1982.
When their offense was clicking it was beautiful to watch, but they were so aggressive on offense and got bitten for it a lot.
He inherited a decent amount of defensive talent in SD (Fred Dean for one) and in his early years there the defense was good but gradually declined.
Thought maybe there were some injuries, but hadn't ever heard about the signals being tipped.
The one thing that stood out was that strike shortened season of 1982. Just a quick glance at pro football reference, but I'm pretty sure if you extrapolate those numbers Fouts, Winslow and Chandler would have had stats that wouldn't just be impressive for that era, they'd probably be records today. Crazy.
2) In their biggest opportunity, the high flying San Diego offense had to go to Cinncy in 1981 for the AFC Championship, where the weather as -9 degrees and wind chill was -59. No way their passing attack could survive, since they really didn't run much, and they lost 27-7. If this game was in San Diego they likely would have won
The one thing that stood out was that strike shortened season of 1982. Just a quick glance at pro football reference, but I'm pretty sure if you extrapolate those numbers Fouts, Winslow and Chandler would have had stats that wouldn't just be impressive for that era, they'd probably be records today. Crazy.
They once had John Jefferson, too. Who was an unbelievable WR. But Klein wouldn't pay him so they shipped Jefferson off to Green Bay, where I think he ended up with some leg issues. And don't forget about HoF receiver Charlie Joiner, who was great at moving the sticks.
In 1981 it was the Freezer Bowl. I remember Bill Walsh saying once that the best thing that happened for the 49ers was the weather in Cincinnati. He feared facing the Chargers in the Super Bowl in a dome.
That is was why they didn't get over the hump in the AFC...but were close.
He was the straw that stirred the drink for that offense, yet Giants can't do jack squat with EE, who is basically the same player.
Yep, that was an amazing game. One of the best post-season games ever.
John Jefferson , joiner, Wes chandler
Lotsa talent. May have won in 81. (At least abc) except for cold
Lotsa talent