10. 1980 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION OAKLAND RAIDERS at 7. 1979 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
7. 1979 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 2nd
1st AFC West
lost Div Round Oilers 17-14
HC Don Coryell OC Joe Gibbs DC Jackie Simpson
San Diego Stadium: 65 degrees
Ralph Lawler
Offense:
QB Dan Fouts All Pro (28 Oregon)
RB Mike Thomas (26 UNLV)
RB Clarence Williams (24 S Carolina)
WR John Jefferson All Pro (23 Ariz St)
WR Charlie Joiner (32 Grambling)
TE Bob Klein (32 USC)
LT Billy Shields (26 Geo Tech)
LG Doug Wilkerson (32 NC Central)
C Bob Rush (24 Memphis)
RG Ed White (32 Cal)
RT Russ Washington (33 Missouri)
Defense
LDE Leroy Jones (29 Norfolk)
LDT Wilbur Young (30 William Penn)
RDT Big Hands Johnson (27 Grambling)
RDE Fred Dean (27 LA Tech)
LLB Ray Preston (25 Syracuse)
MLB Bob Horn (25 Oregon St)
RLB Woody Lowe (25 Alabama)
LCB Willie Buchanon (29 S Diego St)
RCB Mike Williams (26 LSU)
SS Mike Fuller (26 Auburn)
FS Glen Edwards (32 Florida A&M)
K Mike Wood (25 SE Missouri St)
P Jeff West (26 Cincinnati)
KR Artie Owens (26 W Virginia)
PR Mike Fuller (26 Auburn)
There won't be many opportunies (this migh be it) for these Fouts/Coryell Chargers; they're at home here, 7th seeds in the region. Number 2 in both offense and defense in '79 despite that first round knockout in the playoffs. Fouts is 28, 26 TD, 24 picks (different world) he throws to two thousand yard receivers, his All Pro, 23 year old John Jefferson, who scored 10 times, and 32 year old Charlie Joiner. On defense, the left side of the line went to the Pro Bowl, 27 year old Fred Dean and Big Hands Johson. Don Coryell and Joe Gibbs leading these Chargers into the tournament.
10. 1980 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION OAKLAND RAIDERS
Record: 11-5
Pythag: 10-6
Off: 7th
Def: 10th
2nd AFC West
d. Oilers WC 27-7
d. Browns Div Rnd 14-12
d. Chargers AFC Title 34-27
d. Eagles Super Bowl 27-10
HC Tom Flores DC Charlie Sumner
Offense
QB Jim Plunkett (33 Stanford)
RB Kenny King (23 Oklahoma)
FB Mark van Eeghan (28 Colgate)
WR Cliff Branch (32 Colorado)
WR Bobby Chandler (31 USC)
TE Ray Chester (32 Morgan St)
LT Art Shell (34 ME Shore)
LG Gene Upshaw (35 A&M Kingsville)
C Dave Dalby (30 UCLA)
RG Mickey Marvin (25 Tenn)
RT Henry Lawrence (29 Florida A&M)
Defense
LDE John Matuszak (30 Tampa)
NT Reggie Kinlaw (23 Oklahoma)
RDE Dave Browning (24 Wash)
LOLB Ted Hendricks All Pro (33 Miami)
LILB Matt Millen (22-R Penn St)
RILB Randy McClanahan (26 Louisiana)
ROLB Rod Martin (26 USC)
LCB Lester Hayes All Pro (25 A&M)
RCB Monte Jackson (27 S Diego St)
SS Mike Davis (24 Colorado)
FS Burgess Owens (29 Miami)
K Chris Bahr (27 Penn St)
P Ray Guy (31 S Miss)
KR Arthur Whittington (25 SMU)
PR Ira Matthews (23 Wisconsin)
The 1980 Super Bowl Champs are here; they're the 10th seed in the region, not really bringing anything noteworthy on either side of the ball. Jim Plunkett's 33, 20 scores, 16 picks. 31 year old Bobby Chandler caught 10 TD passes. Two All Pros on defense, 25 year old Lester Hayes, who had 13 picks and 33 year old Ted Hendricks.
In '79, the Chargers split their 2 games with the Raiders. The following season, the Raiders split their two games with the Chargers in the regular season -- and then knocked them out in the rubber match, beating San Diego to win the AFC Championship. Here's game 6. Let's go to San Diego for the kick.
1st Qtr
The Chargers will open at the 16.
3 and out.
Raider ball at their own 46.
1/10 Mark van Eeghan gets 2.
2/8 - Jim Plunkett going downfield -- Raiders going vertical -- Plunkett to Bobby Chandler for 31 yards.
1/10 - van Eeghan picks up 10, Raiders quickly at the Charger 11.
1/10 - Kenny King for 3.
2/7 - Plunkett is dropped-Big Hands Johnson with the big sack.
3/14 - Plunkett to King - flashing over the middle -- King...Kenny King muscles his way into the endzone-- TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS - it takes the Raiders just 6 plays to put 7 points on the board and we are off and running. Plunkett 15 yards to Kenny King.
Chargers at the 20.
3 and out.
Again, good field position, Oakland at their own 47.
1/10 - King gets 4
2/6 - van Eeghan gets 9, Raiders at the Charger 40.
1/10 - Van Eeghan for 4.
2/6 - Fred Dean is in the backfield- crushing Arthur Whittington for a huge loss.
3/14 - Plunkett - sideline - to Cliff Branch -- Branch is inbounds -- and he's at the sticks -- Okland picks it up - Raiders to the SD 24 yard line.
1/10 - Van Eeghan for 4.
2/6 - Plunkett, trouble -- play has broken down - Plunkett across the line -- Plunkett - great job there by Jim Plunkett, 9 yards all the way to the San Diego 11 yard line.
The drive ends here - short Bahr FG makes it 10-0, the kickoff is the last play of the qtr, SD will start at their own 25, down 10-0
2nd Qtr: Raiders 10 Chargers 0
Oakland dominates here - San Diego doesn't have a first down, while the Raiders have two long scoring drives. Chargers start at the 25.
1/10 - Dan Fouts completes his first pass - its to John Jefferson for 10. San Diego has a first down.
1/10 - Clarence Williams carries. Nothing.
2/10 - Mike Thomas screen - Thomas behind White and Washington -- Thomas cuts to the sideline -- AND THOMAS IS GONNA GO! OPEN FIELD -- 40....30...20...10 -- Mike Thomas goes 65 yards -- into the end zone --- TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS - Mike Thomas goes 65 yards and just like that - 3 plays, 75 yards -- San Diego cuts it to 10-7.
Raiders at the 21. They get a first down on a 9 yard Van Eeghan run -- but it ends at the 34 and the Chargers get the ball back at their own 33.
1/10 - Thomas on the carry - Ted Hendricks rips the ball clean away -- Fumble -- Fumble- Hendricks has the football and the Raiders regain possession at the Charger 38 yard line.
Oakland gains 7 yards on 3 plays --- Bahar....misses....the 48 yard FG and the Chargers take over, there's a false start so it is 1st and 15 at the 33.
1/15 - Fouts to Clarence Williams out of the backfield -- he picks up blockers and he's got 15, Joe Gibbs has maybe found a route to attack the Raiders defense.
1/10 - Lydell Mitchell stopped.
2/10 - Mitchell stopped again.
3/10 -- John Jefferson vs Lester Hayes was the marquee matchup today -- JJ gets him here, 21 yards, Chargers at the Raider 30.
1/10 - Williams loses 1.
2/11 - Incomplete
3/11 - Fouts drops back --pump fake -- Fouts throwing to the endzone -- Larry Burton --- TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS -- Fouts 31 yards to Burton - San Diego scores again, it's 14-10 now. Raiders will start at the 39 with 4 minutes left in the half.
1/10 - King gets 2
2/8 - Plunkett dump off to Van Eeghan, 3 yards.
3/5 - Van Eeghan gets 4 -- we're at the 2 minute warning, Raiders at their own 48, 4th and 1.
Flores decides to go for it. Well, here's an inflection point, Raiders down 4, risking giving the ball back to the Chargers. 2 minute warning.
4/1 - Van Eeghan lowers his shoulder and picks it up. Nice call by Flores.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Plunkett to Cliff Branch - 15 yards and Oakland stops the clock.
1/10 - Plunkett to Branch again -- 25 yard shot - really nice throw by Plunkett on the sideline, Branch it out of bounds at the 10 - first and goal for Oakland with 90 seconds left.
1/goal - Plunkett - quick drop - fires over the middle - caught - Dave Casper -- at the goal -- Casper is into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS - the veteran Casper is the second TE for these Raiders, bur he's into the endzone here - Plunkett finds him and it's 17-14 Oakland. Chargers at the 20, 1:23 left.
1/10 - Fouts dump off to Thomas, 3 yards and he's out of bounds.
2/7 - Incomplete
3/7 - Fouts picks it up -- John Floyd with 11 yards, San Diego stops the clock at the 34, 48 seconds left in the half.
1/10 - Fouts, in trouble - goes to Charlie Joiner -- 6 yards, he's out of bounds.
2/4 - Fouts - another dump off, Clarence Williams, he picks up the first down and is out of bounds, 34 seconds left in the half, Chargers at their own 45.
1/10 - Fouts -- again to Williams - 8 more yards and again, out of bounds with 23 seconds left in the half.
2/2 - Fouts drops back now -- Fouts rifling one over the middle -- John Jefferson is there -- all the way to the Oakland 21 yard line - San Diego stops the lock at 12 seconds left.
1/10 - Fouts - drops back - Fouts -- End Zone -- Jefferson -- Broken Up by Lester Hayes -- Nice play by Hayes, there's 1 second left - San Diego brings on Benirschke - he makes the kick - and we go into the lockers all tied at 17.
Third qtr: Chargers 17 Raiders 17
Oakland scored the first 10 - San Diego came back with the next 14 - and it's now all tied at 17, we've got a good one here in San Diego, just a couple games left to finish Region 7, round 1.
Oakland starts at the 18.
1/10 - Nothing for Van Eeghan.
2/10 - Nothing for King.
3/10 - Plunkett to Van Eeghan over the middle and he - Fights - his way to the sticks, just does make the first down.
1/10 - Kenny King with some daylight, 16 yards - daylight hard to come by today, but now the Raiders reach the 46.
The drive stops there, a Fred Dean sack takes Oakland back 6 - after the punt the Chargers start at the 26.
1/10 - Thomas gets 1
2/9 - Williams stopped at the line.
3/9 - Fouts going up top - he hits Floyd - 23 yards and the Chargers are at midfield.
1/10 - Thomas gets 1
2/9 - Fouts over the middle to Bob Klein - Klein's first catch of the day, it's 10 and the first.
1/10 - Thomas gets 5 to the Raider 34.
2/5 - Pitch right to Williams, Williams turns the corner -- Williams has a step -- and He is Gonna Go -- He is Gonna Go -- Clarence Williams run 34 yards into the Oakland end zone - TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS and San Diego regains the lead, 24-17.
Oakland at the 25.
1/10 - Nice gain for King - the vets Shell and Upshaw starting to maybe wear down this Charger line, 21 yards for Kenny King.
1/10 - Nothing for Van Eeghan.
2/10 - Quick out to Branch, he gets 5 and it's 3rd and 5 at the Charger 39.
3/5 - King goes off tackle left -- he's got it - a dozen more for Kenny King, Shell and Upshaw clearing a big path there -- Oakland now at the 27 yard line.
That's the end of the drive - Gary Johnson's second sack moves Oakland back -- Bahr hits the 47 yard kick, it's 24-20 Chargers.
Chargers at their own 31.
1/10 - Williams picks up 12.
1/10 - Thomas for 4
2/6 - Mitchell gets a yard -- that's the last play of the third. We'll come back to a big third and 5.
4th Qtr: Chargers 24 Raiders 20
Tight game here in San Diego; Chargers up 4, 3rd and 5 at their own 48 yard line.
3/5 - Incomplete. Oakland takes over at the 25.
1/10 - Fred Dean is in the Raider backfield - he wrestles the ball from Kenny King -- it's a fumblle -- the Chargers recover -- big play here by Dean, he forces the King fumble and San Diego has a first down at the Raider 20.
They get 8 yards on 3 plays -- short FG is good - Chargers go up 27-20.
Oakland at the 25. 12:28 left.
1/10 - Nothing for King.
2/10 - Nothing for Whittington.
3/10 - Plunkett - firing over the middle -- Picked Off by Woody Lowe -- Lowe steps in front of Ray Chester - Lowe is down at the Oakland 25 yard line -- Oakland turns it over on consecutive possessions and now the Chargers are really in the drivers seat - up 7 at the Oakland 25 yard line, 11 minutes left.
The next 3 plays lose 6 yards - a John Matuszak sack really keeps the Raiders in the game -- Benirschke with the kick -- it's 30-20 Chargers, little more than 9 to go.
Raiders at the 21. They get one first down - Plunkett 13 to Branch.
But that's all. Chargers now at their own 30, under 7 left.
3 and out. Raider defense trying to keep them alive, but Oakland meeds 2 scores and there's less than 5 to go. Good return by Ira Matthews - Oakland will start at their own 49. They have to get going right now.
1/10 - Plunkett finds Ray Chester, his first catch - 7 yards.
2/3 - Give to Van Eeghan, stopped at the line. Big 3rd down.
3/3 - Incomplete
4/3 - Plunkett under a heavy rush - Johnson and Dean converge -- Plunkett slips it -- Plunkett running -- Plunkett diving.
Plunkett will be just short. Raiders turn it over on downs. Charger ball with 3:30 left up 10.
They pick up a first down on 3 short runs. Oakland has to burn all of its timeouts plus the 2 minute warning - the Chargers punt with 80 seconds to go, Oakland's at the own 15 yard line, trailing by 10.
Oakland is able to get to the Charger 17 - but the game ends there.
Final: Chargers 30 Raiders 20
Just 14 first downs for San Diego, Oakland outgains them, had 9 more minutes of possession - but 4 sacks and and 2 4th quarter turnovers and they move on; back to back SB Champs are bounced from Region 7.
Fouts: 12 for 17, 231, 2 TD
Plunkett: 15 for 25, 181, 2 TD, 1 INT
Williams: 14 carries, 65 yds, 1 TD
King: 14 carries, 114 yds, 1 TD
Jefferson: 3 catches, 54 yds
Branch: 4 catches, 60 yds
Dean/Johnson: 2 sacks
Player of the Game: Fred Dean
