>> MIAMI, FLORIDA, ON ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL JANUARY DAY. TEMPERATURE IN THE HIGH 70s, HUMIDITY NOT BAD. A BREEZY WIND. AN EXCELLENT DAY FOR A TOP, TOP GAME AS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, WHO HAVE NOT WON A PLAYOFF GAME SINCE 1974, GET SET TO KICK OFF TO THE HIGH-SCORING SAN DIEGO CHARGERS. DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE AS VON SCHAMANN KICKS OFF FOR MIAMI. JAMES BROOKS, THE BRILLIANT ROOKIE FROM AUBURN, TAKES IT ACROSS THE 20. EXCELLENT SPECIAL-TEAMS PLAY BY MIAMI AS LINEBACKER STEVE POTTER COMES IN, MAKES THE KNOCKDOWN. AND THE CHARGERS, AIR CORYELL, PILOTED BY DAN FOUTS, NUMBER 14, COME OUT ONTO THE FIELD. HIS RUNNERS ARE CHUCK MUNCIE AND JAMES BROOKS. AND THEY'RE BOTH OUTSTANDING, AS YOU KNOW. AND SO ARE THE WIDE RECEIVERS, CHARLIE JOINER AND WES CHANDLER. THE TIGHT END, KELLEN WINSLOW, IS AN ALL-PRO WHO BREAKS RECORDS. SHIELDS, WILKERSON, MACEK, WHITE, AND WASHINGTON TAKE CARE OF CORYELL'S OFFENSE AND THEIR QUARTERBACK. FOUTS HAS ONLY BEEN SACKED 19 TIMES. PITCHED BACK TO MUNCIE. AND CHUCK MUNCIE, ON A FIRST-AND-10 PLAY, TAKES IT ACROSS THE 25-YARD LINE, TO ABOUT THE 26. THE DOLPHINS CONSIDER STOPPING MUNCIE AND THE RUNNING GAME AND FORCING FOUTS TO PASS A NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY. DOUG BETTERS, BOB BAUMHOWER, AND KIM BOKAMPER ACROSS THE DEFENSIVE FRONT FOR MIAMI. BRUDZINSKI, RHONE, DUHE, AND GORDON BACK THE LINE. FULTON WALKER, ROOKIE, IS AT ONE CORNER. GERALD SMALL IS THE OTHER. AND THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS, LYLE AND GLENN, ARE THE DEEP BACKS. DON SHULA AND HIS DOLPHINS SET TO GO ON THE HOME FIELD. THEY'RE DEFENDING RIGHT NOW. SECOND DOWN. HERE'S THE PENALTY MARKER. THEY GO RIGHT BACK TO MUNCIE. HE DOESN'T GET MUCH. GOT OUT TO THE 28-YARD LINE. DURING THE SEASON, CHUCK MUNCIE RAN FOR OVER 1,100 YARDS. AVERAGED 4.6 YARDS A CARRY. AS YOU SEE THE CALL BY REFEREE FRED WYANT IS AGAINST SAN DIEGO. MUNCIE SCORED 19 TOUCHDOWNS RUSHING, NUMBER ONE IN THE NFL. DAVID WOODLEY GETTING THAT HAND READY, JOHN. >> FALSE START. 67. SECOND DOWN. >> HE KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS PLAY TO THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME TODAY, DON. BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT FOUTS -- THE NUMBER-ONE OFFENSE IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE THIS YEAR AND, IN MY OPINION, EVER. AND THE STATS BEAR THAT OUT. I DON'T THINK THERE'LL EVER BE ANOTHER QUARTERBACK THAT AVERAGES 300 YARDS A GAME THROUGHOUT A 16-GAME SEASON. I THINK YOU'LL SEE HIM USE A LOT OF MOTION. HE'LL USE IT TO TRY AND GET MIAMI TO AUDIBLE INTO DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEFENSES. THEY DON'T LIKE TO DO THAT, BUT THEY ARE VERY ACTIVE. HE WANTS TO PUT A LITTLE BURDEN ON THEM. YOU'VE GOT JOINER IN MOTION NOW. >> SECOND DOWN AND ABOUT 12. HERE'S A SWING PASS TO MUNCIE. THE MIAMI DEFENDERS CLOSE IN. AND MUNCIE'S STRUCK HARD BUT KEEPS ON GOING. HERE'S A PENALTY MARKER COMING IN. USE THAT PLAY A LOT, WHERE THEY'LL SWING MUNCIE OUT, NOTHING GOOD DOWNFIELD. AND YOU SEE MUNCIE'S NUMBERS. HE'S CAUGHT 43 BALLS. THAT WAS HIS 44th RECEPTION. HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF OFFENSE -- 1,500 YARDS' WORTH. >> AND A LOT OF TOUCHDOWNS, PAL. >> 19. >> YOU TAKE A QUARTERBACK THAT'S THROWING 33 TOUCHDOWNS -- AND WE'RE GOING TO GET A FIRST DOWN ON A FACE-MASK CALL -- YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GUY LIKE THIS TO REALLY MAKE EVERYTHING EFFECTIVE. THIS IS THE DIMENSION THAT'S CHANGED THE WHOLE SAN DIEGO OFFENSE -- 19 TOUCHDOWNS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. CHUCK MUNCIE IS THE MAN THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR, I THINK, PUTTING THEIR OFFENSE OVER THE HUMP. >> FACE-MASK CALL GOES AGAINST MIAMI. >> NUMBER 40. FIRST DOWN. DOLPHINS ARE THE LEAST-PENALIZED TEAM IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. >> AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, CRIQ. NOW, THAT MEANS IT'S NOT A FLUKE, OKAY? >> AN INTERESTING CONVERSE TO THAT, THOUGH, JOHN -- OFTENTIMES TEAMS THAT WIN THE SUPER BOWL ARE SOME OF THE MOST PENALIZED TEAMS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE MOST AGGRESSIVE TEAMS, LIKE PITTSBURGH AND OAKLAND. IT IS NOW FIRST DOWN AND 10 FOR THE CHARGERS. THE UNBELIEVABLE SAN DIEGO OFFENSE, WHICH SET 10 NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE RECORDS. FOUTS HAS A PROBLEM. HE DOESN'T LIKE TO RUN, BUT THIS TIME HE HAS TO. AND HE THROWS A STRIKE TO KELLEN WINSLOW AT MIDFIELD. A 17-YARD GAIN. AND NOW SOME STUFF COMES IN AFTER THE PLAY. BOYS GETTING A LITTLE EXERCISED EARLY. WINSLOW -- HE'S GOING FOR EXTRA BASES ALL THE TIME. >> I'M GONNA BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE PENALTY IS. HERE WE SEE DUHE. HE'S DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST FROM HIS LINEBACKER POSITION. THEY'RE PUTTING A BLITZ ON FOUTS. THEY FORCE HIM OUT OF THE POCKET. AND MIKE KOZLOWSKI, NUMBER 40, THE DEFENSIVE BACK IN THE NICKEL SITUATION, HAS GOT WINSLOW MAN TO MAN, I THINK, THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE AFTERNOON. AND HE'S GOT HIS HANDS FULL. >> DON CORYELL -- SOMEBODY HERE IN MIAMI WROTE HE'S GOT THE EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE LIKE A MAN WHOSE SHOES ARE A COUPLE SIZES TOO SMALL. BUT HIS PLAYERS LOVE HIM. IT'S SECOND DOWN AND 10. HERE'S MUNCIE TURNING UPFIELD. AND THE DOLPHINS, WHO HAVE BEEN SHUTTING TEAMS DOWN TIME AND AGAIN IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON, PUT THE KNOCK ON CHUCK MUNCIE. A.J. DUHE, ONE OF THOSE BIG, RANGY MIAMI LINEBACKERS. DUHE AT 6'4", 245 POUNDS, OUT OF LSU. REALLY DEFENSIVE LINEMAN SIZE. HE WAS THAT WHEN HE CAME UP, A.J. DUHE. AND HE WILL ALSO RUSH THE PASSER FROM AN UP-CLOSE POSITION. >> DON, OVER THE YEARS, THE REALLY OUTSTANDING COACHES DON'T GET TOO TECHNICAL, TOO CONCERNED WITH SPECIFICS IN A GAME OF THIS SORT, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE HAD A COUPLE WEEKS TO PREPARE. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE INTENSITY LEVEL STAYS HIGH. SO THEY DON'T GIVE THEM A LOT OF PROBLEMS TO THINK ABOUT. AND YOU'VE SEEN THAT ON THE FIRST SERIES OF PLAYS TODAY DEFENSIVELY FOR MIAMI. [ WHISTLE BLOWS ] >> DOLPHINS APPARENTLY CONFUSING FOUTS, BECAUSE HE TOOK TOO LONG TO GET THE SNAP AWAY, AND THEN YOU SAW HIM FUMBLE THE SNAP. SO THE CHARGERS MISFIRING A LITTLE BIT EARLY IN THE GAME. >> FALSE START, 67. [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> IT WAS THE 30-SECOND CLOCK YOU SAW SUPERIMPOSED ON THE SCREEN. THE ORANGE BOWL GETTING A WORKOUT THIS WEEKEND. A GREAT, GREAT ORANGE BOWL. THE 48th RENEWAL OF THAT COLLEGE FOOTBALL CLASSIC LAST NIGHT AS THE CLEMSON TIGERS WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THEIR VICTORY OVER NEBRASKA, COMPLETING A DREAM SEASON, 12-0. 80,000 THERE LAST NIGHT. AND AGAIN TODAY THE ORANGE BOWL IS JAMMED. AND THE DOLPHINS HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN AWFUL TOUGH TO BEAT WHEN THE BUILDING IS SOLD OUT, UNDER SHULA. IN SOLD-OUT ORANGE BOWLS, THEY'VE WON 20 GAMES AND LOST JUST TWO. THIRD DOWN AND 13 COMING UP FOR SAN DIEGO. FOUTS TAKES A LOOK WAY DOWNFIELD. GETS IT AWAY. WES CHANDLER GOES UP AND GETS THE BALL, AND HE'S INSIDE THE 25-YARD LINE. WES CHANDLER, WITH A BRILLIANT ACROBATIC MOVE, MAKES THE BIG PLAY, AND THE CHARGERS ROLL. >> ALL RIGHT. HOW DO YOU STOP THEM ALL, RIGHT? YOU'VE GOT TWO BACKS TO COVER, THREE WIDE RECEIVERS THAT HAVE GAINED OVER 1,000 YARDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. YOU CAN'T STOP EVERYBODY IF YOU GIVE FOUTS SOME TIME. YOU SEE CHANDLER COME DOWN. MAKES AN OUTSTANDING MOVE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. THIS IS A PERFECTLY THROWN BALL BUT A GREAT CATCH. VERY FEW RECEIVERS WOULD'VE TAKEN IT IN AND MADE IT LOOK SO EASY. HE DOES, FOR A 54-YARD GAIN. WHAT'D WE SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME? THE WAY YOU STOP FOUTS AND GROUP IS KEEP THE BALL AWAY FROM THEM. MIAMI HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO CONTROL IT YET. >> NOT YET. THEY HAVE NOT HAD THEIR HANDS ON THE BALL. AND THE CHARGERS GET THE BIG LONG-YARDAGE PLAY -- THE 54-YARD GAINER. NOW THEY'RE THREATENING. NO SCORE IN THE FIRST QUARTER. HERE'S MUNCIE. GUARDS PULL OUT. AND A GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAY. FULTON WALKER, THE ROOKIE CORNERBACK FROM WEST VIRGINIA, MAKES THE OPEN-FIELD TACKLE AND THE DIRECT HIT ON BIG CHUCK MUNCIE. THE KNOCKDOWN FOR A LOSS ON THE PLAY, AS THE BALL WILL BE SPOTTED OUTSIDE THE MIAMI 25-YARD LINE. LOSS OF 3 ON THE PLAY. IT'LL BE SECOND DOWN AND 13. DON CORYELL IS IN HIS NINTH YEAR AS A HEAD COACH IN THE NFL -- FIRST AT ST. LOUIS, NOW AT SAN DIEGO. FIVE OF HIS TEAMS HAVE WON DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, INCLUDING THIS SAN DIEGO TEAM, WHICH IS AFC WESTERN CHAMPION. >> THEY'VE ALL DONE IT THROWING, TOO. >> THEY LEAVE THE HOTEL THROWING, DAN FOUTS AND COMPANY. FOUTS STANDS IN. DRILLS IT OUT. AND KELLEN WINSLOW MAKES THE RECEPTION, DOWN TO THE 15-YARD LINE, AS AGAIN THE CHARGERS STRIKE. >> A.J. DUHE AGAIN, AS A LINEBACKER, TRYING TO PUT PRESSURE ON FOUTS. NUMBER 77, WHAT HE DOES BEST IS GET AFTER THE QUARTERBACK. FOUTS KNOWS THAT. WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU LEAVE A LANE FOR YOUR QUARTERBACK TO THROW. EVEN THOUGH WINSLOW WAS DOUBLE-COVERED -- YOU CAN SEE KOZLOWSKI. IT'S HIS JOB TO STAY IN THE SHADOW OF WINSLOW ALL DAY LONG. THAT'S A TOUGH ORDER. WINSLOW MAKES A FINE CATCH. THIRD AND 2. >> INTERESTING MATCH. IN THE LAST FIVE GAMES, NO TEAM HAS GAINED 200 YARDS IN A SINGLE GAME PASSING AGAINST THE DOLPHINS. SAN DIEGO AVERAGES 300 YARDS A GAME. MUNCIE ELUDES THE TACKLE! AND MUNCIE IS FINALLY HIT ON A HARD STRIKE BY FULTON WALKER. WALKER, A 5'11, 193-POUND CORNERBACK, HAS BEEN A TARGET AREA FOR OPPOSING OFFENSES BECAUSE HE'S A ROOKIE. HE'S REPLACING DON McNEAL, MIAMI'S BEST DEFENDER, WHO'S OUT WITH A BROKEN ARM BUT COULD SEE SOME ACTION TODAY. >> WHAT HE IS DOING AND WHAT HE DID DO IS HE POSSIBLY GAINED THEM AN EXTRA 4 POINTS WITH THAT TACKLE. HE MADE A GREAT PLAY EARLIER IN THIS DRIVE. HE IS AGGRESSIVE. WHEN YOU HAVE A RUNNING BACK THAT'S 230 POUNDS, YOU DON'T STAND AROUND AND TRY TO WRESTLE HIM TO THE GROUND. YOU TAKE YOUR SHOT, AND YOU HOPE YOU HIT. THAT'S WHAT HE'S DONE TWICE. >> YOU SEE BENIRSCHKE'S NUMBERS. HE'S BEEN VERY GOOD THIS SEASON. STRAIGHTAWAY SHOT. FIRST POINTS ARE UP. ROLF BENIRSCHKE HITS A 32-YARD FIELD GOAL FOR THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS. IT HAS BEEN A SPECTACULAR WEEK OF WEATHER. SOUTH FLORIDA PUTTING ITS BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR A BIG WEEK OF ORANGE BOWL CELEBRATION AND NOW NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFF ACTION. THE CHARGERS COME DOWN THE FIELD AND FINALLY CONNECT ON BENIRSCHKE'S 32-YARD FIELD GOAL. IT'S A 3-0 GAME, SAN DIEGO. BENIRSCHKE IS SET TO KICK OFF, AND FULTON WALKER, THE ROOKIE, IS BACK DEEP FOR MIAMI. A HIGH KICK. IT'LL CARRY SHORT. BLOCKERS FORM IN FRONT OF WALKER. HE TAKES IT AT THE 8. 15 AND THE 20. NOT DONE TILL HE CROSSES THE 25. OUT TO THE 27-YARD LINE. SO FULTON WALKER, HAVING A GOOD YEAR RETURNING KICKS FOR MIAMI, AVERAGING 25 YARDS A KICKOFF RETURN, TAKES IT BACK. AND DAVID WOODLEY COMES OUT. TONY NATHAN HAS BEEN MISSING RECENTLY WITH A KNEE PROBLEM, BUT HE'S BACK TODAY. ANDRA FRANKLIN, THE ROOKIE FROM NEBRASKA, IS HIS BIG FULLBACK AND BLOCKER. DURIEL HARRIS HAS HAD A KNEE PROBLEM, BUT HE'S READY TO GO. AND SO IS NAT MOORE, THE OTHER WIDE RECEIVER. RONNIE LEE STARTS AT TIGHT END, BUT THEY USE THREE. GIESLER, KUECHENBERG, DENNARD, NEWMAN, AND LAAKSO ARE THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN FOR MIAMI. THEY'RE INTACT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE OCTOBER. THE LAST TIME THIS OFFENSIVE LINE WAS TOGETHER, MIAMI HAD 529 YARDS OFFENSE, AGAINST DALLAS, A RECORD. FRANKLIN TRIES TO GO WIDE, BUT BIG LOUIE KELCHER RUNS HIM DOWN. BIG LOUIE FROM SMU HAS HAD HIS INJURY PROBLEMS THIS YEAR. >> [ LAUGHS ] I'LL TELL YOU. HE CAN PLAY PRETTY WELL INJURED. BUT WHEN HE'S HEALTHY, AS HE SAYS HE IS RIGHT NOW, HE IS AWESOME. REMEMBER, HE'S MADE ALL-PRO A COUPLE TIMES. AND EVERY OFFENSIVE LINEMAN RECOGNIZES AND RESPECTS HIM. >> THE DEFENDERS FOR SAN DIEGO. WILLIE BUCHANON AND MIKE WILLIAMS AT THE CORNERS. DEEP BACKS GLEN EDWARDS AND PETE SHAW. LINDEN KING, BOB HORN, WOODROW LOWE ARE THE BACKERS. IT'S SECOND AND 14. HERE'S WOODLEY RUNNING! ACROSS THE 30. SLIDES OUT TO THE 33-YARD LINE. DAVID WOODLEY A VERY, VERY GOOD RUNNER. HE SHOOK UP THE BUFFALO DEFENSE WITH HIS ABILITY TO RUN, AND HE LIKES TO GO STRAIGHT UP THE FIELD WHEN THE PASS COVERAGE IS THERE. >> THIS IS SOMETHING HE HAS TO FEATURE. WHEN WOODLEY IS PLAYING QUARTERBACK, HE'S GOT TO RUN THE BALL TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS HE CAN BE. TAKE A LOOK. THAT'S BOB KUECHENBERG, 67, ON "BIG HANDS" JOHNSON, NUMBER 79. ANOTHER ALL-PRO DEFENSIVE TACKLE. WHEN YOU BREAK THAT PLANE, YOU'VE BROKEN SOMETHING. AND KOOCH IS THE GUY THAT A LOT OF HOPE DEPENDS ON, BECAUSE HE'S BEEN HURT FOR THE PAST FIVE OR SIX WEEKS. THEY SAY HE'S HEALTHY NOW. IF HE PLAYS WELL, THAT'LL NULLIFY JOHNSON AND HELP A LOT. >> THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE BIG GAME FROM KUECHENBERG. AND NOW DAVID WOODLEY HAS TO RUN AWAY FROM THE PROBLEMS. AND HE CANNOT DO IT, AS LEROY JONES, 6'8" -- THAT'S HIS NUMBER AND THAT'S HIS HEIGHT. "BIG BODY," THEY CALL HIM. 6'8", 265 POUNDS. SAN DIEGO'S DEFENSE RATES 27th, BUT IN SACKS, THEY'RE NEAR THE TOP. HAD 47 THIS YEAR. >> AND THEY'VE PLAYED WELL LATELY, DON, AND THAT'S THE ENCOURAGING PART FOR SAN DIEGO. DON'T THINK SAN DIEGO ISN'T AWARE THAT DAVID WOODLEY HAS TO GET OUTSIDE THAT POCKET AND WHEN HE DOES, HE CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE. THOSE DEFENSIVE ENDS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GET AROUND YOU UNLESS THE SITUATION IS EXTREME. >> TOM OROSZ, ROOKIE PUNTER FROM OHIO STATE, HITS THE BALL DOWNFIELD. UP BACK TAKES IT. NOT TOO DEEP. THIS IS WES CHANDLER, AND HE IS ALL TROUBLE IN AN OPEN FIELD. AND WES CHANDLER COULD GO THE DISTANCE! WESLEY CHANDLER IS INSIDE THE 10. HE'S IN THE END ZONE. AND THERE ARE NO MARKERS DOWN, AND SAN DIEGO RIPS OUT TO A 9-0 LEAD. THIS GREAT, GREAT ATHLETE FROM NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COMES BACK TO HIS NATIVE STATE AND RETURNS A PUNT 56 YARDS FOR A TOUCHDOWN. HE HAS 100 YARDS TOTAL OFFENSE ALREADY. YOU'LL RECALL THE 54-YARD RECEPTION HE HAD THAT SET UP THE FIELD GOAL. >> WES CHANDLER CAN DO ABOUT ANYTHING WITH A FOOTBALL THAT YOU ASK A MAN TO DO WITH IT ONCE HE'S GOT IT IN HIS ARM. GREAT RECEIVER. YOU SAW HIM CATCH A 54-YARDER TO SET UP THE FIELD GOAL. NOW HE TAKES A PUNT, RETURNS IT FOR A TOUCHDOWN. AND THIS IS THE ONE THING MIAMI DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN. THEY GET IN A HOLE WHEN THEY CAN'T CONTROL THE BALL AND CONTROL THE PACE OF THE GAME. NOW YOU'RE REALLY IN TROUBLE WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING SAN DIEGO, WHETHER YOU BE AT HOME, AWAY, OR ON THE NORTH POLE. >> WELL, THE TROUBLES INCREASE AS THE EXTRA POINT IS UP AND GOOD. WES CHANDLER JUST RETURNED A PUNT 56 YARDS FOR A TOUCHDOWN. AND NOW THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, A SLIGHT UNDERDOG ON MIAMI'S HOME FIELD, HAVE OPENED UP A 10-0 LEAD. DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE IN THIS AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME. HERE'S THE KICKOFF. TAKES A HOP BACK THE WRONG WAY. THAT MIGHT HAVE TOUCHED A DOLPHIN. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IT TOUCHED, DON. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE REACTION OF THE SPECIAL TEAM. THEY'RE DODGING THE BALL. THEY MUST THINK IT'S A PUNT. NOW, THAT'S A MISTAKE YOU JUST VERY SELDOM SEE, DONNIE. THE BALL GETS UP IN THE AIR. OBVIOUSLY ANYBODY KNOWS ONCE IT GOES 10 YARDS, IT'S ANYBODY'S BALL. YOU CAN CATCH IT ON THE FLY. YOU CAN CATCH ANYTHING YOU WANT. THE SAN DIEGO SPECIAL TEAMERS ARE BACKING OFF IT, AND THE MIAMI SPECIAL TEAMERS DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS. IT HIT RIGHT WHERE THE WEDGE STARTED. THE PEOPLE IN THE DEEP POSITION NEVER DID GET INTO A POSITION TO CATCH THE BALL. AND HANK BAUER IS THE MAN THAT'S BEEN THEIR SPECIAL-TEAMS GUY OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. HOW MANY GAMES HAVE STARTED OUT THIS WAY IN THESE PLAYOFFS, WHERE SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE ACTUALLY DICTATED THE OUTCOME? >> FREE BALL, AND THE CHARGERS HAVE IT AGAIN, AND NOW THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOME MORE. HERE'S A STRIKE IN THE FLAT. AS FOUTS GUNS IT OUT TO CHARLIE JOINER, THE VETERAN WIDE RECEIVER FROM GRAMBLING. >> LET'S WATCH TOM OROSZ TRYING TO STOP CHANDLER FROM SCORING. YOU GET AN ATHLETE LIKE CHANDLER ONE-ON-ONE WITH ONLY 7 OR 8 YARDS TO MOVE IN, HE'S GONE. >> LIKE TRYING TO HIT A PUFF OF SMOKE. >> YOU SEE A 56-YARD RETURN. WES CHANDLER, ONCE HE CATCHES THE BALL, IS DARN NEAR AS EFFECTIVE AS GETTING TO ONE. OROSZ FOUND OUT. 10-0, SAN DIEGO, AND GOING AGAIN. >> IT IS ALL GOING THE CHARGERS' WAY EARLY IN THIS GAME. NOW THEY GO TO MUNCIE. HE DIPS TO THE OUTSIDE AND IS KNOCKED DOWN AT ABOUT THE 17-YARD LINE. THE STRONG SAFETY, GLENN BLACKWOOD, TACKLED HIM. 6:24 TO GO IN THE FIRST QUARTER. >> IN A 5-SECOND PERIOD OF TIME, DON, I THINK I HAVE SEEN TWO SPECIAL-TEAM PLAYS BY MIAMI THAT I DIDN'T SEE ONE OF IN THE PAST THREE SEASONS. NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EFFECT OF PLAYOFF GAMES IS ON INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE, BUT THAT'S SHOCKING. >> SHOCKING TO THE DOLPHINS, THAT'S FOR SURE, AS THEY FIND THEMSELVES DOWN 10-0 AT THE OUTSET. MUNCIE RUNNING HARD. RUN DOWN BY A.J. DUHE. HE WAS FIRST TACKLED -- FIRST MAN TO MAKE THE HIT WAS LYLE BLACKWOOD. BUT MUNCIE RUNS IT DOWN INSIDE THE 10-YARD LINE. GOT ABOUT 8 ON THE CARRY, SO IT'S GONNA BE SECOND AND SHORT YARDAGE FOR SAN DIEGO, AS THEY'RE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR AGAIN. >> DON, WE'VE MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON THAT SAN DIEGO USED TO HAVE A BIT OF A PROBLEM ONCE THEY GOT INSIDE THE 20 BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE THAT, ONCE THEY GOT TO THE DOOR, COULD OPEN IT. IT'S ALL CHANGED. >> MUNCIE WITH GREAT, GREAT SPEED AND THE SIZE OF THE FULLBACK -- 6'4", 230 POUNDS. HE'S GONNA OPTION-PASS IT. LOOPS IT UP. WES CHANDLER. BROKEN UP AT THE LAST MOMENT. GLENN BLACKWOOD, THE STRONG SAFETY, CAME OVER AND AVERTED ANOTHER SAN DIEGO SCORE. >> IT WAS A POORLY THROWN BALL. MUNCIE KNOWS HE'S GOT HIS RECEIVER SO WIDE OPEN. BUT BLACKWOOD MADE AN EXCELLENT DEFENSIVE PLAY, TIMING IT JUST RIGHT OR IT WOULD'VE BEEN A TOUCHDOWN ANYWAY. CHANDLER SETS IT UP PRETTY WELL. SLIDES RIGHT BY THE CORNERBACK ROLLING OVER. BLACKWOOD MAKES A GOOD PLAY. >> NOW THE CHARGERS GO AGAIN. THIRD DOWN AND 2. CAPPELLETTI'S IN. QUICK THEY GO TO THE TIGHT END, KELLEN WINSLOW, JUST LOOPING IT OVER THE MIDDLE TO THAT BIG TARGET, AND HE'S DOWN TO THE 1-YARD LINE, AND IT'S A FIRST DOWN. >> THAT'S THE DIMENSION OF DAN FOUTS. YOU TAKE A LOOK AT KELLEN WINSLOW. YOU SEE IF HE GETS INSIDE THE LINEBACKER, AS HE DOES. ONCE YOU'RE INSIDE THE LINEBACKER, IT'S NOTHING BUT A LITTLE DINK PASS OVER THE MIDDLE. EASY WAY TO PICK UP 6 CRITICAL YARDS. >> WINSLOW, THE MAN WHO'S LED THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN RECEIVING THE LAST TWO YEARS, CAUGHT 88 THIS YEAR, 89 LAST YEAR. NEXT YEAR, HE'S GOING FOR BONUS. GOING FOR 100. MUNCIE. NOTHING THERE. >> DON, IT'S NO AUTOMATIC WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE 1-YARD LINE AGAINST THE REAL GOOD DEFENSES. TAKE A LOOK. THEY WIN AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. DUHE GETS PENETRATION. STOPS MUNCIE. AND BY THE TIME HE GETS UNDER WAY AGAIN, THE WHOLE GROUP'S THERE. >> AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, HE TIED A NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE RECORD WITH 19 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS THIS YEAR, CHUCK MUNCIE. NOW THE CHARGERS SET UP A YARD AWAY FROM THE MIAMI GOAL LINE. SECOND DOWN AND GOAL. MUNCIE AGAIN. TOUCHDOWN, SAN DIEGO. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITH 3:59 TO GO IN THE FIRST QUARTER, THE CHARGERS HAVE BLASTED THIS GAME WIDE OPEN. >> AND IT WAS MADE TO LOOK SO EASY, DON. LISTEN, THIS IS A DEFENSE THAT HAVE PLAYED AS ANY IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN THE PAST MONTH. OFFENSIVELY, THE CHARGERS HAVE JUST BEEN THE BETTER GROUP EARLY IN THE BALLGAME, EVEN WITH THE TURNOVERS. MUNCIE RUNS IT IN THE END ZONE UNTOUCHED. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BLOCKS -- THE WHOLE OFFENSIVE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LINE MOVES PEOPLE INTO THE END ZONE. LOOK AT WINSLOW ON FULTON WALKER. NEVER GOT<i> TO</i> THE GOAL LINE TO MAKE A PLAY. >> GOOD BLOCK ALSO BY JOHN CAPPELLETTI. NOW THE POINT-AFTER ATTEMPT BY BENIRSCHKE, WHO'S GETTING A LOT OF WORK HERE EARLY IN THIS GAME. HE HAS 5 POINTS ALREADY. AND THE CHARGERS EXTEND THEIR LEAD. DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE, BACK AT THE ORANGE BOWL IN MIAMI. 3:58 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST QUARTER. SAN DIEGO HAS OPENED UP A 17-0 LEAD. THEY'VE ALL BEEN GETTING WORK. 54-YARD PUNT RETURN FOR A TOUCHDOWN THE BIG PLAY OF THIS GAME. >> THAT'S RIGHT, AS BENIRSCHKE SETS THE BALL BACK ON THE TEE. THERE IS A SLIGHT WIND. THIS IS SUCH A CRITICAL DRIVE FOR MIAMI. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND THROW ALL CAUTION TO THE WINDS RIGHT NOW. WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS TRY AND GET BACK IN THE BALLGAME. IF YOU RECALL THE ONE MISTAKE THAT FERGUSON MADE LAST WEEK IN THE PLAYOFF GAME -- THEY'VE GOT A 24-0 LEAD, AND HE THROWS ONE INTERCEPTION. IT CHANGES THE WHOLE OF THE MOMENTUM, AND THE GAME ENDS IN A DONNYBROOK. >> THERE'S TOMMY VIGORITO TAKING A HIGH, SHORT KICKOFF. VIGORITO BREAKS IT OUT ACROSS THE 35-YARD LINE. SO MIAMI STARTS IN GOOD FIELD POSITION, AT THEIR 38. >> THAT'S THE KIND OF PLAY THEY NEED -- JUST TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED, GET THEIR OWN OFFENSIVE LINE GENERATED. >> THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WILD COMEBACKS IN THE WILD-CARD GAMES. YOU RECALL LAST WEEK WHEN THE JETS ALMOST PULLED IT OUT AGAINST BUFFALO AFTER THEY WERE WAY DOWN IN THAT GAME -- 24-0 AT ONE POINT. AND THEN PHILADELPHIA RALLIED BACK BUT COULDN'T CATCH THE NEW YORK GIANTS. EARLIER TODAY, DALLAS ANNIHILATED TAMPA BAY, 38-0. RIGHT NOW MIAMI IS TRAILING IN THE FIRST QUARTER, 17-0. FIRST AND 10, DOLPHINS. WOODLEY IN THE FLAT. BRUCE HARDY, ONE OF HIS TIGHT ENDS, MAKES THE RECEPTION AT ABOUT THE 44-YARD LINE. A GAIN OF 5. WOODROW LOWE, AN ALABAMA LINEBACKER, 51, WAS THE TACKLER. >> WELL, YOU LEAVE HARDY OPEN FOR MOST OF THE AFTERNOON, AND WOODLEY WILL HAVE A FIELD DAY, BECAUSE THAT GUY CAN RUN FINE PATTERNS FROM HIS TIGHT END POSITION. THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO PUT A BURDEN ON THE LINEBACKERS. >> LOOKS LIKE CLEMSON FANS THERE, JOHN. SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T LEFT. >> [ LAUGHS ] >> BE HERE FOR A WEEK. >> I WOULDN'T WANT TO LEAVE EITHER IF I WERE THEM. >> THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE, AND THEY DID LAST NIGHT -- WITH GUSTO. HAND-OFF TO TONY NATHAN. HIS FIRST CARRY IN SOME TIME. AND NATHAN, ON A SECOND AND 5, MAYBE GOT A YARD. LEROY JONES, 68, WAS ON THE STOP FOR SAN DIEGO, AS THE GAME CLOCK IS DOWN TO 2:55 AND RUNNING. IT HAPPENS FAST WHEN THE GREAT TEAMS START TO ROLL. YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT MIAMI'S DEFENSE HAD FOUTS AND THE OFFENSE OF SAN DIEGO IN A THIRD AND 14. SAN DIEGO LOOKED TO BE IN TROUBLE IN THEIR OWN END, AND THEN THE PERFECT STRIKE DOWN THE FIELD TO WES CHANDLER FOR A 54-YARD GAIN. FIELD GOAL WAS GOOD SUBSEQUENTLY. THEN THEY RECOVER A KICKOFF MIAMI LET ROLL AND SCORE A TOUCHDOWN. NOW HERE'S A FREE BALL! AND SAN DIEGO HAS IT! IT'S INTERCEPTED BY GLEN EDWARDS. HE'S GOING IN UNLESS ED NEWMAN CAN GET HIM, AND HE DOES. ED NEWMAN GETS HIM DOWN AT THE 9-YARD LINE. >> TELL YOU WHAT. IF YOU DREW IT UP ON A DRAWING BOARD AND YOU LIVED IN SAN DIEGO, YOU COULDN'T HAVE DRAWN IT UP ANY BETTER. I MEAN, EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN FOR THEMSELVES HAS TURNED INTO A PLUS. 35-YARD RETURN. PINE EDWARDS, WE MENTIONED EARLIER, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE KEY REASONS FOR THEIR SUCCESS LATE IN THE SEASON DEFENSIVELY. AND THAT'S THE WAY YOU GET SUCCESSFUL -- YOU PICK UP THE BOBBLES, YOU KEEP THEM FROM MAKING THE LONG PLAY, GET THE BIG TURNOVERS, AND PUT YOURSELF IN A COMMANDING POSITION. ED NEWMAN MAKING A PRETTY GOOD PLAY JUST TO STOP IT FROM BEING A TOUCHDOWN. >> HURRICANE SEASON COMING EARLY IN 1982 TO MIAMI, FLORIDA. SAN DIEGO HITTING THE DOLPHINS LIKE A HURRICANE. JAMES BROOKS RUNS HARD AND TAKES IT DOWN FROM THE 11-YARD LINE DOWN CLOSE TO THE MIAMI 8. BOB BRUDZINSKI MAKES THE TACKLE FOR THE DOLPHINS WITH 2:05 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST QUARTER. FOUTS CHECKS OVER THE SIDELINE. SOMETHING'S SIGNALED IN TO HIM. FOUTS' NUMBERS ARE BEYOND BELIEF. HE SET RECORDS FOR TOTAL YARDAGE -- 4,800. 33 TOUCHDOWN PASSES THIS SEASON. FOURTH-HIGHEST IN ONE SEASON ALL TIME. GEORGE BLANDA HOLDS THE RECORD. HE THREW FOR 36 AT HOUSTON WAY BACK IN THE EARLY '60s. FOUTS WAS GOING FOR 34 THERE TO WES CHANDLER. >> HE DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO GET RID OF THE BALL, DON, AND THAT TIME HE WENT TO WES. BROOKS IS STANDING OUT THERE ON THE SIDELINE SAYING, "HEY, I'M STANDING ALL ALONE." BUT IT'S A TWO-STEP DROP. THROW THE BALL ON A ONE-ON-ONE SITUATION. HE'D ALREADY COMMITTED. REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF AN AREA TO THROW IT. >> THAT'S WHY HE'S SO HARD TO GET TO -- HE THROW IT SO QUICKLY. >> THERE'S NO KEY. THE QUARTERBACKS THAT CAN GO BACK, KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING, AND GET RID OF THE BALL NOT ONLY GET A LOT LESS SACKS, BUT I THINK HIT PEOPLE RIGHT ON THE BREAK A WHOLE LOT MORE OFTEN. >> I ASKED DON SHULA IF HE'LL BLITZ HIM MUCH. HE SAYS, "HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH IT IF YOU BLITZ HIM." THIRD DOWN. 7 FOR THE FIRST DOWN. SWING PASS TO JAMES BROOKS. FOOTRACE WITH A.J. DUHE. AND SAN DIEGO IS IN THE END ZONE AGAIN. >> YOU KIND OF GET THE FEELING THAT BROOKS WENT BACK IN THE HUDDLE AND SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LINEBACKER'S DOING, BUT NOBODY COVERED ME ON THE LAST PLAY." FOUTS UTILIZES THAT INFORMATION, SLIDES A LITTLE SLIDE PASS OUT TO HIM AGAINST A BLITZ. NOBODY WAS FAST ENOUGH TO HANDLE HIM. A.J. DUHE WAS RESPSONSIBLE FOR BEING MAN ON MAN WITH BROOKS. THAT'S A MISMATCH. PICKED UP BY FOUTS. THEY GET 6 MORE, AND NOW IT'S 23-0. >> FOUTS HAS PUT IT UP SIX TIMES AND HAS COMPLETED FIVE FOR 79 YARDS AND THAT TOUCHDOWN, HIS 34th TOUCHDOWN PASS OF THE SEASON. ROLF BENIRSCHKE OUT THERE AGAIN. AND ONCE AGAIN HE IS RIGHT THERE. BACK AT THE ORANGE BOWL. DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE CHARGERS TO SCORE YET ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN. AFTER THE INTERCEPTION BY GLEN EDWARDS, THEY'RE IN THE END ZONE THREE PLAYS LATER FROM 11 YARDS OUT, AND IT'S 24-0, SAN DIEGO. HERE COMES VIGORITO ONCE AGAIN FOR MIAMI. VIGORITO GETS OUT ACROSS THE 25-, TO THE 28-YARD LINE. DOLPHINS ON OFFENSE. FIRST AND 10. SCREENS IT OUT. TONY NATHAN STARTED TO RUN BEFORE HE HAD THE BALL. >> DON, IT'S BEEN SINCE 1968, ALL RIGHT, AGAINST KANSAS CITY THAT ANYONE SCORED 24 POINTS IN THE FIRST QUARTER AGAINST A MIAMI FOOTBALL TEAM. AND THESE ARE THE SORT OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU -- THERE'S THE NET -- [ LAUGHS ] THAT'S NOT POINTS -- YET. >> NO. >> BUT IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING, IT MIGHT GET THAT WAY. >> IT'S ONE-FOURTH THAT BAD, THOUGH. DOUG BETTERS ON THE SIDELINES. MIAMI'S DEFENSE HAS BEEN HIT HARD AND OFTEN EARLY IN THIS GAME. THERE'S A STRIKE DOWN THE MIDDLE. FIRST DOWN, MIAMI. THE DOLPHINS GO TO TIGHT END JOE ROSE. PLAYED A GREAT GAME AGAINST THE BILLS. A 14-YARD GAIN AND A BIG SALUTE FOR THE MIAMI FOLLOWING FOR A FIRST DOWN. >> THEY'VE GOT TO GET THE PEOPLE IN MIAMI EXCITED. IF THEY CAN DO THAT, THEY CAN DO SOMETHING. REMEMBER, THIS IS THE FIRST FIRST DOWN OF THE BALLGAME. WE'RE DARNED NEAR OUT OF THE FIRST QUARTER. A LITTLE WOODLEY-TO-ROSE PASS OVER THE MIDDLE FOR 14 YARDS. THEY'VE GOT TO GET SOME POINTS ON THE BOARD. >> WE MUST REMEMBER ALSO THAT THE MIAMI DEFENSE GRADED OUT 27th -- THE SAN DIEGO DEFENSE 27th IN THE NFL THIS SEASON. ONLY BALTIMORE'S WAS WORSE. MIAMI'S GONNA SCORE BEFORE THIS ONE'S OVER. THAT WE CAN BE SURE OF. HERE'S WOODLEY. NOT THERE, THEY'RE NOT. ANOTHER FREE BALL. MIAMI GOT IT BACK. THEY GET IT BACK AT THEIR 35-YARD LINE. A LOSS OF ABOUT 8 OR 9 YARDS. GARY JOHNSON, 79, A PRO BOWLER, CAME IN ON THE RUSH. >> DEFENSIVELY IN THE SECONDARY, SAN DIEGO'S MADE SOME VERY GOOD DECISIONS. BECAUSE, AS YOU SEE, WOODLEY'S GOT ENOUGH TIME TO THROW THE BALL. GARY JOHNSON IN PURSUIT OF HIM. NOW HE STOPS. COULDN'T THROW TO THE INTENDED RECEIVER. AND BY THE TIME HE WENT TO HIS SECONDARY, JOHNSON HAD HIM. >> THAT WAS RULED A FUMBLE, AND THE BALL WAS RECOVERED BY MIAMI AT THE 35-YARD LINE. SO NOW IT'S SECOND DOWN AND 18. [ WHISTLES BLOW ] AND THAT WILL DO IT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER. MOST POINTS MIAMI'S EVER GIVEN UP IN A QUARTER. OR SINCE '68. WOODLEY THROWS OVER THE MIDDLE. VIGORITO CAN'T QUITE GET TO THE BALL. TOMMY VIGORITO COMING OUT OF THE BACKFIELD, AND SO IT WILL BE THIRD DOWN AND 18 FOR MIAMI. DOLPHINS IN A HOLE ON THE SCOREBOARD AND WITH THE DOWN AND YARDAGE RIGHT NOW. >> I DO NOT HOLD DAVID WOODLEY RESPONSIBLE -- THAT WAS A POORLY THROWN BALL, BUT FOR THE SCORE AT THIS TIME. I DO KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO WIN THE BALLGAME, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WITH ROLLOUTS, SETUPS, AND QUARTERBACK RUNS. THEY'VE GOT A MAN LIKE DON STROCK, WHO'S SITTING ON THE BENCH, WHO'S PULLED A LOT OF BALLGAMES OUT OF THE HAT FOR MIAMI. HE IS A PURE THROWER. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY THROW THE BALL TO DURIEL HARRIS, NAT MOORE, AND OCCASIONALLY RUN A DRAW PLAY. >> WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT THEY GO TO NOW ON THIRD AND 18. A STRAIGHT DROP. STUNT ON THE DEFENSIVE RUSH. AND THAT STUNT FOOLS THE BLOCKING ENOUGH TO GET WOODLEY BACK INSIDE THE 30. THIRD SACK OF THIS GAME OF DAVID WOODLEY. >> YOU GET THE SCORE TO 24-0, THOSE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN GET IN THEIR STARTING BLOCKS AND COME. NUMBER 79, BIG HANDS JOHNSON, NUMBER 74, ALSO LEROY JONES, 68, THE FIRST MAN TO GET A PIECE OF WOODLEY. AND STROCK<i> IS</i> WARMING UP. AND IT MAKES SENSE, DON. BOTH OF THEM COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER VERY WELL. THEY HAVE DURING THE SEASON. BUT STROCK'S THE GUY THAT CAN GET THE SCORES FOR YOU QUICK. >> THE DOLPHINS ARE QUICK TO CHANGE PITCHERS IF THEY'RE NOT MOVING. THEY'VE DONE IT FIVE TIMES EARLIER THIS SEASON. NOW THE PUNT DOWNFIELD BY OROSZ. HE'S HAPPY TO SEE THAT GO OUT OF BOUNDS. SAN DIEGO -- 10 NFL RECORDS THIS YEAR. LED THE LEAGUE IN TOUCHDOWNS -- 61. HERE GOES MUNCIE, AS HE BREAKS THE MIAMI DEFENSE ON A FIRST-DOWN CARRY. MUNCIE IS OUT FROM HIS OWN 27-YARD LINE. OUT CLOSE TO THE 45-YARD LINE. 18-YARD GAIN. >> IS THERE NO STOP? NOW, LISTEN. AGAIN, THEY'RE RUNNING AGAINST AN OUTSTANDING DEFENSE, ONE OF THE MOST WELL-COORDINATED GROUPS IN THE LEAGUE. HE RUNS RIGHT BY BAUMHOWER -- OR BOKAMPER -- EXCUSE ME -- NUMBER 58, WHO'S STUCK ON THE BLOCK BY THE LEFT TACKLE. RUSS WASHINGTON HAS NO PROBLEM WITH HIM. THEY PICK UP ANOTHER FIRST DOWN, AND ON WE GO. >> ON THE CHARGERS GO. THAT'S FOR SURE. IT'S BEEN THAT STORY ALL GAME LONG, AND WE HAVE 13:40 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF, WITH SAN DIEGO LEADING 24-0. FOUTS GETS IT AWAY. FREE BALL. GLENN BLACKWOOD ALMOST HAD IT. SECOND DOWN AND 10 NOW. HAND-OFF TO JAMES BROOKS. AND HE TAKES IT STRAIGHT AHEAD. CROSSES THE 45. BAUMHOWER KNOCKS HIM DOWN AFTER A SHORT GAIN. UNDER DON SHULA, MIAMI HAS BEEN ALMOST UNBEATABLE HERE IN THE ORANGE BOWL -- 81% OF THE GAMES THEY'VE PLAYED UNDER SHULA, THEY'VE WON. THIS IS GONNA BE ONE OF THE 19% THEY HAVEN'T UNLESS THEY GET COOKING. FOUTS THROWING. KELLEN WINSLOW, ON THIRD DOWN AND 7, TAKES IT ACROSS MIDFIELD. CLOSE TO A FIRST DOWN BUT SHORT OF ONE. GLENN BLACKWOOD AND A.J. DUHE ON THE TACKLE FOR MIAMI. GEORGE ROBERTS, AN EX-DOLPHIN, IS OUT TO PUNT NOW FOR SAN DIEGO. ROBERTS IS WHAT THEY TERM A THREE-STEP PUNTER. THEY WANTED A TWO-STEP PUNTER, SO THEY GOT OROSZ. ROBERTS HASN'T HAD ONE BLOCKED, THOUGH, THIS YEAR WITH SAN DIEGO. GETS IT DOWNFIELD. VIGORITO LETS IT HOP, AND IT'S GONNA TAKE A ROLL INSIDE THE 5 AND FINALLY INTO THE END ZONE. SO ON THE TOUCHBACK, IT COMES OUT. FIRST AND 10. THIS IS DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE. BACK AT THE ORANGE BOWL. NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFF DAY FOR THE DOLPHINS AND THE CHARGERS, AND SAN DIEGO HAS RIPPED OPEN A 24-0 LEAD WITH 12:05 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF. JOHN? >> WE SEE STROCK IN UNDER THE CENTER RIGHT NOW. AND IF YOU'RE A QUARTERBACK IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, I EXPECT HIM TO GO DOWN THE FIELD, MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN, GET PEOPLE EXCITED. I DON'T THINK IT'LL DO HIM ANY GOOD TO RUN THE BALL OFF TACKLE. >> HE'S TALL, RANGY. HE THROWS VERY WELL. IS NOT VERY MOBILE. HE GETS SACKED PRETTY OFTEN. HERE'S A THROW. HE MAKES THE CONNECTION. DON STROCK GOES TO DURIEL HARRIS. A 16-YARD GAIN AND A MIAMI FIRST DOWN. >> NOT ONLY WAS IT A 16-YARD GAIN, DON, IT WAS A BEAUTIFULLY THROWN BALL. DURIEL HARRIS RUNS THAT PATTERN WITH ANYBODY IN THIS LEAGUE. COMING INSIDE. BLITZING SITUATIONS. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN TO BE ONE. BUT HE THREW IT RIGHT BETWEEN THE LINEBACKERS. CAUGHT HARRIS ON THE DEAD RUN. THEY PICKED UP A FIRST DOWN. PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO STAMP THEIR FEET. >> DON STROCK MAKES HIS FIRST THROW A CONNECTION FOR A 16-YARD GAIN AND A FIRST DOWN. TO THE RUN. TONY NATHAN TURNS TO THE OUTSIDE. ALMOST TURNED THE CORNER. GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAY BY OUTSIDE LINEBACKER LINDEN KING OF THE CHARGERS. NATHAN LED THE NFL IN AVERAGE PER RUSH -- 5.3 YARDS. >> WHAT A GREAT POSITION TO BE IN. SAN DIEGO CAN GIVE YOU 3, 2, 4 YARDS AND NOT WORRY MUCH ABOUT IT. THAT'S BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SAN DIEGO THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE YEAR. LINDEN KING, GOOD PURSUIT. PULLS HIM DOWN FOR 2. >> TO MAKE IT SECOND DOWN AND 8. AIR CORYELL HAS BEEN FLYING TODAY HERE IN MIAMI. 24-0 IN THE SECOND QUARTER. DOLPHINS WITH THE BALL. SECOND DOWN AND 8. WIDE OPEN IS TONY NATHAN! NATHAN TAKES IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 35-YARD LINE OF SAN DIEGO. A 27-YARD GAIN. >> YOU KNOW WHO A PLAY LIKE THAT WILL HELP, DON? IT'LL HELP THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN. IT'LL HELP THE YOUNG FELLAS THAT ARE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES. IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU SAY, "HEY, TONY DOESN'T FIGURE WE'RE OUT OF THIS BALLGAME. DURIEL HARRIS DOESN'T FIGURE SO. STROCK DOESN'T FIGURE SO." ONCE YOU START GETTING THAT VIEWPOINT THROUGHOUT THE GROUP, A LOT OF STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE VIEWPOINT FIRST. >> WELL, IT GETS SOMETHING GOING, AND THEY NEED SOMETHING BADLY. IT'S FIRST DOWN AND 10 FOR THE DOLPHINS. 35-YARD LINE OF SAN DIEGO. ANOTHER PITCH. THIS TIME ALMOST A CONNECTION AS NATHAN COMES OUT OF THE BACKFIELD. HE CAUGHT 50 BALLS THIS SEASON. HAD OVER 1,200 YARDS OFFENSE RUNNING AND CATCHING IT. >> WELL-THROWN BALL. AND PINE EDWARDS IS PLAYING A DEEP CENTER FIELD RIGHT NOW. WHEN YOU GET A MAN PLAYING A DEEP CENTER FIELD, IF YOU CAN BEAT THE LINEBACKER WITH A BACK, YOU'VE GOT NOTHING BUT ROOM TO RUN. GOOD CALL INTO A DEFENSE THAT IS ACTUALLY GIVING YOU THE PLAY, AND YOU SHOULD TAKE IT. >> TONY NATHAN, FROM ALABAMA, IN THE BACKFIELD ALONG WITH EDDIE HILL, ANOTHER GOOD PASS CATCHER, SWINGING OUT. SECOND DOWN AND 10. HERE COMES THE RUSH. STROCK STANDS IN. PUTS IT UP. AND IT'S KNOCKED DOWN BY LINDEN KING. HE WAS GOING TO VIGORITO. GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAY BY LINDEN KING AGAIN. >> A LOT EASIER TO COVER A MAN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE HIM ONE-ON-ONE ALL OVER THE FIELD. THAT TIME, LINDEN KING HAD HELP. THEY WERE IN A DOUBLE ZONE WITH TWO DEEP SAFETYMEN, TWO CORNERBACKS UP TIGHT. THAT MEANS YOU'VE GOT FIVE PEOPLE IN THE SHORT AREA, AND YOU CAN DEFENSE A PLAY LIKE THAT. HERE COMES STROCK. COMING DOWN THE LINE. YOU SEE KING IS FROM THE INSIDE OUT, BUT HE'S GOT HELP TO THE OUTSIDE. >> MIAMI HAS NOT CONVERTED A THIRD DOWN IN THIS GAME FOR A FIRST DOWN. AS YOU SEE, 0 FOR 3. THIRD AND 10, DOLPHINS. MAN'S OPEN. GREAT RECEPTION FOR A FIRST DOWN! JIMMY CEFALO! 18-YARD GAIN AND A FIRST DOWN. >> VERY IMPORTANT FOR STROCK TO GET OFF TO AS FAST A START AS HE DID REPLACING WOODLEY. CEFALO HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EXCELLENT PATTERN RUNNER, GOOD BALL-CONTROL TYPE RECEIVER. HE COMES OUT WITH HIS FEET OUT OF BOUNDS, BUT HE WAS PUSHED OUT BY THE CORNERBACK. GOOD CALL BY THE OFFICIAL. YOU MAKE THE JUDGMENT. BUT IF HE HADN'T BEEN MOVED OUT, HE'D HAVE BOTH FEET IN BOUNDS. FIRST AND 10 ON THE 17-YARD LINE. >> SO JIMMY CEFALO COMES UP WITH AN 18-YARD RECEPTION, AND NOW THE DOLPHINS GET CLOSER. FIRST AND 10. 17-YARD LINE. SWING PASS GOES OUT. EDDIE HILL HAS IT. PENALTY MARKERS DOWN. TO THE 10-YARD LINE. 10:09 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF. THE MARKER CAME JUST A STROCK THREW THE BALL. ILLEGAL MOTION IN THE MIAMI BACKFIELD. SO FROM A FIRST AND 10 AT THE 17-YARD LINE OF SAN DIEGO, IT'LL NOW BE FIRST AND 15 FROM THE 22. >> ILLEGAL MOTION, NUMBER 81. FIRST DOWN. >> IT'S A THROWING SITUATION ANYWAY. THEY'VE GOT THREE TRIES TO GET IT 15 YARDS DOWN THE FIELD AND EVENTUALLY IN THE END ZONE. STROCK'S BEEN VERY IMPRESSIVE, THROWING THE BALL SWIFT, SETTING UP RIGHT, PUTTING THE BALL WHERE IT HAS TO BE THROWN. >> FIRST AND 15. >> THEY'RE COMING, I THINK. >> MIAMI TAKES IT UP THE MIDDLE. EDDIE HILL, A 210-POUND RUNNER OUT OF MEMPHIS STATE. CAME HERE FROM THE LOS ANGELES RAMS OFF THE WAIVER LIST. RUNS IT INSIDE THE 20. GOT BACK THE LOST YARDAGE ON THE PENALTY. IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT SECOND AND 10 NOW. CHARGERS FEEL RIGHT AT HOME HERE IN MIAMI. A NATURAL GRASS FIELD, ONE OF THE BEST. THAT'S WHAT SAN DIEGO, OF COURSE, PLAYS ON IN THEIR HOME STADIUM. >> AND THEY'VE BEATEN MIAMI TWICE IN A ROW HERE. >> THAT'S RIGHT. LAST SEASON IN OVERTIME. AND THE LAST TIME THEY PLAYED HERE WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS EARLIER. SECOND DOWN AND JUST OVER 10. STROCK TO EDDIE HILL. THEY DON'T GET MUCH IF THEY GOT ANYTHING AT ALL. DON CORYELL. >> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES THAT THE UMPIRE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO. GENERALLY HE STEPS UP. BUT EDDIE HILL WAS FORCED INSIDE. HAS TO RUN OVER THE TOP OF HIM. IT SLOWS HIM DOWN JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE PURSUIT TO CATCH HIM. THIRD DOWN AND 10. >> THAT UMPIRE IS A TOUGH PLACE TO BE. HE STANDS RIGHT IN BEHIND THE LINEBACKERS. IT ALL COMES AT HIM. HE CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN THE WASH REAL EASY. >> WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THEY DON'T PICK IT UP HERE? WOULD YOU HAVE A GO AT IT ON FOURTH DOWN OR WOULD YOU KICK A FIELD GOAL? >> I THINK I'D HAVE A GO. >> [ CHUCKLES ] >> 24-0. THIRD AND 10. STROCK GETS IT AWAY. PETE SHAW ALMOST HAD AN INTERCEPTION. >> WELL, SHULA'S GONNA HAVE A GO AT THE FIELD GOAL. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO EITHER WAY RIGHT THEN. BUT THE GAME<i> IS</i> SO EARLY. THERE'S STILL ALMOST 40 MINUTES OF PLAYING TIME LEFT. THEY NEED TO GET SOMETHING ON THE BOARD. OVER THREE TOUCHDOWNS BEHIND. STROCK GOT AWAY WITH MURDER RIGHT HERE. HE'S IN THE GRASP OF A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN. I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED THEY DIDN'T CALL THE BALL DEAD. PETE SHAW WILL NEVER HAVE AN EASIER ATTEMPT AT AN INTERCEPTION. >> JUST TO GET OFF THE SCHNEID, GET THAT ZERO OFF THE BOARD. >> YEAH, I AGREE WITH THAT, PERSONALLY. I'M JUST TESTING YOU EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. >> I'M GONNA GO WITH COACH SHULA HERE. HERE HE GOES WITH UWE VON SCHAMANN, WHO'S BEEN SUPER ACCURATE. HE'S 20 OF 21 FROM THIS DISTANCE, INSIDE OF THE 39. AND HE'S RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE AGAIN. IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING, AND THE DOLPHINS ARE ON THE BOARD. 24-3, BUT IT IS ENCOURAGING FROM A MIAMI STANDPOINT. THEY MOVED THE BALL RIGHT DOWN THE FIELD WHEN STROCK CAME IN THE GAME. BACK AT THE ORANGE BOWL, VON SCHAMANN, WHO JUST HIT THE FIELD GOAL FOR MIAMI'S FIRST POINTS, READY TO KICK IT OFF. IT'S 24-3. SAN DIEGO'S IN THE LEAD. THE KICK GOES DOWNFIELD, AND JAMES BROOKS TAKES OFF WITH IT FOR THE CHARGERS. LOOK OUT. BOY, HE'S A TOUGH CUSTOMER. JAMES BROOKS -- 5'9", 180, OUT OF AUBURN. WHAT A BACKFIELD HE PLAYED IN ONE YEAR, WITH WILLIAM ANDREWS, NOW OF ATLANTA, AND JOE CRIBBS OF THE BUFFALO BILLS. ALL THREE OF THEM IN THE SAME BACKFIELD. JAMES BROOKS, A NUMBER ONE WHO HAD A BIG ROOKIE SEASON. >> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S THE INEPT PLAY OF MIAMI ON SPECIAL TEAMS OR THE OUTSTANDING PLAY BY SAN DIEGO. I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE EVERYBODY'S GOT A PIECE OF A DEFENSIVE PLAYER. JIM JENSEN FINALLY MAKES THE TACKLE. REMEMBER, HE'S THE THIRD-STRING QUARTERBACK, AND HE MAY GET SOME ACTION -- NOT THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT. >> FOUTS TAKES A LOOK. THROWS IT OVER THE MIDDLE. HAS ANOTHER CONNECTION. MAKES IT TO HIS TIGHT END, KELLEN WINSLOW. LINEBACKER EARNEST RHONE TACKLED HIM. WINSLOW, THEY DEPLOY HIM AS A WIDE RECEIVER AS MUCH AS HE'S A TIGHT END. >> SOME TEAMS YOU CAN SUCKER INTO PLAYING IT SAFE, TRYING TO PLAY BALL CONTROL. BUT REMEMBER, CHUCK MUNCIE IS A LITTLE BIT NICKED UP. THEY DON'T WANT TO RUN HIM TOO MUCH. THEIR OFFENSE IS TO THROW THE BALL, AND DAN KNOWS HOW MUCH TIME IS LEFT. HE'S GONNA KEEP FIRING. >> HE'S BEEN FIRING IT VERY WELL -- 11 PASSES, 8 COMPLETIONS FOR 104 YARDS AND A TOUCHDOWN. SECOND DOWN AND 3. MUNCIE. DID HE GET THERE? LOOKS LIKE HE DID NOT WHERE THEY'RE SPOTTING THE BALL. BUT HE'S NOT SHORT BY VERY MUCH. AND IT'LL BE THIRD DOWN NOW AND LESS THAN A YARD. A.J. DUHE ON THE TACKLE. GAME CLOCK DOWN TO 7:28 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF. >> RIGHT NOW IT'S REALLY MANDATORY ON MIAMI'S DEFENSE TO CONTROL THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, OKAY? THEY'VE HAD A FEW THINGS GO AGAINST THEM. HERE'S BOB BAUMHOWER, ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING MIDDLE NOSEGUARDS. GOING TO THE PRO BOWL. HAS HAD A GREAT SEASON. HE'S GOT TO BE THE ANCHOR, AND THEY'VE GOT TO PLAY OUTSTANDING DEFENSE IN THE LINE TO GET BACK IN THE BALLGAME. >> CHARGERS OFFENSE, JOHN, AS YOU'RE AWARE, WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE THIS YEAR, SCORING 61 TOUCHDOWNS. THEY ALSO LED THE LEAGUE IN AVERAGE PER PLAY. THEY GAINED 6 YARDS ON EVERY OFFENSIVE PLAY. >> AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'LL EVER HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUSE A LOT OF FACTORS HAVE TO BE IN FOCUS. FOR A GUY TO AVERAGE 300 YARDS A GAME THROWING A BALL, FOR A TEAM TO DO THE THINGS THAT SAN DIEGO DOES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DEFENSE THAT GIVES UP ENOUGH POINTS TO KEEP YOU ON THE OFFENSIVE. THEY'VE GOT THAT. AND I DON'T THINK THERE'LL EVER BE A GROUP OF PERSONNEL PUT TOGETHER LIKE THIS OFFENSIVE GROUP. >> WHEN JOHN JEFFERSON WENT TO GREEN BAY, THERE WAS A BIG HOLE, BUT THEY QUICKLY FILLED THAT WITH WES CHANDLER. THIRD AND LESS THAN A YARD. FOUTS GOES OVER THE TOP, AND HE'S GOT IT. DAN FOUTS -- 6'3", 210 -- GOES OVER THE TOP AND TAKES IT AHEAD FOR A FIRST DOWN. FOUTS NOW IN HIS NINTH YEAR FROM OREGON. >> HE CAN FALL FORWARD, ALL RIGHT. HE WAS AN EXCELLENT RUNNER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON TILL HE HAD A KNEE OPERATION. WHEN THAT HAPPENED, LIKE WITH MOST QUARTERBACKS THAT COULD RUN A LITTLE BIT IN THEIR EARLY YEARS, HE'S ELECTED TO STAY BACK THERE AND STAY CLEAN. BUT HE'S TAKEN AN AWFUL LOT OF PUNISHMENT OVER THE YEARS. HE'S NOT VERY SWIFT. BUT HE'S VERY SWIFT GETTING RID OF IT. >> HE IS THAT. CAME IN THE THIRD ROUND OF THE DRAFT IN A GREAT YEAR FOR QUARTERBACKS -- 1973. BERT JONES, RON JAWORSKI, JOE FERGUSON, AND DAN FOUTS ALL CAME INTO THE LEAGUE THAT YEAR, FOUTS AND FERGUSON IN THE THIRD ROUND. >> PRETTY STOUT GROUP WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THE THIRD ROUND TO GET FOUTS AND FERGUSON. YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY. KENNY ANDERSON'S HAVING SUCH A GREAT YEAR THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM HIM. BUT FOUTS IS HAVING HIS BEST YEAR, TOO. SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO QUARTERBACKS THAT ARE MAKING ALL-PRO THAT HAVE HAD THEIR BEST YEARS. >> IN THAT QUARTERBACK RATING SYSTEM, FOUTS IS OVER 90. HE'S RATED AT 91. FIRST AND 10. HERE HE IS, TAKING A LOOK DEEP. PUMPING. LETTING HER RIP. >> GEE. >> BOY, THAT WES CHANDLER GOES UP IN THE AIR AND ALMOST HAD ANOTHER ONE. CHANDLER SAYS WHEN HE RUNS A LONG PATTERN -- THAT WAS CHARLIE JOINER GOING DEEP. CHANDLER ON THE LEFT FLANK. HE SAYS, "I GO THREE-QUARTER SPEED, THEN I GO BOOM." >> WELL, HIS THREE-QUARTER SPEED'S ABOUT 4.5, DON. BUT HIS FULL SPEED IS UNBELIEVABLE. IF FOUTS HADN'T GOTTEN NAILED JUST AS HE THREW THE BALL, BY BAUMHOWER, THIS BALL WAS A TOUCHDOWN, BECAUSE HE HAD CHANDLER -- NOW, FULTON WALKER IS NO SLOWPOKE. HE RETURNS KICKOFFS FOR THEM. HE'S A ROOKIE DEFENSIVE CORNER. AND IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THE GREAT RECEIVERS IN YOUR FIRST YEAR. YOU'RE GOING TO GET BEAT BY A STEP OR SO. THAT TIME, CHANDLER HAD A LOT OF ROOM TO GO HAD THE BALL BEEN DOWN THERE. >> LET US NOT FORGET THE AMAZING CONTRIBUTION OF 13-YEAR VETERAN CHARLIE JOINER THIS YEAR. HE CAUGHT 70 PASSES FOR 1,200 YARDS. >> LOOK OUT. >> FREE BALL! [ CROWD CHEERING ] ON SECOND AND 10, FOUTS IS JARRED FREE OF THE FOOTBALL. [ CROWD CHEERING ] YEP. MIAMI'S GOT IT. >> THAT'S THE BREAK THEY NEED TO GET BACK IN THE BALLGAME. IT HAPPENED BECAUSE DAN DID SOMETHING THAT'S VERY UNCHARACTERISTIC OF HIM. TWO PLAYS IN A ROW, HE TRIED TO GET 3 1/2 TO 4 SECONDS TO THROW THE BALL. HE'S A FIVE-STEP DROPPER, THE KIND OF GUY THAT HITS HIS SPOTS WHEN THEY COME OPEN. THIS TIME, HE WAITED<i> JUST</i> A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG. WHEN HE DID SO, BAUMHOWER PUT THE WHACK ON HIM. BAUMHOWER RECOVERED. BOKAMPER GOT HIM FIRST. >> SO THE DOLPHINS ARE BENEFICIARIES OF A TURNOVER WITH 6:41 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF. AND THEY NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET AT THIS POINT. DON STROCK STANDS IN. THROWS IT DOWN. HE MAKES THE CONNECTION TO THE 19-YARD LINE. DURIEL HARRIS. >> I'LL TELL YOU, THEY'RE PLAYING A LITTLE BIT DEEP. YOU DON'T GIVE DURIEL HARRIS THIS MUCH ROOM WITHOUT GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER TO HIM. MIKE WILLIAMS COMING UP A LITTLE LATE. NEVER PLAYED THE BALL CLOSE ENOUGH. PINE COMING UP FROM HIS FREE-SAFETY POSITION. FIRST AND 10 AT THE 19. >> A 19-YARD GAIN TO THE 19. LIVE ACTION. FIRST AND 10, MIAMI. [ WHISTLES BLOWING ] RON LEE DIDN'T KNOW THE SNAP COUNT. HE LEFT EARLY. >> [ CHUCKLES ] >> IT'S GOT TO BE A BAD FEELING WHEN YOU'RE ON THE OTHER TEAM'S SIDE. >> IT HAPPENS ON OCCASION IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS. PEOPLE SAY, "HE HAD TO HAVE THE SNAP COUNT. HE WAS IN THE HUDDLE." BUT ON OCCASION, YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS DON'T WORK THAT WAY, AND YOU DO JUMP. [ CHUCKLES ] THAT'S HOW IT GOT DOWN THERE. >> RIGHT NOW WE PAUSE BRIEFLY FOR STATION IDENTIFICATION. THIS IS THE NBC TELEVISION NETWORK. >> ENCROACHMENT. NUMBER 86. FIRST DOWN. >> 6:58 TO PLAY, FIRST HALF. AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME. MIAMI CAME IN FAVORED. SAN DIEGO OPENED UP A 24-0 FIRST-QUARTER LEAD. DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE AT THE SOLD-OUT ORANGE BOWL IN MIAMI, WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 70s AND THE WIND COMING OFF THE NEARBY ATLANTIC INTO THE FACE OF THE MIAMI OFFENSE. AGAIN MARKERS GO DOWN. [ WHISTLES BLOWING ] MARKERS DOWN AGAIN AS THE DOLPHINS GET YARDS. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA ALL COME BACK. >> WHY DID THEY DO THAT? THEY MADE ABOUT 11 YARDS. >> ENCROACHMENT. NUMBER 79. FIRST DOWN. >> MUST HAVE BEEN BEFORE THE SNAP. >> YOU GOT IT. I WISH THEY'D BLOW IT A LITTLE LOUDER. IF YOU'RE A FOOTBALL PLAYER, YOU WOULDN'T KEEP PLAYING. >> WELL, HERE WE GO AGAIN NOW. FIRST AND 10, MIAMI. QUICK HITTER. NOTHING THERE. EDDIE HILL TRIED TO RIP IT UP BEHIND BOB KUECHENBERG, AND JON GIESLER AND LOUIE KELCHER, BIG ENOUGH TO BLOCK OUT THE SUN, MADE THE STOP. KELCHER PLAYING WITH INJURIES ALL YEAR. 290 POUNDS. >> WELL, WHEN YOU GET A GROUP OF DEFENSIVE LINEMEN WHO PURSUE THE WAY SAN DIEGO'S DO, OCCASIONALLY YOU TRY A FOOLER PLAY. THAT WAS A FOOLER PLAY. THEY PULLED THE GUARD, HOPE LOUIE KELCHER COMES ALONG WITH HIM. HE DIDN'T, AND IT'S KATIE, BAR THE DOOR FOR THE BACK. >> GAIN OF ONLY A YARD. SECOND DOWN AND 9. YOU SEE THE SECOND-QUARTER CLOCK WINDING DOWN TO 5:12. DOLPHINS GET YARDS. INSIDE THE 15-YARD LINE, DOWN TO THE 14. BUT IT'LL BRING UP THIRD DOWN AND ABOUT 5 AS TONY NATHAN CAUGHT THE BALL AND WOODROW LOWE KNOCKED HIM OUT. >> BEFORE THE BALLGAME, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT TONY NATHAN WAS STILL A LITTLE HAMPERED BY INJURY, AND THEY HAVEN'T REALLY FEATURED HIM. HE HAD A GREAT YEAR DURING THE REGULAR SEASON. WAS OUT DURING THEIR FINAL GAME. THEY WON ANYWAY. IF THEY CAN GET BACK IN THIS GAME, I EXPECT YOU TO SEE A LITTLE MORE OF HIM. >> AS WE KNOW, IT'S NOT OVER TILL THEY SHOOT A GUN AFTER FOUR QUARTERS. MIAMI TRAILING, 24-3, BUT CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW. STROCK THROWS. GOOD THROW. GREAT PLAY BY THE RECEIVER, JOE ROSE. HE LEANED AHEAD. LET'S SEE IF HE GOT THE FIRST DOWN. >> DON, HE'D HAVE NEVER MADE THE FIRST DOWN HAD HE NOT HAD ENOUGH UPSTAIRS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE FIRST-DOWN MARKER WAS. YOU SEE THAT LITTLE RED STRIPE THAT'S GOING DOWN BY THE 11-YARD LINE. HE KNOWS HE'S GOT TO GET IT ACROSS THAT LINE. HE'S TACKLED. IF HE DOESN'T STICK THE BALL OUT, HE DOESN'T MAKE IT. HE GETS IT OUT. FUMBLES IT OUT OF BOUNDS. GOOD PLAY. >> YOU SEE THE "51" IS ON THE BACK OF ALL THE MIAMI PLAYERS' HELMETS. THAT'S IN MEMORY OF THE LINEBACKER RUSTY CHAMBERS, WHO DIED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN THE OFF-SEASON. DOLPHINS DEDICATING THEIR SEASON TO THE MEMORY OF RUSTY CHAMBERS. HERE IS TONY NATHAN CUTTING INSIDE THE 5-YARD LINE ON FIRST DOWN. AND THE DOLPHINS NOW COME A-KNOCKING WITH 3:30 LEFT TO PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF. COACH SHULA STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT THIS THING. >> STROCK IS ABOUT AS SHARP AS I'VE SEEN HIM, DON. >> HE IS LOOKING GOOD. >> AND IT'S FUNNY, THE METABOLISM THAT MAKES SOME QUARTERBACKS GO AS A STARTER OR A RELIEVER. THERE'S REALLY ROOM FOR A GUY WHO THINKS HE MIGHT PLAY OR MIGHT NOT PLAY TO SIT BACK, PLAY SECOND FIDDLE, IF THINGS AREN'T GOING VERY WELL, JUMP RIGHT IN AND PLAY. IT TAKES A UNIQUE QUALITY. STROCK HAS THAT. HE'S PLAYED MUCH BETTER IN RELIEF THAN HE HAS AS A STARTER, AND HE'S PLAYING EXCELLENTLY RIGHT NOW. >> HE IS REALLY PLAYING SUPERB FOOTBALL, DON STROCK, AS THE DOLPHINS NOW HAVE IT SECOND AND GOAL INSIDE THE SAN DIEGO 5. [ WHISTLE BLOWS ] EDDIE HILL TURNS UPFIELD AND GETS TO THE 2. AND NOW THIRD DOWN COMES UP. MIAMI A LOT OF TIMES GOES TO THE TIGHT END ON A LITTLE QUICK THROW. THEY'VE GOT A COUPLE GUYS THAT CAN CATCH THE BALL ON THE SHORT PATTERNS -- BRUCE HARDY AND JOE ROSE. >> THEY GOT A LOT OF TIGHT ENDS. >> THEY DO HAVE THREE. >> THEY'VE GOT HARDY, ROSE, LEE. >> ROSE JUST CAME IN. TWO WIDE RECEIVERS COME OUT. WE'VE GOT DURIEL HARRIS COMING OUT AS JOE ROSE GOES IN. SO THEY'LL GO WITH TWO TIGHT ENDS. >> STROCK WASN'T QUITE SURE OF THE INTENDED PLAY, SO HE'S COMING OVER TO CONFER WITH DON. >> THIRD AND GOAL, MIAMI. STROCK GETS IT AWAY. TOUCHDOWN TO JOE ROSE! THEY GO TO THE TIGHT END. [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> DON, WE MENTIONED THAT STROCK WAS PLAYING AS WELL AS I'D SEEN HIM PLAY. THAT WAS THE BEST PLAY THAT HE HAD ALL DAY LONG. HE'S 9 OF 12 FOR 97 YARDS AND ONE T.D. THIS IS BEYOND THE CALL. HE KNOWS HE'S TRAPPED. HE MAKES AN EXCELLENT MOVE TO GET AROUND THE FIRST MAN. WHEN HE DOES SO, HE FINDS HIS ALTERNATE RECEIVER. HE'S GOT JOE ROSE. HE MUST JUST RUN AROUND LOOKING FOR JOE, BECAUSE HE'S COME UP WITH SO MANY BIG PLAYS FOR HIM. BUT THEY'RE BACK IN THE BALLGAME. >> THEY'LL FEEL A LOT BETTER ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, TRAILING 24-9 WITH 2:46 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF. LONG, LONG WAY TO GO. VON SCHAMANN READY FOR THE POINT-AFTER ATTEMPT, WHICH HE DELIVERS RIGHT THROUGH. AND IT'S A 24-10 GAME. JOE ROSE GOING INTO THE END ZONE. >> WATCH JOE ROSE. A LITTLE SNEAKER PLAY. HE'S COMING BY, TRYING TO SNEAK ACROSS. HE'S AN OUTLET. THEY'RE TRYING TO GO TO THE FULLBACK ON A SWING. HE COMES OFF TO ROSE. TOUCHDOWN. 24-10. THAT'S AN EXCELLENT DRIVE BY STROCK. >> DOLPHINS GETTING BACK IN IT AND READY TO KICK IT OFF AS JOE ROSE WAS JUST ON THE RECEIVING END OF A DON STROCK TOUCHDOWN PASS. VON SCHAMANN KICKS A ONE-HOPPER DOWN. THE BALL SLAPPED AT. HERE COMES JAMES BROOKS. RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE! AND JAMES BROOKS GETS TO THE 35-YARD LINE, BUT THERE IS A PENALTY MARKER DOWN. IT'LL GO AGAINST THE CHARGERS. >> AND THAT IS A BIG BREAK FOR MIAMI. THEY NEED TO GET THE BALL BACK IN THE HOLE IF THEY'RE GOING TO CONTAIN SAN DIEGO'S OFFENSE. TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOUCHDOWN, DONNIE. WE SAW THE OFFICIAL GET IN THE WAY A LITTLE EARLIER. THIS IS JUST GOOD PLAY BY A TIGHT END, USING THE OFFICIAL TO PICK THE DEFENSIVE BACK. >> ANOTHER LOOK AT IT. >> SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY. IF YOU'RE AN UMPIRE, YOU JUST CAN'T FIND A HOLE TO CRAWL IN, PARTICULARLY WHEN A GROUP IS THROWING AS MUCH AS BOTH THESE TEAMS ARE. >> HERE'S THE MARK-OFF NOW. THAT'S GONNA SET THE CHARGERS ALL THE WAY BACK TO THEIR 10-YARD LINE. THEY WOULD'VE BEEN UP CLOSE TO THE 40. >> ILLEGAL BLOCK BELOW THE WAIST ON THE RETURN. NUMBER 37. FIRST DOWN. [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> DOLPHIN CROWD STARTS UP AS THE MIAMI DEFENSE DIGS IN. TO THE RUN. MUNCIE BREAKS IT. TAKES A HEAD-ON HIT AND GETS TO THE 20-YARD LINE. LYLE BLACKWOOD, A STRIKER OUT OF TEXAS CHRISTIAN, THE FREE SAFETY, TEAMING WITH HIS BROTHER IN THE DEEP SECONDARY, GLENN BLACKWOOD. HE PLAYED AT TEXAS, GLENN DID. >> OKAY. THEY'VE RUN THE BALL PRETTY EFFECTIVELY ON OCCASION. THE MOMENTUM HAS CHANGED. I THINK THAT LITTLE PAUSE IN THE ACTION HELPED SAN DIEGO GET ORGANIZED QUITE A BIT. TAKE A LOOK. A.J. DUHE IN PURSUIT. MUNCIE RUNS RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF LYLE BLACKWOOD. THEY'RE ALL AFTER IT, BUT THEY'RE AFTER A BIG CAT. REMEMBER, IF THEY CAN HOLD SAN DIEGO NOW, THEY GET THE KICKOFF IN THE SECOND HALF, TOO. >> FIRST AND 10. MUNCIE AGAIN. AND MUNCIE, BIG AS HE IS, IS SO ELUSIVE WHEN HE BREAKS THE LINE AND GETS INTO OPEN FIELD. GLENN BLACKWOOD, THE STRONG SAFETY, FINALLY TACKLED HIM AS THE GAME CLOCK IS DOWN TO 1:48. >> I'VE NEVER SEEN A GUY THAT CREATES SO MUCH OPEN FIELD. GOOD PURSUIT. YOU SEE THEIR OFFENSIVE LINE KEEPING CONTACT WITH BOKAMPER. HE BREAKS THE CONTAINMENT. WHEN HE DOES SO, HE REQUIRES LYLE BLACKWOOD TO COME IN AND TRY TO PICK UP, BUT NOT BEFORE HE GAINS 8 YARDS. HIS 8-YARD GAINS LOOK LIKE 3-YARDERS. >> SECOND AND 3. BACK TO MUNCIE. AGAIN HE BREAKS IT AND GETS AHEAD FOR WHAT LOOKS TO BE FIRST-DOWN YARDAGE, TO ABOUT THE 32-YARD LINE. EARNEST RHONE WAS ON THE TACKLE FOR THE MIAMI DOLPHINS. GAME CLOCK DOWN TO 1:19. >> ALL RIGHT. A.J. DUHE TRYING TO GET TO THE OUTSIDE AND MESS EVERYTHING UP. HE DOES SO. HE TAKES ON THE GUARD. ALLOWS EARNEST RHONE TO COME IN AND MAKE A GOOD TACKLE ON MUNCIE, BUT NOT BEFORE HE PICKS UP A FIRST. >> DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE AT THE ORANGE BOWL. 1:19 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF. FOUTS GETS IT AGAIN. HE GOES TO KELLEN WINSLOW. AND THE CHARGERS COME OUT WITH A FIRST DOWN TO THE 44-YARD LINE. A 12-YARD GAIN. 1:10 TO GO IN THE FIRST HALF. CHARLIE JOINER TURNS OUT. MAKES THE RECEPTION. AND AGAIN THE CHARGERS MOVE TO ANOTHER FIRST DOWN. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, INSTEAD OF GIVING UP THE BALL, THEY'RE MOVING DOWN WHERE THEY MIGHT BE SCORING BEFORE THE HALF. >> AND THEY DO IT SO MATTER-OF-FACTLY, ALL RIGHT? WE'VE SEEN THEM MOVE THE BALL 50 YARDS SO EASILY. ONCE TO JOINER ON THIS OCCASION. OVER TO WINSLOW IN THE MIDDLE. THEY SAW MUNCIE RUN FOR TWO FIRST DOWNS. IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING'S DESIGNED FOR THEM TO PICK UP ABOUT 12 OR 15 YARDS JUST LIKE WALKING OFF A LOG. >> JAMES BROOKS DOWN TO THE 38-YARD LINE. AND THE GAME CLOCK INSIDE A MINUTE NOW AND RUNNING. DOWN TO 55 SECONDS. >> BROOKS WALKS IN THE HUDDLE AND SAYS, "HEY, YOU HAVEN'T THROWN ME ONE." FIRES HIM ONE, AND THEY ALMOST GET ANOTHER FIRST DOWN. >> BROOKS IS ONE OF THOSE 180-POUNDERS WHO'S NOT AFRAID TO GO RIGHT INTO A LINEBACKER. VERY STRONG. FOUTS STOPS THE CLOCK WITH 42 SECONDS TO GO IN THE HALF. >> PEOPLE BOOING, THINK THEY SHOULD BE CALLING HIM FOR INTENTIONAL GROUNDING. AGAIN YOU MENTION IT'S NOT INTENTIONAL GROUNDING WHEN YOU'RE STOPPING THE CLOCK, ONLY WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO AVOID LOSS OF YARDAGE. BEATS TAKING HIS LAST TIME-OUT. >> THIS YEAR, JAMES BROOKS, WHO WE SAW CATCH THAT PASS, JOHN, EARLIER, FINISHED WITH ALMOST 2,100 ALL-PURPOSE YARDS WHEN YOU COUNT HIS RUSHING, HIS RECEIVING, HIS RETURN YARDAGE. THAT WAS NUMBER ONE IN THE NFL AND THE MOST FOR A ROOKIE SINCE '65, WHEN GALE SAYERS HAD A LITTLE MORE, THE ROOKIE WITH CHICAGO. >> AND A LOT OF IT AGAINST US. [ LAUGHS ] >> THIRD AND 4. GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAY. JAMES BROOKS COMING OUT OF THE BACKFIELD. EARNEST RHONE REACHES IN AND SLAPS IT DOWN. >> BOY, IT'S TOUGH. WHEN YOU'RE ONE-ON-ONE WITH JAMES BROOKS ALL OVER THE FIELD AND YOU STAY CLOSE TO HIM AS HE DID THEN AND BREAK UP A PASS -- YOU TRY TO GET SITUATIONS LIKE THAT. THEY HAD PICKED UP FOUR OUT OF SIX THIRD-DOWN SITUATIONS. THAT WAS A BIG ONE TO STOP THEM ON IF YOU'RE A MIAMI FAN, BECAUSE REMEMBER -- THEY GET THE BALL BACK OPENING THE SECOND HALF. A GOOD DRIVE COULD PULL THEM TO WITHIN 7. >> THIS WILL BE A LONG ONE. 55-YARDER BY BENIRSCHKE. >> IF HE MAKES THIS, I<i> KNOW</i> SOMETHING'S GOING ON. >> MIAMI TAKES OVER WITH 30 SECONDS TO PLAY IN THE HALF. >> I'LL TELL YOU, IT WAS FAR ENOUGH, THOUGH. >> IT WAS. >> ALL RIGHT. YOU THINK THESE KICKERS DON'T ROOT FOR THE BALL? YOU CAN PULL A MUSCLE ROOTING FOR THESE BABIES. [ LAUGHS ] MM. JUST MISSED. >> YOU KNOW THE STORY ABOUT ROLF BENIRSCHKE AND HIS COMEBACK, WHICH IS JUST MONUMENTAL, WHAT HE OVERCAME -- PHYSICAL DISABILITY FROM A VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS. ALMOST COST HIM HIS LIFE. THEY DIDN'T THINK HE'D BE ALIVE, LET ALONE PLAYING IN FOOTBALL, AND HE'S COME BACK TO HAVE ANOTHER GREAT YEAR. >> STILL GOT TIME, TOO, IF YOU'RE MIAMI, TO PUT 3 POINTS ON THE BOARD. I THINK THEY'LL GO WITH THAT INTENTION IF THEY CAN GET IT DOWN TO THE 35-YARD LINE OR BETTER, AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THE WIND CONDITIONS, THEY'D HAVE TO GET IT INSIDE THE 30 TO HAVE A REALISTIC CHANCE OF A FIELD GOAL. BUT THAT'S ONLY 33 YARDS, DAN. >> SWING PASS. IT GOES TO VIGORITO. LOOKS FOR BLOCKERS. LOOKS FOR THE SIDELINE. GETS OUT OF BOUNDS WITH 24 SECONDS TO PLAY. MIAMI ADVANCING THE BALL OUT ACROSS THE 45-YARD LINE. >> A BIG PLAY BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN GO DOWN THE FIELD 20 YARDS. THEY'LL HAVE PICKED UP ALMOST ENOUGH YARDS FOR A POSSIBLE FIELD-GOAL TRY. >> THEY'LL SPOT IT AT THE 44. TALKING ABOUT ROLF BENIRSCHKE. I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT GREAT SHOT WHEN HE CAME BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL, HIS BODY WEIGHT DOWN TO AROUND 105 POUNDS, AND HE WALKED OUT ON THE FIELD TO A STANDING SALUTE AT SAN DIEGO WITH LOUIE KELCHER WALKING ALONG WITH HIM. HE NEEDED SOMEBODY RIGHT NEXT TO HIM TO BE SURE HE COULD MAKE IT. THAT'S HOW SICK HE'D BEEN. KELCHER, AT 290 POUNDS, AND BENIRSCHKE COMING BACK. AND NOW DON STROCK, ON SECOND DOWN AND 3, THROWS AGAIN TO VIGORITO. HE'S HEADING FOR THE SIDELINES AND A FIRST DOWN. TOMMY VIGORITO GETS TO THE 48-YARD LINE. 15 SECONDS ON THE CLOCK. >> HE COULD'VE PICKED UP 5 MORE YARDS. HE WANTED TO GET OUT OF BOUNDS, GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO PICK UP A 20-YARD COMPLETION AND ANOTHER FIELD-GOAL CHANCE. THIS KID'S A ROOKIE, BUT HE PLAYS LIKE A VETERAN -- NUMBER 32. THAT'S WHY THEY USE HIM IN PASSING SITUATIONS, COMING OUT OF THE BACKFIELD. HE MAKES THE RIGHT DECISIONS AT THE RIGHT TIME. AND THIS WAS A PROPER DECISION. >> HE'S A TOUGH LITTLE CUSTOMER. TOMMY VIGORITO OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINA, A FIFTH-ROUND DRAFT CHOICE. HE'S REALLY HELPED THE DOLPHINS THIS YEAR. CATCHES A LOT OF BALLS. A VERY HEADY PLAYER. DON SHULA SAYS, "HE ALWAYS KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON, FROM THE DAY HE WALKED IN HERE FOR THE OPENING TRAINING-CAMP SESSION." MIAMI HAS CONVERTED THREE OF FOUR THIRD DOWNS WITH DON STROCK AT QUARTERBACK. NOW THEY HAVE FIRST AND 10. ANOTHER DUMP PASS TO TONY NATHAN! DOWN TO THE 40. 7 SECONDS LEFT. CLOCK STOPPED WITH 6 SECONDS TO GO. >> EIGHT FIRST DOWNS, ALL PASSING. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, MAKE A NICE 4-YARD GAIN IN THAT POSITION? HARD THROW. LOOK AT THAT! WHAT A PLAY! WHAT A PLAY! [ CROWD CHEERING ] HALL OF FAME! HALL OF FAME FOOTBALL PLAY! THAT GOES TO CANTON! >> DON, WHAT'D YOU ASK ME? YOU SAID, "WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU EVER GET IN A MAKE-UP OFFENSE?" THIS BABY WAS DESIGNED NOT TODAY BUT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. IT'S IN THE PLAYBOOK. IT'S A GREAT PLAY BY DURIEL HARRIS TO HIT HIM ON A DEAD RUN. IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WORK ON EVERY DAY. IT TAKES GREAT PLAYERS TO EXECUTE IT. THEY MADE IT IN AN UNBELIEVABLE MOMENT. >> THE ORANGE BOWL HAS GONE FROM STUNNED SILENCE IN THE FIRST QUARTER, WHEN THE DOLPHINS WERE DOWN 24-0, TO ABSOLUTE MAYHEM! >> NOTHING LIKE FLAG FOOTBALL. 82, DURIEL HARRIS, EXCELLENT PLAY. THEY'RE GONNA LET HIM CATCH IT. NOW, HERE'S THE PROBLEM. YOU TRY TO GET ON THE WIDE RECEIVER TOO QUICK, YOU LET NATHAN RUN HIS COURSE. HE OUTRUNS THE DEFENSE, PUT MIAMI BACK TO WITHIN 7 POINTS. >> NO TEAM IN NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFF HISTORY HAS COME BACK TO WIN FROM A 24-0 DEFICIT. BUT THE DOLPHINS ARE OUT TO CHANGE THAT. >> NO TEAM HAS EVER BEEN DOWN 24 QUITE SO QUICKLY AND COME BACK QUITE SO SWIFTLY. >> WHAT A GREAT PLAY. STROCK TO DURIEL HARRIS, COOLLY, WITH THE TACKLER ON HIM, LOOPS THE BALL OUT TO A STREAKING TONY NATHAN. TOUCHDOWN, MIAMI, AS THE FIRST HALF COMES TO AN END. 24-17 THE COUNT AT HALFTIME AFTER IT WAS 24-0 IN THE FIRST QUARTER. >> AND REMEMBER -- THEY GET THE BALL BACK OPENING THE SECOND HALF. >> YOU MIGHT BE WITNESS TO ONE OF THE GREAT COME-FROM-BEHIND WINS IN PLAYOFF HISTORY. WE'LL BE BACK AT THE ORANGE BOWL AFTER THIS. ROLF BENIRSCHKE SET TO KICK OFF. ROLF WAS ON THE FIELD ALL THE TIME IN THE FIRST QUARTER, KICKING FIELD GOALS, EXTRA POINTS, KICKING OFF AFTER THE SAN DIEGO SCORES. AND NOW IT'S TURNED. AND HERE'S A LINE DRIVE TO VIGORITO. HE'S ACROSS THE 20-, OUT TO THE 26-YARD LINE. YOU REMEMBER THOSE MIAMI TURNOVERS EARLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER THAT TURNED THIS GAME AROUND. CLIFF THRIFT COMING DOWN TO MAKE THE TACKLE. THAT BALL TENDS TO BE ELUSIVE WHEN IT'S HUMID, LIKE IT IS TONIGHT IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. SLICK ON THE BALL, AND THEY CAN LOSE IT IN A HURRY. NOW THE DOLPHINS GO ON OFFENSE, MOVING INTO A PRETTY GOOD BREEZE COMING IN OFF THE NEARBY ATLANTIC. DON STROCK AT QUARTERBACK, WHO RELIEVED DAVID WOODLEY AND PLAYED SUPERBLY IN THE FIRST HALF TO GET MIAMI BACK IN THE GAME. ANDRA FRANKLIN, THE ROOKIE RUNNER FROM NEBRASKA, TAKES IT STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A FIRST-DOWN CARRY AND GETS IT OUT TO THE 28-YARD LINE, WHERE LOUIE KELCHER KNOCKED HIM DOWN ALONG WITH LINDEN KING. DON CORYELL HAS SEEN MANY THINGS IN HIS MANY YEARS OF COACHING. NOT TOO SURE THAT SECOND QUARTER IS WHAT HE WANTED TO SEE. THE FIRST SURELY WAS. MARV LEVY, THE COACH OF KANSAS CITY, TALKING ABOUT HOW INNOVATIVE DON CORYELL -- HE SAYS OF CORYELL, "HE WAS IN LOW-CUT SHOES WHILE THE REST OF US COACHES WERE STILL WEARING HIGH-TOPS." >> [ LAUGHS ] >> SECOND AND 8. HERE'S A THROW AND A DIVING ATTEMPT. INCOMPLETE. AND A PENALTY MARKER DOWN ON PETE SHAW. FIRST DOWN FOR THE DOLPHINS. >> I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY IT'S GONNA GO, DON. I GUESS IF YOU SAW IT THAT WAY, THAT -- I COULDN'T SEE THE INITIAL CONTACT. IT WAS THROWN FROM QUITE A WAYS AWAY. >> HE JUMPED ON HIS BACK. >> ALL RIGHT. >> STROCK'S GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO THROW. GOT A ONE-ON-ONE SITUATION -- PETE SHAW AND HARDY. IT GOES IN THE FAVOR OF THE O's. >> DEFENSIVE PENALTY AGAINST THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS RESULTING IN 5 YARDS AND A FIRST DOWN FOR MIAMI. >> HOLDING. 54. FIRST DOWN. >> ACTUALLY GOT LASLAVIC ON A HOLD UP CLOSE. >> YEAH. I WONDERED WHAT PETE SHAW WAS DOING UP THERE. I DIDN'T SEE HIM. >> HE WAS COVERING. HE WAS IN ON HARDY AFTER LASLAVIC PICKED HIM UP AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE AND TRIED TO HOLD HIM UP. >> I COULDN'T SEE HIM DO ANYTHING. THAT'S WHY I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I SAW THE CALL. >> FIRST DOWN AND 10 NOW, MIAMI. TIMING PATTERN. DURIEL HARRIS CATCHES THE BALL AT THE 39-YARD LINE OF SAN DIEGO. >> OH, MAN. >> YOU'RE NOT KIDDING. >> THAT'S A PLAY -- I WAS VERY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW STROCK WOULD COME OUT IN THE SECOND HALF -- IF HE'D KEEP FIRING THE WAY HE ENDED UP THE FIRST HALF. HE PICKED IT UP IN EXACTLY THE SAME FASHION, THROWING A PERFECT STRIKE TO DURIEL HARRIS ON THE DEAD RUN. GREAT CATCH. EDWARDS HAD THE PLAY COVERED. >> GLEN EDWARDS ALSO PUT A SHOT RIGHT ON HIS CHOPS THERE, AND DURIEL HARRIS HUNG ON TO THE BALL. BIG GAINER ON THE PLAY. 28 YARDS AND A MIAMI FIRST DOWN. ANDRA FRANKLIN LOOKS FOR THE TOUGH YARDS INSIDE AND GETS DOWN CLOSE TO THE 38-YARD LINE. MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A YARD. NO MORE. LASLAVIC, 54, WAS ON THE TACKLE ALONG WITH LINDEN KING. >> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY IN SOME CASES A TEAM THAT HAD A GREAT DEFENSE WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TROUBLE REBOUNDING AFTER THEY HAVE A 24-0 LEAD AND THEY WATCH IT DISSIPATE. BUT IN SAN DIEGO'S CASE, IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE, OKAY? AND FOUTS AND HIS OFFENSIVE GROUP HAVE RESPONDED ON MOST OF THOSE OCCASIONS. >> LET'S SEE WHAT THEY DO NOW ON SECOND AND 9. MIAMI DOLPHINS GO TO THE PASS. TO THE 35-YARD LINE BUT STILL WELL SHORT OF THE FIRST DOWN. GOOD DEFENSE BY THE CHARGERS -- WOODROW LOWE AND LINDEN KING, THE OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS. >> THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE HALFBACKS ISOLATED ON THE LINEBACKERS. THIS TIME, WOODROW LOWE AND EDDIE HILL. LOWE'S GOT HIM FAIRLY WELL COVERED. NOT BEFORE HE PICKS UP 5. >> THE DOLPHINS, WITH A TOUCHDOWN AND AN EXTRA POINT HERE, WOULD TIE THE GAME AFTER THEY WERE BEHIND 24-0 IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THIRD DOWN AND 6 COMING UP. THREE WIDE RECEIVERS, SET TO EITHER SIDE. HERE'S THROW. MAN IS OPEN! THE BALL IS CAUGHT. DURIEL HARRIS AT THE 16-YARD LINE. DON STROCK, JOHN, HAS COMPLETED 12 IN A ROW NOW. >> WELL, IF THERE WAS ANY DOUBT AS TO WHETHER DURIEL HARRIS HAS RECOVERED -- YOU KNOW HE'S BEEN EMBARRASSED FOR THE LAST MONTH, NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAY AFTER THAT SPIKE IN THE END ZONE. THIS IS THE WAY TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS. HE'S COME BACK, HAVING NOT PLAYED SINCE THAT GAME, MADE THREE BIG PLAYS IN THE LAST 2 MINUTES OF PLAY -- TWO IN THIS HALF AND ONE TO END THE HALF -- THAT HAVE GOTTEN THEM BACK IN THE BALLGAME. THAT'S A GREAT RECEPTION. PRETTY WELL THROWN, BUT A GREAT RECEPTION. >> DURIEL HARRIS SPIKED THE BALL IN THE END ZONE AND HURT HIS KNEE DOING IT. THAT<i> WOULD</i> BE EMBARRASSING. NOW THE DOLPHINS GO RIGHT TO THE RUN AND GET IT INSIDE THE 15-YARD LINE. DRIVING THE BALL STRAIGHT AHEAD WAS TONY NATHAN. DON STROCK, SINCE HE'S COME IN, WITH 12 COMPLETIONS IN A ROW, HAS HIT 16 OF 20 FOR 209 YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS. >> HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS BEST GAME EVER. THERE'LL BE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. THIS IS THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN HIM PLAY, AND I'M SURE IT'S THE BEST HE'S EVER PLAYED. >> IT'S ABOUT AS GOOD AS<i> ANYBODY</i> HAS EVER PLAYED. >> RIGHT. [ LAUGHS ] >> NATHAN CAN'T HOLD ON ON A SECOND-AND-8 PLAY. SO NOW A BIG THIRD DOWN COMES UP FOR THE DOLPHINS. VIGORITO COMES INTO THE OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD. NAT MOORE COMES IN THE GAME, AND SO DOES JOE ROSE, THE TIGHT END WHO CAUGHT THE TOUCHDOWN PASS. >> THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF RECEIVERS WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES. AND RIGHT NOW, THEY'VE GOT SAN DIEGO GUESSING. >> WITH STROCK AT QUARTERBACK, THE DOLPHINS HAVE CONVERTED FOUR OF FIVE PREVIOUS THIRD DOWNS FOR FIRST DOWNS. THIS IS A TOUGH ONE. THIRD DOWN AND 8. JOE ROSE! TOUCHDOWN, MIAMI! [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> 24 UNANSWERED POINTS. SAN DIEGO'S IN A BLITZ. STROCK READS IT PERFECTLY. COMES TO HIS TIGHT END. PETE SHAW IS TRYING TO COVER ROSE. HE HAS NO PLAY. WHEN YOU GIVE A QUARTERBACK A LANE WITH NO LINEBACKER IN BETWEEN HIM AND THE INTENDED RECEIVER WITH A STRONG SAFETY TRYING TO COVER HIM, HE'S GOT NO CASE WITH A MAN AS BIG AS ROSE IS. PERFECTLY THROWN BALL. HE ZIPS IT IN THE END ZONE. HE'S A LITTLE SLOW GETTING UP. IT LOOKS LIKE A CRAMP. >> HOPEFULLY IT'S A CRAMP, BECAUSE THEY CAN WORK THAT OUT AND HE'D BE BACK IN THERE. WE'LL BE BACK TO THE ORANGE BOWL RIGHT AFTER THIS. JOE ROSE IS UP AND ABOUT, AND HE'S ALL RIGHT. HE SURELY IS AFTER GOING INTO THE END ZONE FOR A SECOND TIME WITH A TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION FROM DON STROCK. AND THE DOLPHINS NOW AN EXTRA POINT AWAY FROM TYING THIS GAME. >> DID YOU SEE THE LOOK IN STROCK'S EYES? I'VE NEVER SEEN BIGGER WHITES IN MY LIFE. HOW SWEET IT IS WHEN YOU'VE GOT IT GOING THIS WAY, PAL. DON'T STOP. >> HE LIKED WHAT HE SAW -- JOE ROSE OPEN FOR A SECOND TIME IN THE END ZONE. THE EXTRA POINT IS UP AND GOOD. AND WE CAN ALL BE WITNESS TO ONE OF THE GREAT COMEBACKS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS LEAGUE, CERTAINLY IN THE PLAYOFFS, AS THE DOLPHINS, DOWN 24-0 IN THE FIRST QUARTER, HAVE COME BACK TO TIE THE GAME. >> HOW ABOUT THAT JOB? >> SOME UNUSUAL NUMBER COMBINATIONS, BUT IT ALL ADDS UP TO 24, MIAMI, 24, SAN DIEGO. >> DON, I HAVE MENTIONED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS -- AND WE HAVE BOTH -- THAT SAN DIEGO PROBABLY HAS THE MOST PROLIFIC, PRODUCTIVE OFFENSE IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. AND RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE ASKING THE BEST OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL TEAM THAT POSSIBLY EVER PLAYED THIS GAME TO GET YOUR GROUP BACK IN THE GAME. IF ANYONE CAN, I'D LIKE TO HAVE FOUTS AND HIS GROUP BEHIND THE CONTROLS. >> WELL, THAT'S RIGHT. FOUTS CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN IN A BIG HURRY, AND HE'S GONNA BE OUT TO DO THAT. TOMORROW THE NFL PLAYOFFS CONTINUE ON NBC SPORTS WITH THE SECOND AFC DIVISIONAL GAME. STARTING AT 12:30 EASTERN TIME, HOST BRYANT GUMBEL REVIEWS THE PLAYOFFS ON "NFL '81." AND THEN THE BUFFALO BILLS, THE WILD CARD, THE TEAM THAT'S BEEN WINNING ON THE ROAD, GOES AGAINST THE LEADING PASSER IN THE NFL, KENNY ANDERSON, AND THE CINCINNATI BENGALS AT RIVERFRONT STADIUM, CINCINNATI. DICK ENBERG AND MERLIN OLSEN ARE THERE -- OR WILL BE TOMORROW AT 12:30 EASTERN TIME ON NBC SPORTS. A HIGH, SPINNING KICKOFF. TAKEN BY AN UP BACK. DOUG BEAUDOIN MOVES AHEAD AND GETS IT OUT ACROSS THE 35-YARD LINE, TO THE 37. SO AIR CORYELL WILL GO ON OFFENSE IN GOOD POSITION TO START WITH THEIR FIRST POSSESSION OF THE SECOND HALF. KEN POOLE MADE THE TACKLE. >> AND THAT'S THE FIRST PIECE OF ACTION THAT BEAUDOIN HAS REALLY HAD FOR SAN DIEGO. YOU KNOW HE WAS JUST ACTIVATED TODAY, AND FORMERLY HE WAS WITH THE DOLPHINS. A LOT OF TIMES, A COACH WILL TAKE A MAN JUST FOR THAT REASON. BUT LET'S JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE INTENSITY THAT'S BEING DISPLAYED BY MIAMI. BEAUDOIN MAKES A GOOD JUMP OVER THE FIRST MAN. AND BACK TO THE ACTION. >> CHUCK MUNCIE AND THE CHARGERS ARE STOPPED AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. GO TO THE RUN. THERE'S NOTHING THERE. NO GAIN. MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A YARD. MAKE IT SECOND DOWN AND 9. WE'RE EARLY IN THE THIRD QUARTER -- 10:20 TO PLAY IN IT. JOHN SANDUSKY, ONE OF THE ASSISTANTS, TALKING WITH DON STROCK. WHAT A GAME HE'S HAD. DON STROCK COMING OFF THE BENCH TO RELIEVE DAVID WOODLEY. >> HE'S JUST HAVING A LOT OF FUN. >> HERE IS DAN FOUTS THROWING OVER THE MIDDLE. AND HE'S GOT KELLEN WINSLOW IN OPEN FIELD! AND WINSLOW IS DOWN THE FAR SIDELINES AND FINALLY KNOCKED OUT OF BOUNDS INSIDE THE 35-YARD LINE. SO THE CHARGERS STRIKE WITH THE BIG PLAY THEY NEED SO BADLY. >> AND WE MENTIONED MIKE KOZLOWSKI, WHO WILL BE MAN-TO-MAN ON KELLEN WINSLOW THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY. ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION, HE WAS NOT. HE GETS BY THE LINEBACKER, THEN MIKE KOZLOWSKI TRIES TO PICK HIM UP AFTER HE ELUDES BLACKWOOD. THIS MAN MAKES A LOT OF BIG PLAYS FOR SAN DIEGO. AND HE MENTIONS THAT 3-YARDER THAT HE MADE AGAINST TAMPA BAY IN A 24-23 DONNYBROOK AS HIS BIGGEST PLAY OF THE SEASON. LOVES TO BE IN THE POSITION. HE'S IN IT NOW. >> JOHN, YOU MAY VIVIDLY REMEMBER THE BEST COMEBACK PRIOR TO THIS, IN '57, WHEN THE LIONS CAME BACK AGAINST THE 49ers FROM 20 POINTS DOWN. >> YEAH, I WATCHED IT. [ LAUGHS ] >> PENALTY MARKERS DOWN IN THE MIAMI SECONDARY. >> HE MAY GET DEFENSIVE HOLDING CALLED. YOU KNOW FOUTS WAS LOOKING AT AN INTENDED RECEIVER AND SAW HIM EITHER HELD UP OR SLIP. >> OH, IT'S GONNA GO THE<i> OTHER</i> WAY. >> WELL, MY, MY, MY. >> OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE. RIGHT NOW WE PAUSE BRIEFLY FOR STATION IDENTIFICATION. THIS IS THE NBC TELEVISION NETWORK. THE CHARGERS SET BACK BY THE PENALTY AGAINST THEM AS REFEREE FRED WYANT CHECKED IT OUT WITH THE MIAMI FIELD CAPTAIN. FIRST AND 10 PLAY ORIGINATING AT THE MIAMI 31-YARD LINE. NOW THE STEP-OFF. >> YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SEE VERY LITTLE OF IN THIS GAME? PLAYERS SITTING ON THE BENCH. >> PASS INTERFERENCE, NUMBER 80. FIRST DOWN. >> BOY, THAT IS FOR SURE. THEY'RE ALL UP ALONG THE SIDELINES. WHEN THEY FIRST SHOWED UP ON THE FIELD HERE AT THE ORANGE BOWL LAST NIGHT, I HAD TO LAUGH BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS ONLY A THIRD OF A FOOTBALL TEAM OUT THERE. CLEMSON AND NEBRASKA EACH DRESSING ABOUT 115 GUYS. >> THEY HAD A LEAGUE. FIRST DOWN AND 20, SAN DIEGO. GAME IS TIED. BEAUTIFUL BREAKUP BY MIAMI. DWIGHT SCALES TURNING OVER THE MIDDLE. DON McNEAL IN THE MIAMI LINEUP, BROKEN ARM AND ALL, KNOCKED THE BALL DOWN. >> HEY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CATCH IT. HE'S A VERY GOOD MAN-TO-MAN COVER. THEY FEEL HE'S PROBABLY THE BEST COVER ON THE MIAMI DEFENSE. HE'S ASKING IN. HE WANTS A PART OF THIS. >> BILL ARNSPARGER SAID HE WORKED VERY WELL DURING THE WEEK. HE'S A LITTLE DOUBTFUL AS A TACKLER BUT, AS YOU MENTIONED, JOHN, IS THE BEST COVER THEY HAD. AND HE CAN RUN AROUND AND KNOCK THINGS DOWN BACK THERE AS AN EXTRA D.B. 9:38 TO GO, THIRD QUARTER. SECOND DOWN AND 20. PENALTY MARKER AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. THEY WERE LOOKING AT CHUCK MUNCIE. >> IT WAS THROWN VERY QUICK. >> FOUTS TRYING TO GO TO CHUCK MUNCIE. HERE'S THE CALL AGAIN AS THE MARKER WAS DOWN AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. IT IS AGAINST SAN DIEGO. SO THE CHARGERS ARE FIRING, BUT THEY'RE FALLING BACK WITH THE PENALTIES. >> I THINK THAT LOOK TELLS IT ALL RIGHT THERE. HE'S A BIT DEJECTED. >> AND WITH REASON. [ WHISTLE BLOWS ] >> THIRD DOWN. >> THEY CAME OUT OF THE BLOCKS SO FAST. YOU OFTEN HEAR COACHES TALK ABOUT GETTING A BIG LEAD REAL EARLY SOMETIMES TAKES AWAY INITIATIVE FROM A TEAM. THEY THINK THEY HAVE IT WON. >> I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE CASE IN SAN DIEGO'S SITUATION. THEY KEPT THORWING THE BALL. THEY KEPT TRYING TO MOVE IT OFFENSIVELY. BUT THEY'VE GONE FROM THE PENTHOUSE TO A HORNET'S NEST. >> FOUTS HAS A PROBLEM. GETS IT AWAY. KELLEN WINSLOW HAS THE BALL. AND LOOK AT THAT TACKLE. EARNEST RHONE, NUMBER 55. THE ONLY GUY IN THE LEAGUE FROM HENDERSON STATE IN ARKANSAS. >> HE'S GETTING A LOT BETTER PRESSURE ON HIM RIGHT NOW. BOKAMPER COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE. FORCES DAN TO STEP UP. NOW HE'S GOT NO WAY TO GO LONG. MAKES A DECISION TO GO TO WINSLOW UNDERNEATH. NO THE INTENDED RECEIVER. GOOD PLAY BY THE D's. JUST A SIMPLE LITTLE CHECK DELAY. HE'S HIS SAFETY VALVE. IF NOTHING ELSE IS OPEN, HE'LL COME TO HIM. THAT'S THE WAY THE DEFENSE PLAYED IT. >> EARNEST RHONE PUTS HIS SHOULDER ON THE PADS, AND DOWN GOES KELLEN WINSLOW, AND SAN DIEGO HAS TO PUNT. 8:43 TO PLAY, THIRD QUARTER. THE GAME IS TIED, 24 ALL. MIGHT BE A DELAY OF GAME. IT IS. >> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO GET THEM TO JUMP. IF THEY HAPPENED TO JUMP, FINE. THEY PICK UP 5. THEY DON'T. DOESN'T MATTER ON THE PUNT. >> IF THEY PICKED UP THAT 5, THEY'D HAVE GONE TO THE FIELD GOAL, PROBABLY. >> WELL, I WAS LOOKING AT THAT, AND WITH THE WIND -- REMEMBER WE SAW BENIRSCHKE KICK ONE ABOUT -- AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT WAS QUITE A BIT LONGER THAN THAT -- AND ALMOST MAKE IT. >> BUT AT THIS POINT, THE CHARGERS HAVE COME A CROPPER. THERE'S THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, JACK PARDEE, WHO WAS TWICE NFL COACH OF THE YEAR. HEAD COACH OF THE BEARS, THEN AT WASHINGTON. THE DEFENSIVE SYSTEM HASN'T TAKEN HOLD JUST YET. IT'S STARTING TO, LATE IN THE SEASON. >> THAT'S RIGHT. IT WAS. AND THEY WERE PLAYING GOOD DEFENSE. >> GEORGE ROBERTS, THE EX-DOLPHIN, OUT THERE TO PUNT. HITS THE BALL VERY HIGH INTO THE LIGHTS. VIGORITO WATCHES IT SAIL OUT OF THE END ZONE FOR A TOUCHBACK. AND THE DOLPHINS, WHO WERE DOWN 24-0 AND HAVE PROCEEDED TO SCORE 24 POINTS TO TIE THE GAME. SAN DIEGO OPENED UP A 24-0 LEAD IN THE FIRST QUARTER IN THIS GAME, BUT THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, RESILIENT, HAVE COME BACK TO TIE IT. NOW THEY GO FIRST AND 10. NATHAN CRACKS THE SAN DIEGO DEFENSE FOR A 6- OR 7-YARD GAIN. >> AND YOU ALMOST GET THE FEELING THAT SHULA'S NOW IN A POSITION WHERE HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO AT THE OUTSET OF THE BALLGAME. HE'S SITTING THERE. THE SCORE IS 0-0 FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES. HE'S GOT SAN DIEGO A LITTLE CONCERNED. WHEN YOU GET A TEAM CONCERNED, YOU CAN DO AN AWFUL LOT OF THINGS YOU COULDN'T DO PRIOR. HE WOULD LOVE TO RUN THE BALL FROM SIDELINE TO SIDELINE, SEE IF HE CAN'T WEAR DOWN THIS SAN DIEGO DEFENSE. THERE'S ANOTHER PART TO THAT. STROCK'S BEEN SO HOT. DO YOU STOP WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING? >> I THINK YOU KEEP HIM THROWING, KEEP THAT RIGHT ARM CRANKING, BECAUSE STROCK IS HAVING A GREAT GAME. LET'S SEE IF THERE WAS MOTION ON THE MIAMI LINE THAT BROUGHT THAT AS ANDRA FRANKLIN RUNS ON SECOND DOWN AND 3. MARKERS DOWN, STOPPING THE CLOCK WITH 7:44 TO GO. AS WE MENTIONED, TOMORROW IT IS BUFFALO AT CINCINNATI IN THE OTHER AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME. PREGAME SHOW, "NFL '81," AT 12:30 HERE ON NBC. THE WINNER OF THAT GAME, IF IT'S CINCINNAIT, WOULD BE ON THE HOME FIELD AGAINST EITHER OF THESE TEAMS, WHICHEVER TEAM WINS HERE TODAY. IF BUFFALO SHOULD WIN AT CINCINNATI, THEN THE BILLS WOULD BE ON THE ROAD AGAINST THE WINNER OF TODAY'S GAME. WILD CARD CAN'T HAVE A HOME GAME IN THE PLAYOFFS. >> OFFENSE WAS NOT SET FOR A SECOND. >> YOU HEARD IT. THAT'S ONE OF THE FEW TIMES IN THE LAST QUARTER AND A HALF THAT MIAMI HAS MADE A MISTAKE OF ANY KIND. THIS GAME TURNED EXACTLY WHEN DON STROCK WALKED ON THE FIELD. >> IT REALLY DID. MIAMI NOW HAS 245 YARDS PASSING. JUST 26 RUSHING, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO RUN THE BALL. THEY HAD TO THROW IT TO GET BACK IN THE GAME, AND GET BACK IN IT THEY DID. HERE COMES NATHAN. TONY NATHAN, ON SECOND DOWN AND 8, TAKES IT OUT TO THE 28-YARD LINE. IT'LL BRING UP THIRD DOWN AND SHORT YARDAGE. WOODROW LOWE, 51, ON THE STOP FOR THE CHARGERS. >> YOU SAY, "WELL, HOW CAN THEY RUN THE BALL EFFECTIVELY NOW? THEY COULDN'T DO IT EARLIER IN THE BALLGAME." THEY'VE THROWN IT SO WELL THAT YOU GET THE LINEBACKERS OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, PLAYING IT VERY LOOSE. WHEN YOU PLAY IT A LITTLE LOOSE, YOU'RE IN A POSITION OF NOT CONTAINING THE WIDE SWEEP. THEY'RE TAKING ONE GUARD, PULLING HIM, GETTING GOOD MOVEMENT OFF THE BALL, AND IT'S NOTHING PUT A PIECE OF CAKE FOR A BACK TO PICK UP 7 OR 8 YARDS. >> AND ANOTHER BIG FACTOR, JOHN, AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, IS THE WAY THAT MIAMI MAINTAINED ITS EQUILIBRIUM AND GOT BACK INTO THE GAME GRADUALLY, DIDN'T TRY TO GO WILD AND GET IT ALL ON 80-YARD THROWS. MAN IS OPEN! BUT NAT MOORE CANNOT QUITE GET TO THE BALL. HE'D LEFT CORNERBACK MIKE WILLIAMS TWO STEPS BEHIND ON THE FLY PATTERN. >> MIKE MADE A VERY GOOD RECOVERY, 'CAUSE IT LOOKED AS IF NAT MOORE WAS GOING TO COME WIDE OPEN. HE PICKED UP A COUPLE OF YARDS ON HIM, MADE STROCK TRY TO MAKE A GREAT THROW RATHER THAN AN EASY ONE. I THINK IT WAS WORTH THE GAMBLE. HERE WE GO. NAT MOORE. YOU CAN SEE HE GETS BY AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING TO THE CORNER, BUT YOU CAN SEE HE'S NOT RUNNING AT FULL SPEED BECAUSE HE ISN'T AS WELL AS HE'D LIKE TO BE. AS A RESULT, MIKE WILLIAMS COMES BY AND MAKES A FINE PLAY. >> AND STROCK, AS HE ILLUSTRATES THERE, SURELY HAS THE LONG-DISTANCE ARM. BUT NOW MIAMI HAS TO PUNT. THE CHARGERS COULD GET GOOD FIELD POSITION. A WELL-HIT BALL, THOUGH, BY OROSZ. HERE'S JAMES BROOKS. TO THE 39-YARD LINE. DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE, BACK AT THE ORANGE BOWL IN MIAMI. SOME MOST UNLIKELY TURNS TO THIS GAME. IT'S ALL LOCKED UP, 24 ALL, RIGHT NOW. CHARGERS, FIRST AND 10. AND THERE'S FOUTS SETTING UP QUICKLY. GOING OVER THE MIDDLE. AND THERE IS ANOTHER RECEPTION BY KELLEN WINSLOW. >> DON, THAT MAN HAS SUCH A PAIR OF HANDS THAT IN A CROWD, A GUY THAT CAN TAKE A BALL THAT'S COMING THAT FAST AND NOT HAVE TO LET IT GO TO HIS SHOULDER PADS BUT CAN PUT HIS HANDS RIGHT UP, SNATCH IT OUT OF THE AIR. TAKE A LOOK. THIS IS THE OFFENSIVE LINE. THEY KNOW IT'S THEIR JOB TO DO. MACEK, WHITE, WILKERSON, WASHINGTON. THEY'VE GOT TO DO IT RIGHT NOW. >> THEY'VE GOT SOME BUILDINGS IN THAT OFFENSIVE LINE OF SAN DIEGO. WASHINGTON AT 290. SHIELDS AT 280. WHITE AT 280. HERE'S A THROW. AND JOHN CAPPELLETTI CANNOT HOLD ON TO THE BALL. COMING OUT OF THE BACKFIELD ON A FIRST-DOWN PLAY. >> THAT WAS SUCH A GOOD PLAY BY FOUTS. WANTED TO GO DOWN THE FIELD. CONVINCED EVERYBODY IN THE HOUSE, INCLUDING ME, THEN JUST KIND OF CAME OFF WITH A LITTLE SHUFFLE JOB OVER TO CAPPELLETTI. HAD HE CAUGHT IT, HE WAS ON THE DEAD RUN, IN THE CLEAR. PRETTY GOOD OFFENSIVE PASS PROTECTION, GIVING DAN A CHANCE TO LET THE LINEBACKERS CLEAR OUT, COMING UNDERNEATH TO CAPPELLETTI. ALL FOR NAUGHT. >> DEN HERDER PUT THE BIG RUSH ON THERE, JOHN. >> OFFENSIVELY, THESE GUYS WHO HAVE BEEN THE CORE OF THEIR FOOTBALL TEAM, HAVE TO DO A JOB. THAT'S BOB BAUMHOWER, A PRO BOWLER. ED WHITE, A VETERAN OF 13 YEARS. THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT. >> GREAT PLAY, BUT THE BALL IS LOST. MUNCIE COMING OUT OF THE BACKFIELD. HAD IT RIGHT ON HIS NUMBERS, BUT IT CAROMED OFF HIS PADS AND ALMOST WAS INTERCEPTED BY MIAMI. >> THEY'RE COMING TO THE BACKS UNDERNEATH BECAUSE THE LINEBACKERS ARE TAKING VERY DEEP DROPS, TRYING TO HELP OUT ON THE THREE WIDE RECEIVERS. HE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF IT BY COMING TO MUNCIE. HE DOESN'T DROP MANY BALLS, BUT HE DROPPED A BIG ONE AT A CRITICAL TIME. NOT TOO MANY TIMES DO YOU GET A CRITICAL DROP WITH 5:52 IN THE THIRD QUARTER, BUT YOU GET THE FEELING THEY'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. >> WELL, THEY'LL BE TRYING NOW WITH A THROW ON THIRD DOWN. THIRD DOWN AND 10 FOR SAN DIEGO AT THE MIAMI 48-YARD LINE. WES CHANDLER IS WIDE LEFT. THERE'S A CATCH, AND THERE'S A FIRST DOWN FOR SAN DIEGO. DWIGHT SCALES, IN HIS FIFTH YEAR FROM GRAMBLING, TURNS IN, CATCHES THE BALL 17 YARDS DOWNFIELD FOR A CHARGER FIRST DOWN. >> MIAMI TRYING TO MAKE A BIG PLAY. ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON FOUTS. IT'S A BLITZ ALL THE WAY. YOU SEE NO LINEBACKERS IN THE INTERMEDIATE ZONE. A CORNERBACK IS REALLY AT THE MERCY OF A WIDE RECEIVER, AND WHEN CHANDLER CATCHES THE BALL, THE DEFENSIVE BACK IS FALLING DOWN. OFFENSIVE LINE PICKED UP THE PEOPLE. >> 17-YARD GAIN AND A FIRST DOWN. IF YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO KNOCK THOSE CHARGERS OFF THEIR PATTERNS AND THROW THEIR RHYTHM OFF, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DOING IT ON THIS DRIVE, AS FOUTS HAS HIS TEAM FIRST AND 10. A QUICK OUT GOES TO WES CHANDLER. AND CHANDLER LOOKING TO BREAK THE CRUST AND TAKE IT THE DISTANCE. TAKES IT DOWN TO THE 25-YARD LINE. >> YOU NOTICE THAT DAN HAS GONE TO ALL OF HIS RECEIVERS ABOUT EQUAL AMOUNTS. HOWEVER, NOT ON ANY GIVEN DAY. HE'LL GO WITH THE GUY THAT'S HOT, AND GENERALLY IT'S BECAUSE OF A DEFENSIVE COVERAGE THAT ALLOWS THAT. BUT IN THIS CASE, A LITTLE SHORT JOB TO WES CHANDLER. YOU'RE GIVING A GUY THAT CAN DO AS MUCH AS HE CAN DO WITH THE BALL A CHANCE TO MAKE A BIG PLAY FOR YOU AND KEEP YOUR DRIVE ALIVE. >> AFTER JOHN JEFFERSON LEFT THE CHARGERS IN A CONTRACT IMPASSE, WES CHANDLER CAME IN FROM NEW ORLEANS. HE WAS EXPENSIVE -- A FIRST-ROUND AND A THIRD-ROUND DRAFT CHOICE -- BUT IT PUT THAT WHOLE PASSING GAME OF SAN DIEGO'S BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. FOUTS PUMP-FAKES. THROWS. TOUCHDOWN, KELLEN WINSLOW! AND THE CHARGERS TAKE BACK THE LEAD, 30-24. >> I'LL TELL YOU, WINSLOW ALMOST PULLED A DURIEL HARRIS. I DON'T THINK HE SAW IT. HE WAS VERY EXCITED. HE RAN RIGHT INTO THE GOALPOST. ALMOST KNOCKED HIMSELF OUT. >> THAT GOALPOST<i> WILL</i> KNOCK YOU OUT. >> WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MOVE. LOOK AT THE PUMP BY FOUTS. WAITS FOR WINSLOW TO CUT UNDERNEATH IN THE ZONE COVERAGE. PUTS IT RIGHT WHERE IT HAS TO BE THROWN. WINSLOW COMES UP WITH ANOTHER BIG PLAY. AS HE DUNKS IT, HE CAME DOWN ON THE GOALPOST. THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PATTERN. >> BOY, IT WAS. HIS NINTH CATCH OF THE DAY, FOR 25 YARDS AND A TOUCHDOWN. KELLEN WINSLOW AT NINE RECEPTIONS FOR 117 YARDS. EXTRA POINT IS UP AND GOOD. AND THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, WHOSE OFFENSE HAS BEEN QUIET FOR A WHILE, STRIKE. THE CHARGERS GO 60 YARDS IN SIX PLAYS, THE FINAL 25 ON THIS THROW. >> REAL GOOD PASS PROTECTION. WINSLOW BEATS THE ZONE. WHEN YOU RUN PATTERNS THE WAY HE DOES, MOVE THE WAY HE DOES, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A LOT OF TOUCHDOWNS. BUT DON'T DO THAT ONCE YOU GET IN THERE. SOMEDAY THEY'RE GONNA LEARN THEIR LESSON. >> HE ALMOST DID, JOHN. HE CAME DOWN HOLDING THAT RIGHT LEG A LITTLE BIT, BUT HE'S ALL RIGHT. VIGORITO ON A GOOD KICKOFF, GOOD COVERAGE BY BOB GREGOR. >> ALL RIGHT. SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT AGAIN ONE MORE TIME. GOOD PUMP BY FOUTS. OPENS THE ZONE A LITTLE. THROW IT AT THE RIGHT TIME. YOU'LL FIND A HOLE. HE DOES. WHAT DID PAUL BROWN TELL BOB TRUMPY? "WHEN YOU GO IN THE END ZONE, ACT LIKE YOU'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE." HE'S BEEN THERE SO MUCH, HE PROBABLY GOT BORED AND HAD TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE EXCITING. >> THAT WAS THE TRUMPER'S FIRST TOUCHDOWN, IN A PRESEASON GAME. HE WAS QUITE EXCITED AND THREW HIS HELMET IN THE AIR. COACH BROWN SAYS, "TRUMPY, IF YOU SCORE ANOTHER ONE IN THIS LEAGUE, ACT LIKE YOU'VE BEEN THERE." HE GOT THERE AGAIN FOR THEM, THOUGH. AND NOW WE SEE A DUMP-OFF PASS GOING TO TONY NATHAN. FIRST DOWN. HE'S ACROSS THE 20-YARD LINE, OUT TO THE 24. AND THERE'S A PENALTY MARKER DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN SOME GAME, AND WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO. HERE'S A SWING PASS. GOES OUT TO TONY NATHAN. TURNS UP THE MIDDLE. CROSSES THE 15. AND TONY NATHAN GETS BACK TO ABOUT THE 18-YARD LINE ON A FIRST-AND-15 PLAY. LASLAVIC GOT HIM. THE PURSUIT BY SAN DIEGO'S DEFENSE EXCELLENT TO STOP A BIG GAINER. >> WELL, EARLY IN THE BALLGAME, WE SAW THE SAN DIEGO DEFENSIVE LINEMEN HAVING THE BEST OF EVERYTHING. RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IN A RUN-PASS SITUATION. THEY CAN'T GET IN THEIR STARTING BLOCKS. WE SAW BIG HANDS JOHNSON MAKE GOOD PURSUIT, MISS THE TACKLE. BUT THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE, AND THAT WAS A CONCERN. >> DON STROCK AN THE OFFENSE OF MIAMI NOW FACED WITH SECOND DOWN AND 9 AS THE CHARGERS BRING THEIR LINEBACKERS UP TIGHT. SWING PASS AGAIN TO NATHAN. AND AGAIN -- WHOOPS. HE GETS AWAY. TONY NATHAN'S NOT TACKLED. HE GETS OUT ACROSS THE 25, OUT TO THE 26. AND HE'S LESS THAN A YARD FROM A FIRST DOWN WHEN IT SEEMED HE WOULD BE KNOCKED DOWN JUST BEYOND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. >> YES, SIR. IT LOOKED LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FACE MASK, BUT I GUESS HE GOT A STRAIGHT SHOT RIGHT IN THE MOUTH. HE MISSED THE WHOLE THING. BOY, THIS IS SOME KIND OF PLAY. >> HE'S CAUGHT SIX NOW FOR 59 YARDS. UNDER DON SHULA, WHEN THE ORANGE BOWL HAS BEEN SOLD OUT DURING HIS REIGN AS COACH OF THE DOLPHINS, THE DOLPHINS HAVE WON 20 AND LOST 2. RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE DOWN BY A TOUCHDOWN AND AN EXTRA POINT -- 31-24. THIRD AND INCHES. >> OH! [ WHISTLES BLOWING ] >> LOOKS LIKE THE STICKS ARE COMING OUT AGAIN. >> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE COMING OUT. THEY DIDN'T GET BACK TO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, DON. GREAT PENETARTION INTERIORWISE BY KELCHER AND BIG HANDS. THEY WERE DOWN LOW. THEY BEAT THE GUARDS AT THE POINT OF ATTACK. >> WOODROW LOWE, THE STICKER FROM ALABAMA, CAME UP FROM THE OUTSIDE. >> BUT LOUIE KELCHER CREATED THE WHOLE DEAL. >> IF THEY GET IT, THAT'S GONNA BE BY THE NOSE OF THE FOOTBALL. >> IF THEY GET IT, THEY GAVE THEM A GOOD SPOT. >> THEY DIDN'T GET IT. >> THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL NO GAIN. >> THEY GOT IT. >> WHAT? >> THEY GOT IT. THE YARD MARKERS MOVE ON, AND THE DOLPHINS GET FOUR NEW DOWNS. THOSE NUMBERS. >> [ CHUCKLES ] >> NOT A BALANCED OFFENSE. >> YOU'D EXPECT THAT FROM SAN DIEGO. OF COURSE, YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT MIAMI TO BE DOWN 24-0 EITHER. >> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE EXPECTED THIS MANY POINTS IN A PLAYOFF GAME. GOOD DEFENSE. HERE IS A SWING OUT IN THE FLAT. WHOA. TWO CHARGERS RAN INTO EACH OTHER. MIKE WILLIAMS AND PETE SHAW COLLIDED. >> WELL, PETE SHAW NEVER SAW THE BALL. HIS BACK WAS TURNED THE WHOLE WAY. AND MIKE WILLIAMS NEVER SAW PETE SHAW. HAD PETE NOT BEEN IN THE WAY, MIKE WOULD'VE PICKED IT OFF AND RUN IN. LOOK AT THIS. THE ONLY GUY THAT DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE FOR THE BALL WAS CEFALO. THE OTHER TWO HAD PERFECT SHOTS AT IT. >> WE HAD A COLLISION. SO IT GOES INCOMPLETE. SECOND DOWN AND 10 COMES UP. 2:20 TO GO IN THE THIRD QUARTER. 31-24, SAN DIEGO. STROCK THROWS. AND THE BALL IS CAUGHT BY JIMMY CEFALO AT THE 50-YARD LINE. FIRST DOWN, MIAMI. >> THEY HAVEN'T TRIED WILLIE BUCHANON VERY OFTEN TODAY. AND YOU'LL SEE WHY. BECAUSE THAT BALL HAD TO BE PERFECTLY THROWN OR BUCHANON MAY HAVE PICKED IT OFF. HE BEAT A DOUBLE ZONE COVERAGE. BUCHANON'S THE UP MAN. SHAW COMING OVER. WHEN YOU THROW IT THAT WELL INTO A DOUBLE ZONE, THERE'S NO CHANCE. OOPS. HE CUTS RIGHT UNDERNEATH HIM. IT'S THE ONLY WAY HE COULD GO. WHEN HE CUT UNDERNEATH, THE BALL WAS ACTUALLY ALREADY THROWN. >> AND IT WAS THROWN RIGHT WHERE IT HAD TO BE, AS CEFALO LOOKS BACK, AND THERE IT IS. 23-YARD GAIN. HERE'S A MAN OPEN! BRUCE HARDY! TO THE 10! TOUCHDOWN, MIAMI! HE'S IN THE END ZONE. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. >> DON, I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY BEAUTIFULLY RUN PATTERNS AND THROWS IN A CHAMPIONSHIP BALLGAME. I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS TO SAY. THERE'S 61 POINTS ALREADY IN THIS HUMMER, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF DEFENSIVE INSUFFICIENCY. IT'S BECAUSE OF OFFENSIVE EXECUTION. STROCK IS HAVING AS FINE A DAY AS I'VE EVER SEEN ANY QUARTERBACK HAVE IN A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. AND I MEAN HE HITS HARDY ON THE DEAD RUN. WOODROW LOWE HAD NO CHANCE. 50 YARDS. TOUCHDOWN. 31-30. >> STROCK -- THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS, JOHN -- 21 OF 27 FOR 312 YARDS AND FOUR TOUCHDOWNS. >> THAT LAST STAT IS THE IMPRESSIVE ONE. >> 50 YARDS TO TIGHT END BRUCE HARDY. VON SCHAMANN IS THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS WITH HIS EXTRA POINT, AND WE ARE ALL TIED UP AT 31 ALL WITH 1:28 TO GO IN THE THIRD QUARTER. WHO'S TO SAY WHERE THIS ONE GOES? WE MIGHT BE GOING FOR BONUS. GO FOR 100 POINTS. >> GUY THAT GETS THE BALL LAST, BIG FELLA. >> LAST AT BAT. >> WE'LL BE BACK TO THE ORANGE BOWL AFTER THIS. DON STROCK WITH NUMBERS GOOD FOR A HALL OF FAME DAY. HE CAME TO MIAMI IN '73 OUT OF VIRGINIA TECH AS A FIFTH-ROUND DRAFT CHOICE. HAS BEEN A BACKUP QUARTERBACK HIS WHOLE TIME HERE. THERE'S THE MAN HE HIT -- BRUCE HARDY, THE TIGHT END. BACKED UP GRIESE. BACKS UP WOODLEY. BUT HE'S GETTING A LOT MORE PLAYING TIME AS A RELIEF PITCHER, AND TODAY HE'S HAD HIS GREATEST GAME AND WE'RE TIED AT 31. JAMES BROOKS TURNS OUTSIDE. AND A FINE SPECIAL-TEAM PLAY. RONNIE LEE, A TIGHT END COVERING ON SPECIAL TEAMS. AND THE CHARGERS START OFF IN THEIR OWN END AT THE 17-YARD LINE. >> SO HERE WE GO AGAIN. >> AMAZING. 62 POINTS ON THE BOARD ALREADY, AND THEY'RE EVEN UP -- 31 ALL. [ CROWD CHEERING ] FOUTS TAKES A LOOK. HE THROWS! HE'S GOT KELLEN WINSLOW. AND ONE OF HIS RARE DROPS. KELLEN WINSLOW, WHO'S CAUGHT NINE TODAY FOR OVER 100 YARDS, CAN'T HOLD ON. >> YOU SEE NUMBER 40 IS STILL TRAILING HIM. WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS ASSIGN MIKE KOZLOWSKI TO KELLEN WINSLOW ALL DAY LONG. BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE REST OF THE COVERAGE. THEY'RE TRYING TO STOP HIM. THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO CONTAIN HIM. IT'S JUST THE PLAY OF A GREAT TIGHT END, NUMBER 80, THAT'S MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. >> WELL, AS THE MIAMI DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND ASSITANT HEAD COACH BILL ARNSPARGER SAID BEFORE THE GAME, "YOU DON'T STOP SAN DIEGO. YOU HOPE YOU CAN SLOW THEM DOWN SO THEY DON'T WIN THE GAME. THEY'RE GONNA GET YARDS, AND THEY'RE GONNA GET POINTS." AND THEY HAVE TODAY. FOUTS TAKES A LOOK ON SECOND AND 10. GETS IT AWAY. DON McNEAL, BROKEN ARM AND ALL, IS RIGHT THERE COVERING AND BATS THE BALL AWAY. HE FRACTURED HIS RIGHT ARM AGAINST KANSAS CITY IN THE SECOND-TO-LAST GAME OF THE SEASON. DIDN'T PLAY AGAINST BUFFALO IN THE FINALE. >> IT'S A GOOD THING FOR DAN THAT HIS ARM<i> WAS</i> BROKEN, BECAUSE THE THREW THAT BALL AWAY IN DESPERATION, NOT WANTING TO TAKE A GREAT BIG LOSS. AND A McNEAL WITH TWO GOOD ARMS MIGHT'VE BROUGHT THAT ONE DOWN FOR AN INTERCEPTION. >> I THINK HE WOULD. IT'S PRETTY TOUGH TO CATCH IT WITH THOSE ARMS BUNDLED UP LIKE A LINEMAN'S. BUT HE CAN STILL COVER, AND HE CAN STILL KNOCK THEM DOWN. THIRD AND 10. >> TOO HIGH. >> INTERCEPTED! BLACKWOOD HAS THE BALL. LYLE BLACKWOOD. ANOTHER LATERAL! GERALD SMALL TAKES THE LATERAL AND GOES INSIDE THE 15-YARD LINE. THIS INCREDIBLE GAME. [ CROWD CHEERING ] WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THE ZONE DEFENSE. THEY'VE GOT PRETTY GOOD PENETRATION. THEY'RE RUSHING FIVE PEOPLE BUT THEY'RE STILL PLAYING A 3-DEEP ZONE DOWN THERE. HE WAS INTENDING TO GO TO JOINER. HAD NO PLAY. ACTUALLY, JOINER WAS VERY WELL COVERED. BLACKWOOD MAKES A GREAT PLAY INTERCEPTING, THEN LATERALS TO SMALL. HE MAKES A FINE RETURN, AND THEY'RE DOWN TO THE 15. THAT BALL GOT AWAY FROM DAN, ONE OF THE FEW THAT HAS GOTTEN AWAY FROM HIM ALL DAY. BUT A BIG TURNOVER. >> AS YOU WERE POINTING OUT, JOHN, HIS PREVIOUS THROW WAS AN ERRANT ONE, ALMOST INTERCEPTED. AND THIS ONE WAS RIGHT TO THE MIAMI DEFENSE. NOW THE DOLPHINS GO TO THE RUN. THAT'S LYLE BLACKWOOD. HE'S MOVED AROUND THE LEAGUE A LITTLE BIT. WAS AT BALTIMORE FOR MOST OF HIS CAREER. SPENT SOME TIME WITH THE NEW YORK GIANTS. CAME IN HERE AS A FREE AGENT. WON THE STARTING SAFETY JOB RIGHT ALONGSIDE HIS BROTHER, GLENN. AND HE WAS IN PERFECT POSITION, AS THOSE MIAMI DEFENDERS SO OFTEN ARE. THERE ARE THE NUMBERS FOR THE TWO Q.B.s. >> THAT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT FOR TWO GAMES, BUT THREE QUARTERS, IT'S RATHER OUTSTANDING. >> MOST IMPRESSIVE, AS MUCH AS THE TOUCHDOWNS -- THAT STROCK HAS PUT THE BALL UP THAT OFTEN IN DESPERATION WHEN THEY HAD TO COME BACK AND HE'S NOT BEEN INTERCEPTED. THE THIRD QUARTER IS WINDING DOWN AND WINDING OUT. [ CROWD CHEERING ] SO AFTER THREE QUARTERS OF PLAY, THE GAME IS TIED, 31-31. BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, THE DOLPHINS WILL BE CHALLENGING TO GO AHEAD. MIAMI DOLPHINS WERE LOSING BADLY ON THE SCOREBOARD, BUT THEY NEVER LOST THEIR COMPOSURE, JOHN. AND NOW THEY'RE SET TO GO AHEAD. >> THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY THEY'VE HAD. THEIR DEFENSE SET IT UP. >> IF MIAMI CAN TAKE IT IN HERE OR GET THE FIELD GOAL, THEY'LL BE IN FRONT FOR THE FIRST TIME. TONY NATHAN BEHIND ED NEWMAN. TOUCHDOWN, MIAMI! >> TONY NATHAN'S LIMPING OFF. BUT IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN A PLAY THAT WAS BEAUTIFULLY RUN -- ED NEWMAN LEADING TONY NATHAN. GETS HIS BLOCK ON SHAW. NATHAN DOES THE REST. RIGHT INTO THE END ZONE. I DON'T KNOW IF MIAMI'S WORN SAN DIEGO DOWN OR THE SITUATION HAS FATIGUED THEM, BUT THEY DO LOOK AN AWFUL LOT MORE TIRED THAN THEY DID EVEN EARLY IN THE THIRD QUARTER. >> GOOD POINT. AND THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY THE PATTERN HERE AT MIAMI. WHEN IT'S HUMID, THE DOLPHINS ROLL IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. NATHAN, 12 YARDS INTO THE END ZONE, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS GAME, THE MIAMI DOLPHINS LEAD IT, 38-31, AFTER THEY WERE BEHIND IN THE FIRST QUARTER, IF YOU JOINED US LATE, 24-0. >> WELL, DON, YOU SEE NATHAN. HE'S JUST RESTING, TRYING TO GET READY TO GO BACK OUT AND PLAY A LITTLE MORE. AND IT IS VERY HUMID HERE. WE MENTIONED THE WEATHER'S ABOUT 70 DEGREES. I THINK IT'S HAD A TOLL ON SAN DIEGO'S DEFENSE. I NOTICED THAT WILBUR YOUNG IS IN THE BALLGAME FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY, REPLACING ONE OF THE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN. YOU SEE HIM, BIG NUMBER 99. HE RAN PAST THE PLAY AS NATHAN SCORES. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN IF YOU ARE A GREAT OFFENSE -- AND WE'VE SAID IT SEVERAL TIMES -- SAN DIEGO UNDOUBTEDLY IS -- THEY'VE GOT TO GET THEIR TEAM RALLIED AGAIN. >> WELL, WE KNOW WHAT THE CHARGER OFFENSE HAS DONE ALREADY TODAY -- PUT UP 31 POINTS. THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH. BUT THEY CAN COME BACK WITH A LOT OF TIME LEFT. WE HAVE VIRTUALLY THE WHOLE FOURTH QUARTER TO BE PLAYED -- 14:53 REMAINING IN THE GAME. TONY NATHAN, ANOTHER OF THE ALABAMA PLAYERS. THE FIELD IS FULL OF THEM TODAY. WOODROW LOWE OF SAN DIEGO AND DON McNEAL. AND THERE'S MORE. AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF ACTION COMING UP TOMORROW HERE ON NBC. THE BUFFALO BILLS GO TO CINCINNATI AND TAKE ON THE BENGALS, WHO COMPILED THE AFC's BEST RECORD THIS SEASON AFTER A LOSING SEASON JUST A YEAR AGO. THEY MADE THAT KIND OF A COMEBACK. VON SCHAMANN WILL NOT ALLOW A RUNBACK WITH THAT KICKOFF. IT'S INTO AND OUT OF THE END ZONE. >> DON, I GENERALLY SAY NOW THEIR BACKS ARE AGAINST IT BECAUSE THE WIND IS ALSO AGAINST THEM. BUT IT'S FUNNY -- MOST OF THE POINTS HAVE BEEN SCORED GOING THE OTHER WAY, INTO THE WIND. SO I GUESS IT'S HAD NO EFFECT ON THE THROWERS ALL DAY LONG. ABOUT 550 YARDS BETWEEN THEM. I'D SAY THEY'VE BEEN THROWING PRETTY WELL INTO IT. >> WESLEY CHANDLER COMES WIDE TO THE RIGHT. THAT WIND IS REALLY PICKING UP NOW. FLAG IS STRAIGHT OUT. MUNCIE. THEY'RE GOING FOR THE FOOTBALL, ARE THE DOLPHINS. MUNCIE HAS HAD A GREAT SEASON. HE HAD ONE THAT WAS A FATAL FUMBLE AGAINST BUFFALO LATE IN THE GAME. BUT THEN THE CHARGERS CAME BACK TO WIN THE REGULAR-SEASON FINALE, BEATING OAKLAND 23-10. GOT A LOT OF HELP FROM THE CHICAGO BEARS, WHO I THINK, JOHN, COULD CALL THEMSELVES CHAMPIONS OF THE AFC WEST. THEY'RE 4-0 IN THAT DIVISION THIS SEASON. >> YEP. >> UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE BEARS, THEY COULDN'T BEAT ANYBODY ELSE. SECOND AND 8. GOOD THROW. AND IT'S TO KELLEN WINSLOW. WHO ELSE? HE'S OUT TO THE 29-YARD LINE. >> AND I SEE A LATE FLAG COME IN. >> YEAH. >> AND IT'S AROUND THE BALLCARRIER. I LOOK FOR THE BALL TO GO BACK UP THE FIELD. THAT'S A BREAK FOR SAN DIEGO. DAN'S GOT WINSLOW OUT IN MOTION. COMES BACK UNDERNEATH. THE WIDE RECEIVER CLEANING OUT. YOU SEE KOZLOWSKI TRAILING AGAIN, AS HE HAS BEEN ALL AFTERNOON. BUT HE'S BEEN TRAILING CLOSE. >> STATISTICIAN STEVE DANZ POINTS OUT THAT KELLEN WINSLOW, JOHN, HAS NOW TIED JOHN STALLWORTH FOR THE MOST CATCHES IN AN AFC PLAYOFF GAME. >> FACE MASK. NUMBER 58. FIRST DOWN. >> ANOTHER FACTOR TO CONTEND WITH IS THE CROWD. THIS IS A LOUD CROWD. AND NOW THAT THEY'VE GOT A 7-POINT LEAD, IT HAS INCREASED ITS VELOCITY ABOUT 50%, AND IT JUST MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR FOUTS TO CALL OUT TO HIS WIDE RECEIVERS. >> FIRST AND 10. FOUTS THROWS. OH. >> YEP. >> HERE'S ANOTHER PENALTY MARKER. FOLKS ON THE CHARGER SIDELINE AREN'T HAPPY ABOUT THINGS AT ALL. CHANDLER WAS WHACKED ON THE PLAY. >> WELL, GLENN BLACKWOOD IS COMING IN. THEY'RE PLAYING A DOUBLE ZONE. FOUTS IS TRYING TO BEAT IT THE WAY STROCK DID EARLIER. THE BALL IS TIPPED. WHEN IT IS, BLACKWOOD IS NOT PLAYING THE BALL. HE'S PLAYING THE MAN. HE THOUGHT HE'D PROBABLY CATCH THE BALL AND HE WANTED TO SEE IF HE COULD JAR HIM LOOSE. AT THAT TIME, YOU CAN'T BE LOOKING AROUND FOR THE BALL. YOU KNOW YOU'RE BEHIND. YOU'RE TRYING TO CATCH UP. IT<i> WAS</i> A PENALTY, BUT IT WASN'T AN INTENTIONAL LATE HIT. >> BUT IT IS A 15-YARD MARK-OFF. PERSONAL FOUL. >> PERSONAL FOUL. UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS. NUMBER 47. FIRST DOWN. >> CRAZY NUMBERS AT THE ORANGE BOWL. WILD NUMBERS. GREAT GAME. LONG WAY TO GO -- 13:49 TO PLAY. MUNCIE RUNNING HARD. AND HE'S ON THE MIAMI SIDE OF THE FIELD NOW AS HE TAKES IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 39-YARD LINE. CHUCK MUNCIE GETTING UP A HEAD OF STEAM AND STARTING TO ROLL. THEY SAY HE'S BEEN A STANDOUT CITIZEN IN SAN DIEGO. >> WE MENTIONED THE KEY PEOPLE ARE THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN FOR SAN DIEGO -- IF THEY CAN MOVE THE DEFENSE OF MIAMI OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, WHICH THEY'VE DONE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO GIVE MUNCIE SOME RUNNING ROOM. REAL GOOD OFFENSIVE-LINE BLOCKING. MUNCIE PICKS UP ANOTHER FIRST. >> MUNCIE GETS THE FIRST INDEED. THEY SAID THEY TRADED HIM, JOHN, IN NEW ORLEANS BECAUSE HE WAS' FORGETFUL. HE FORGOT TO COME TO PRACTICE. >> HE DOESN'T FORGET WHICH WAY HE'S GOING. >> HE'S HEADING DUE EAST. HERE'S A LITTLE DUMP-OFF BACK TO MUNCIE. AND A GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAY. EARNEST RHONE TACKLES HIM BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, AT THE 42-YARD LINE OF MIAMI. >> THIS PLAY WAS DOOMED FROM THE START. IT'S A BLITZ. FOUTS IS TRYING TO COME TO MUNCIE LATE. HE EXPECTED A ZONE COVERAGE. WHEN IT'S A BLITZ, THE LINEBACKER HAS MAN-TO-MAN COVERAGE ON MUNCIE. MAKES A GOOD PLAY. GETS BY DON MACEK, THE CENTER, WHO WAS TRYING TO BLOCK ON THE SCREEN. HOLDS IT TO A 1- OR 2-YARD LOSS. HERE WE GO. WE MENTIONED THE BLITZ. A.J. DUHE, NUMBER 77, USUALLY TIPS IT OFF. HE'S COMING ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER DOWN LINEMEN. >> SECOND AND LONG. DEEPER DROP. CHANDLER TURNS IN. KELLEN WINSLOW'S TAKING A BEATING GOING OUT IN HIS PATTERNS NOW. THEY'VE GOT TO TRY TO SLOW THE BIG GUY UP. >> I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS PICKING WHO THAT TIME. >> THEY DO RUN A LOT OF PICKS, TOO, LIKE A BASKETBALL TEAM. >> WELL, YOU SEE JOINER. NOW WINSLOW'S GOING DOWN THE FIELD. HE'S GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION RIGHT NOW. YOU SEE NUMBER 40 WITH HIM AGAIN. I CAN'T TELL WHETHER HE WAS GOING TO WINSLOW OR JOINER. >> WELL, IT ENDED UP NOT NEAR EITHER. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> SO NOW IT'S GONNA BE THIRD DOWN AND 13 FOR SAN DIEGO. 42-YARD LINE OF MIAMI, THE DOLPHINS HAVING RALLIED BACK FROM A 24-0 DEFICIT IN THE FIRST QUARTER, AND THEY NOW LEAD THE GAME, 38-31. CHARLIE JOINER LOST IT, AND MIAMI WAS SO CLOSE TO AN INTERCEPTION. CHARLIE FELT HE SHOULD'VE HAD IT. THE HANDS HE'S GOT, HE DOESN'T DROP MANY. >> NO, AND HE DOESN'T DROP MANY LIKE THAT. THE BALL WAS A LITTLE HIGH THROWN. BIG PLAY. >> MY GOODNESS. FANTASTIC. >> GEORGE ROGERS. IF YOU'RE GONNA HELP YOUR TEAM AS A PUNTER -- OR ROBERTS -- KICK IT OUT OF BOUNDS INSIDE THE 10. >> I'M SURE HE'D LIKE TO DO THAT. HE'S GIVING IT A GOOD SHOT. OH, IT JUST WALKS IN. IT ALMOST GOT OUT INSIDE THE 5. HE'D LOVE TO DO IT HERE IN MIAMI. WE ARE BACK AT THE ORANGE BOWL IN MIAMI. DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE. ON A WARM JANUARY NIGHT, THE DOLPHINS AND THE CHARGERS PUTTING ON AN OFFENSIVE DISPLAY THAT HAS BEEN MOST AMAZING AS MIAMI LEADS THE GAME, 38-31, AND HAS THE BALL, FIRST AND 10 AT THEIR 20. ANDRA FRANKLIN GETS IT OUT TO MAYBE THE 22. DOLPHINS WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE CHAIN MARKERS AND RUN THE CLOCK NOW. >> THERE'S A GOOD DEFENSE WHICH FOOLS THE OFFENSE. THEY EXPECTED A ZONE DEFENSE, AND SAN DIEGO HAS PLAYED ZONE MOST OF THIS WHOLE BALLGAME. THAT TIME THEY WERE IN A BLITZ DEFENSE. YOU CAN'T RUN AN END SWEEP AGAINST A BLITZ. THEY SHUT IT DOWN, PUT THEM IN A PASSING SITUATION. SECOND AND 8. I GUESS WE'RE ALL NOT ON TOP OF EVERYTHING. >> KIND OF INTERESTING. A MONTAGE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. >> YES, SIR. >> NOT LIKE THIS BALLGAME, THOUGH. HERE IS THE HAND-OFF TO NATHAN. AND HE WEAVES HIS WAY, AND THE SAN DIEGO DEFENDERS ARE THERE TO KNOCK HIM DOWN AGAIN FOR VIRTUALLY NO GAIN FOR MIAMI. SAN DIEGO FIGHTING TO GET BACK THE BALL. >> SAN DIEGO KNOWS ITS BACKS ARE UP AGAINST THE WALL. THEIR DEFENSIVE LINE HAS GOT TO DO THE PLAY RIGHT NOW. LASLAVIC OVERRUNS IT A LITTLE BIT BUT GETS NATHAN STOPPED. WHEN HE DOES, JOHNSON PICKS IT UP. >> AND NOW THE DOLPHINS COME TO THIRD DOWN AND 7. STROCK'S BEEN VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE ON THIRD DOWNS, COMPLETING 6 OF 8 FOR FIRST DOWNS. HE'S THROWN FOR TWO TOUCHDOWNS ON THIRD DOWN. >> YOU CAN BET IT'S GOING UP TOP NOW. DIDN'T GET IT. >> NO, HE DID NOT. FINE PLAY BY PETE SHAW OF THE CHARGERS. STRONG SAFETY DELIVERS THE HIT. >> DEPENDS WHICH FOOT HE PUTS IT ON. >> HOLY MAN. I THINK HE MIGHT HAVE IT WHERE THEY HAVE THE BALL. >> WELL, TAKE A QUICK LOOK. THEY'RE GONNA GIVE HIM AS MUCH FORWARD PROGRESS AS HE MADE. HIS FOOT ACTUALLY CAME DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LINE. IT LOOKS LIKE AN ACCURATE CALL TO ME. WHEREVER IT'S SPOTTED, IT'S WITHIN A FOOT OF A FIRST DOWN IF IT'S NOT. >> HE HAD TO GET IT TO THE 30. >> IF HE'S TOUCHING THE 30... >> IT'S GONNA BE THE NOSE OF THE BALL AGAIN. >> ...AND HE DOESN'T GET A FIRST DOWN... >> GOT ANOTHER ONE. THEY GET THE FIRST DOWN. LOOK AT THAT. >> UNLESS THE MARKERS ARE OFF, HE HAD TO GET IT ONCE IT TOUCHED THE 30. ANOTHER WELL-THROWN BALL BY DON. >> IT WAS. IT HAS BEEN A GAME FULL OF WELL-THROWN BALLS BY STROCK. CLOCK RUNNING. 10:15 TO PLAY. DOLPHINS GET FOUR NEW DOWNS AND SEND CEFALO WIDE TO THE LEFT AND DURIEL HARRIS ON THE RIGHT FLANK. QUICK OUT TO HARRIS, AND HE'S ACROSS THE 35, TO THE 36. DOLPHINS GET 6 YARDS ON THAT FIRST-DOWN PLAY. LINDEN KING AND WILLIE BUCHANON ARE ON THE TACKLE. >> THEY GAVE THEM THAT BLITZ AGAIN, DON. WHEN THEY DID SO, THIS IS A PERFECT PLAY TO CALL AGAINST IT. CORNERBACK HAS TO BACK OFF. WHEN HE DOES, IT'S A ONE-ON-ONE SITUATION. THE PURSUIT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT LATE. SECOND AND 4. THEY LIKE IT. HOW'S THAT ONE? >> ASTOUNDING. OFF THE BENCH TO DO IT. TONY NATHAN RUNS HARD AND RUNS FOR A MIAMI FIRST DOWN AS THE GAME CLOCK WINDS DOWN TO 9:12 TO PLAY, AND THE DOLPHINS KEEP THE BALL MOVING AND THE CHAIN MARKERS, TOO. LOWE AND SHAW ON THE STOP. TONY NATHAN PLAYING WITH A KNEE INJURY THAT'S KEPT HIM OUT IN RECENT GAMES. >> THE OFFENSIVE LINE IS JUST HAVING A BALL RIGHT NOW. "GIVE US A CHANCE." >> JON GIESLER LEADS, MAKES A GOOD BLOCK. NATHAN DOESN'T NEED MUCH OF A CRACK. >> HE'S MADE SOME BIG PLAYS. YOU'LL RECALL HIS EARLIER RUN THIS QUARTER -- 12 YARDS INTO THE END ZONE FOR THE GO-AHEAD TOUCHDOWN, MIAMI'S FIRST LEAD OF THE DAY. ON FIRST DOWN, RIGHT BACK TO THE RUN. RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE. ANDRA FRANKLIN, THE 228-POUND FULLBACK FROM NEBRASKA. >> I WOULD THINK THAT THIS MAN WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO CONSIDER, "WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO?" OKAY? 24-0 LEAD. THEY COME BACK AND TIE IT. YOU TAKE THEM DOWN ON ANOTHER DRIVE, PUT IT OUT AT 31-24, AND NOW YOU'RE 7 BACK. >> YEP. ONE THING ABOUT ANDRA FRANKLIN, JOHN -- WHEN HE'S IN THERE, YOU KNOW HE'S GONNA RUN IT OR BLOCK. HE DOESN'T CATCH IT. HE'S GOT THREE RECEPTIONS FOR THE YEAR. BUT HE DID SET A MIAMI ROOKIE RUSHING RECORD, WITH OVER 700 YARDS. EDDIE HILL COMES IN, AND THE SWING PASS IS A LITTLE OUT OF HIS REACH. THAT BALL WAS FLOATING PERILOUSLY ON THE RIGHT FLANK THERE. >> WELL, IT WAS A SAFE BALL. PEOPLE SAY, "WHEN YOU THROW IN THOSE FLATS, IT'S ALWAYS VERY DANGEROUS." THAT WAS A PLAY WHERE HE HAD NOTHING BUT ROOM TO THROW THE BALL IN. HE LED HILL VERY QUICK. IF HE'D CAUGHT HIM ON THE DEAD RUN, HE'D HAVE PICKED UP 4 OR 5 YARDS. BUT THERE WAS NO DANGER. >> NOW AGAIN THE DOLPHINS AND DON STROCK COME TO A THIRD-PLAY. THIRD DOWN AND 8 FROM THE 42-YARD LINE. 7:56 TO GO IN THE GAME. CLOCK IS STOPPED ON THE INCOMPLETE PASS. 38-31, MIAMI. PICK UP THE BLITZ. HARDY WORKS HIS WAY AHEAD, AND THE DOLPHINS DO IT AGAIN. THEY GET THE FIRST DOWN. TIME AND AGAIN, THE DOLPHINS RESPOND WITH A BIG PLAY. >> STROCK MADE A NICE THROW, ALLOWING HARDY TO MAKE HIS MOVE, STOP, THEN TURN BACK, THROWING IT RIGHT IN BETWEEN TWO LINEBACKERS. AND HARDY MADE AN EXCELLENT PLAY ONCE HE DID GET TO THE LINE. LOOKED LIKE HE LOST THE BALL, GOT A GOOD BOUNCE, AND RECOVERED IT AGAIN. >> YOU REMEMBER BRUCE HARDY'S LAST RECEPTION PRIOR TO THIS ONE WENT FOR 50 YARDS AND A TOUCHDOWN TO TIE THE GAME. STROCK HAS NOW THROWN 31 TIMES, COMPLETED 26 FOR 334 YARDS AND FOUR TOUCHDOWNS. [ CROWD CHEERING ] AND THE GAME CLOCK IS DOWN TO 7:33 TO PLAY. IF THE DOLPHINS COMPLETE THIS GAME WITH A VICTORY, IT WILL GO INTO THE BOOKS AS THE GREATEST COMEBACK VICTORY IN NFL PLAYOFF HISTORY. DETROIT WAS DOWN 20-0 TO SAN FRANCISCO WAY BACK IN 1957, WHEN JOHN BRODIE WAS AN APPLE-CHEEKED YOUNG QUARTERBACK. MIAMI WAS DOWN 24-0 IN THIS GAME. TONY NATHAN, BRUISED ON THE PREVIOUS PLAY, COMES BACK IN TO CARRY THE BALL TO THE 48. MIAMI HUDDLING AT THEIR LEISURE NOW. PUT A LITTLE AGE ON COACH SHULA, THIS ONE. >> WELL, IT<i> IS</i> TIME TO LOOK AT THE CLOCK. YOU'VE GOT A 7-POINT LEAD. WHAT YOU WOULD REALLY LOVE IS TO MAINTAIN BALL CONTROL. I KNOW THIS BALLGAME'S GONE TOPSY-TURVY -- 69 POINTS SCORED, BUT RIGHT NOW THIS IS WHAT THEY HOPED THEY COULD DO WHEN THEY STARTED THE BALLGAME. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO DO IT. >> SECOND AND 8. QUICK OUT. LOOK AT THESE SURE-HANDED TIGHT ENDS. ANOTHER FIRST DOWN. BRUCE HARDY TURNS UP. >> HERE'S A VERY SAFE PASS. VERY WELL THROWN. LITTLE CROSSING PATTERN. NAT MOORE TO THE INSIDE. HARDY TO THE OUTSIDE. LET PETE SHAW MAKE THE COVERAGE. WELL THROWN. PICKS UP ANOTHER FIRST DOWN. THEY'RE ON THE MOVE AGAIN. >> EVERY TIME THAT DON STROCK HAS COME ON TO RELIEVE DAVID WOODLEY, JOHN, OF COURSE WOODLEY HAS STARTED THE NEXT GAME. WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT WEEK IF MIAMI WINS AND THEY GO TO THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME? >> I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THAT'S SHULA'S DECISION. >> THAT'S FOR SURELY HIS DECISION. HERE IS TONY NATHAN TURNING OUTSIDE. HE'S KNOCKED DOWN. ABOUT A YARD LOSS ON THE PLAY. >> I WOULD IMAGINE THAT HE HAS A VIEWPOINT ABOUT THAT BUT HE'S NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW. WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING AS WELL AS STROCK IS PLAYING TODAY, IT CAN CHANGE A MAN'S WHOLE CAREER AROUND, OKAY? YOU COME OFF HAVING NOT THOUGHT TO BE A REAL TOP STARTER. YOU COME OFF THE BENCH -- HE'S PLAYED LIKE A STARTER TODAY. BECAUSE WHEN HE GOT STARTED, IT WAS EARLY IN THE SECOND QUARTER. A WHOLE THREE QUARTERS OF PLAY. HE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE HALFTIME AND ALL THE RIGAMAROLE. SO HE'S PLAYED LIKE A STARTER, AND HE'S PLAYED BEAUTIFULLY. AND IT COULD CHANGE A MAN'S WHOLE CAREER AND CHANGE PEOPLE'S VIEWPOINT OF HIM. >> KIND OF A PLEASANT DILEMMA, IF MIAMI DOES WIN, FOR COACH SHULA -- WHICH ONE HE GOES WITH. THEY WON 11 GAMES WITH THE YOUNG GUY STARTING AT QUARTERBACK. HERE'S A SWING PASS GOING OUT. BRUCE HARDY GETTING FREE AGAIN AND GOES DOWN THE SIDELINES. IT'S ANOTHER MIAMI FIRST DOWN. MIKE WILLIAMS KNOCKS HIM OUT OF BOUNDS. >> I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE HIM THROW THE BALL ANYMORE. HE MIGHT, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE IT. THEY'RE NOW WELL WITHIN FIELD-GOAL RANGE. THEY'RE MOVING THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD. THEY CAN EAT UP ANOTHER MINUTE OR SO ON THE CLOCK. IT'S ALREADY AT 5:34. SAN DIEGO'S DRAGGING. >> THAT SAN DIEGO DEFENSE HAS BEEN ON THE FIELD A LONG TIME, AND THEY<i> ARE</i> DRAGGING. SO IS COACH CORYELL. >> I'D BE NUMB. >> I BELIEVE COACH IS. FIRST AND 10, MIAMI. THEY GO TO NATHAN. BEHIND NEWMAN. TONY NATHAN TURNS UPFIELD AND TAKES IT DOWN TO THE 21-YARD LINE. LASLAVIC TACKLES HIM, AND NATHAN KEEPS IT IN BOUNDS, AND THE GAME CLOCK GOES DOWN TO 5:20 TO PLAY AND TICKING. >> NO FOOLING AROUND NOW. GIVE THE BALL TO TONY. LET ANDRA FRANKLIN TAKE IT FOR A COUPLE YARDS, EAT UP ANOTHER 45 TO 50 SECONDS ON THE CLOCK. SECOND DOWN AND 8 YARDS TO GO, BUT THE PLAY TOOK 45 TO 50 SECONDS BEFORE THEY'LL HAVE TO START IT IN MOTION AGAIN. >> MIAMI, WHICH COULDN'T GET TO DOING ANYTHING AT THE OUTSET, HAS 23 FIRST DOWNS NOW. SECOND AND 8. BACK TO THE SURE THING. RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE. ANDRA FRANKLIN GETS AHEAD. SAN DIEGO SAYS, "WE'VE GOT THE BALL," AND THEY DO! THE CHARGERS GET A FUMBLE RECOVERY, AND WITH 4:39 LEFT TO PLAY, SAN DIEGO, TRAILING BY 7, GOES ON OFFENSE. >> EVERYTHING'S HAPPENED. BUT THIS IS THE ONE THING THEY JUST KNEW COULDN'T HAPPEN. ANDRA FRANKLIN FUMBLES IN A MOST CRITICAL TIME, WHERE THEY CAN DARN NEAR RUN THE CLOCK OUT. NOW SAN DIEGO HAS GOT A CHANCE TO GET BACK IN IT. >> ON CONSECUTIVE EVENINGS AT THE FAMED ORANGE BOWL, ONE OF THE FAMOUS FOOTBALL ARENAS IN AMERICA, NBC HAS BEEN PLEASED TO BRING YOU TWO GREAT GAMES -- THE 1982 ORANGE BOWL LAST NIGHT, AS CLEMSON WINS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND NOW THIS SPECTACULAR PLAYOFF GAME. FOUTS GETS UP. ELUDES THE RUSH. GETS IT AWAY. AND CHARLIE JOINER COMES BACK AND CATCHES THE BALL. AND HE IS OUT TO THE 33-YARD LINE. HE HAS A FIRST DOWN. THE FUMBLE RECOVERY COULD BE A VERY BIG ONE. >> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT ELSE COULD BE A BIG ONE. KELLEN WINSLOW CAME BACK TO TRY AND HELP OUT CHARLIE JOINER ON THE RUN. HE HIT GLENN BLACKWOOD, AND HE TOOK HIMSELF OUT OF THE BALLGAME. HE MIGHT HAVE BROKEN HIS ARM. >> WHOO. SEE IF WE CAN PICK THAT UP AGAIN. >> DAN WAS ABLE TO GET UP. HAD GOOD ENOUGH PASS PROTECTION. HIS OFFENSIVE LINE'S HOLDING HIM OUT VERY WELL. HE HITS JOINER. NOW WATCH. OKAY. THERE, WINSLOW COMES BACK. BUT HE'S NOT IN THE LINEUP. >> CHANDLER. BOY, YOU'VE GOT TO GET HIM AND THROW A NET ON HIM. >> GEEZ. WHAT A PLAY TO GET OUT OF BOUNDS. >> [ CHUCKLES ] CHANDLER -- THEY SAY HE'S EVEN BETTER<i> AFTER</i> HE GETS THE BALL. >> THEY'RE TAKING A LOOK AT WINSLOW RIGHT NOW. >> YEAH. LOOK AT THAT. THEY'RE LOOKING. >> I'D SURE LIKE TO HAVE HIM IN THERE WHEN I NEED A TOUCHDOWN TO KEEP MY SEASON ALIVE. >> CAUGHT 10 TODAY. >> THAT'S RIGHT. WE MENTIONED HOW HE GOT HURT. WE'LL SEE ANOTHER PICTURE OF IT. HE'S JUST TRYING TO HELP OUT JOINER. MAKES A GOOD BLOCK BUT HURT HIS SHOULDER. >> WHAT A GREAT LOOK AT IT ON THE REPLAY. MUNCIE RUNS. THEY STUFF HIM HARD AT THE 40. THE GAME CLOCK IS RUNNING. 3:43 LEFT TO PLAY. MIAMI DOLPHINS 38, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 31. AND THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO TICK, AND RIGHT NOW WE PAUSE BRIEFLY FOR STATION IDENTIFICATION. THIS IS THE NBC TELEVISION NETWORK. >> WE HAVE NOT SEEN ERIC SIEVERS CATCH ANY BALLS TODAY. WE'RE JUST ABOUT DUE. >> ERIC SIEVERS COMES IN NOW AS THE TIGHT END SET TO THE RIGHT. >> THIRD AND 2. YOU KNOW THEY'RE TAKING TWO DOWNS TO GET THE FIRST. >> FOUTS TAKES A LOOK. JOINER PULLS IT DOWN. HE TAKES A WHACK BUT HOLDS ON. IT'S A FIRST DOWN FOR THE CHARGERS. AND THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING HERE IN THE ORANGE BOWL WITH THAT CATCH, AS THE DOLPHINS NOW SEE THE CHARGERS GET FOUR NEW DOWNS. >> AND THE HITTING IS DEFINITELY PICKING UP. >> IT IS. >> I KNOW THESE FELLAS ARE BUSHED. WHEN YOU'VE GOT A BALLGAME WITH AS MANY POINTS SCORED AS THIS ONE HAS PRODUCED, EVERYONE'S TIRED. THE ACTION LEVEL HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH. THE EXCITEMENT LEVEL IS HIGH. BUT, MAN, THIS IS THE SEASON. IT'S BEEN FABULOUS, AND WE'RE COMING RIGHT DOWN TO THE FINAL GUN IN THIS ONE. 2:26 LEFT TO PLAY. 38-31, MIAMI LEADS, BUT SAN DIEGO HAS A FIRST DOWN, AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT ARM OF DAN FOUTS READY TO UNLOAD AGAIN. COMPLETED TO CHARLIE JOINER, AND HE'S INSIDE THE 40-YARD LINE OF MIAMI. 16-YARD GAIN. TONIGHT ON NBC, ANDY WILLIAMS AND THE OAK RIDGE BOYS JOIN BARBARA MANDRELL AND THE MANDRELL SISTERS. THEN SPARKS FLY WHEN STELLA'S UNCLE BUSTER EXPLODES UPON THE SCENE IN "HARPER VALLEY," FOLLOWED BY GABE KAPLAN IN "LEWIS & CLARK" AND RONA BARRETT IN "TELEVISION INSIDE AND OUT," ALL TONIGHT ON NBC. LOCAL NEWS AND THEN "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE." [ CROWD CHEERING ] THOSE WILL FOLLOW THE FOOTBALL GAME EXCEPT ON THE WEST COAST AND MOUNTAIN ZONE. RIGHT NOW, THE CHARGERS, ON FIRST DOWN, GET SOME GOOD YARDS WITH MUNCIE TAKING IT UP THE MIDDLE. AND THE GAME CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN TO THE 2-MINUTE WARNING. >> GREAT OFFENSIVE PLAY, THOUGH, DON, BY BOTH SIDES. THIS IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE TOP DEFENSES IN THE GAME. >> WITH JOHN BRODIE, THIS IS DON CRIQUI, BACK AT THE ORANGE BOWL IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF FOOTBALL HAS BEEN SPECTACULAR TODAY AS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, DOWN 24-0 IN THE FIRST QUARTER, RALLIED BACK. TRAILED AT THE HALF ON A SPECTACULAR PLAY, A LATERAL PLAY THAT ENDED UP IN THE END ZONE FOR A TOUCHDOWN. THEY WERE DOWN BY ONLY 7 AT THE HALF. THEN THEY TIED THE GAME. THEN THEY FELL BEHIND. THEN MIAMI TIED THE GAME, AND NOW THEY'VE GONE AHEAD. BUT SAN DIEGO IS MOVING HERE WITH 2 MINUTES TO PLAY. FOUTS LOOKS. TIPPED BALL. AND KELLEN WINSLOW WAS OPEN TO GET IT. >> EXCEPT, I THINK, BOKAMPER GOT HIS HAND ON IT. >> HE DID TIP IT. >> THEY LOVE TO PLAY HIM IN PASSING SITUATIONS. HE STARTED TODAY. REMEMBER, ONLY HIS SECOND START OF THE SEASON. HE'S PLAYED VERY WELL. BUT THAT'S THE BIGGEST PLAY HE'S MADE ALL DAY. KELLEN WINSLOW TRYING TO GET OPEN. HAS NO PROBLEM DOING THAT. GETTING HIM THE BALL IS ANOTHER FACTOR. >> KELLEN WINSLOW, WHO'S ALREADY CAUGHT 10 TODAY TO TIE JOHN STALLWORTH FOR THE RECORD IN AN AFC PLAYOFF GAME. THIRD DOWN AND 5 FOR SAN DIEGO. AGAIN IT'S TO WINSLOW. IT'S A FIRST DOWN FOR THE CHARGERS! THE EMOTIONAL LEVEL OF THIS STADIUM IS GOING UP AND DOWN LIKE A ROCKET TODAY. >> IT'S SUCH A TOUGH JOB FOR MIKE KOZLOWSKI TO HANDLE WINSLOW ONCE HE GETS IN A POSITION WHERE HE'S -- LIKE REBOUNDING, ALL RIGHT? HE'S SUCH A BIG TARGET. THAT'S ABOUT ALL KOZLOWSKI CAN DO. HE'S TRYING TO COVER HIM ALL OVER THE FIELD. I DON'T THINK ANY MAN CAN DO IT. >> THE PRESIDENT AND OWNER MIAMI'S DOLPHINS, JOE ROBBIE, ON THE SIDELINES. 1:18 TO PLAY, AND THE CLOCK'S RUNNING. SAN DIEGO WITH A FIRST DOWN BUT TRAILING BY 7. HERE'S A THROW. WES CHANDLER HAS THE BALL INSIDE THE 10-YARD LINE! >> WHAT A CATCH. >> LYLE BLACKWOOD AND FULTON WALKER COMBINE ON THE STOP. >> HOW MANY ATHLETES CAN GO UP, PUT THEIR ATTENTION ON GETTING THE BALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROWD? HE CUTS UNDERNEATH FULTON WALKER, CATCHES THE BALL, AND ACTUALLY PROTECTS HIMSELF WITH HIS SHOULDER PADS AGAINST BLACKWOOD. THAT'S A GREAT RECEPTION. PUTS THEM IN A POSITION TO GET A TIE. >> THE 69 POINTS SCORED IN THIS PLAYOFF GAME, JOHN, ARE A PLAYOFF RECORD. >> YOU'RE LOOKING AT DAN FOUTS. THE TIMES THAT HE'S COME BACK THIS YEAR -- AND THREE TIMES TODAY AFTER IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO BLOW MIAMI OUT -- THE QUALITY THAT'S NECESSARY IS BEING A TOUGH NUT. AND IF THERE EVER WAS A TOUGH NUT, HE'S THE TOUGHEST I'VE MET. >> WELL, THOSE FORMER LOCKER-ROOM BOYS OF THE 49ers, THEY GO ON TO BE GOOD QUARTERBACKS. >> [ LAUGHS ] >> DAN FOUTS COCKS HIS ARM. HE'S GONNA RUN. NOW HE THROWS. THERE'S A MAN OPEN. JAMES BROOKS! TOUCHDOWN, SAN DIEGO, WITH 59 SECONDS TO PLAY. >> ARE YOU KIDDING ME? >> I DON'T KNOW. IT'S GONNA STAND. NO MARKERS DOWN. >> THERE WON'T BE ANY MARKERS. YOU KNOW WHERE HE GOT A LITTLE LUCKY IS HE HAD TWO PEOPLE IN THE AREA OF THE RECEPTION. FOUTS ALMOST LET THE BALL GO HERE. AS HE COMES OUT, HE'S GOT WINSLOW TRYING TO MAKE THE CATCH. THINKS THE BALL'S INTENDED FOR HIM. BROOKS IS PLAYING BACKUP. RUNS RIGHT UNDERNEATH IT AND PICKS IT OFF. BACK TO WITHIN 1. THIS CAN TIE IT UP. >> THE FUMBLE AT THE OTHER END OF THE FIELD WHEN MIAMI WAS POSITIONING THE BALL FOR WHAT WHAT HAVE BEEN A LOCK-UP FIELD GOAL NOW TURNS THE OTHER WAY, AND THE CHARGERS TAKE IT DOWN THE FIELD. AND IF BENIRSCHKE HITS THIS, THE GAME IS TIED WITH 58 SECONDS TO GO. SPORTS FANS, WE ARE TIED UP AT 38 ALL. >> LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT OVERTIME, THOUGH, CRIQ, BECAUSE THIS BABY'S STILL GOT 58 SECONDS. >> WHAT LOOKED TO BE A VERY LONG DAY FOR THE MIAMI DOLPHINS HAS TURNED INTO ONE OF THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE PLAYOFF GAMES IN NFL HISTORY. IT IS ALREADY IN THE BOOKS AS THE HIGHEST-SCORING PLAYOFF GAME EVER, THE 76 POINTS. THERE'S A MISTAKE. SAN DIEGO KICKS OFF OUT OF BOUNDS, SO THEY'LL HAVE TO KICK OFF AGAIN FROM THEIR 30. >> HERE'S ONE THAT WAS BUSTED JUST BEFORE THE END OF THE HALF. YOU REMEMBER WHEN BENIRSCHKE REALLY HAD A GO AT IT FROM 55 YARDS OUT. A LITTLE BODY ENGLISH. IT MISSED BY A FOOT. AS YOU LOOK BACK AT IT, IT LOOKS LIKE A BIG PLAY. BUT BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THE GAME, THE WAY IT WAS PLAYED, ALL THE SCORES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT A PLAY TWO QUARTERS BACK AND FIGURE IT'S AN INDICATOR. SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT ONE THAT WE KNOW IS. HERE IS KELLEN WINSLOW AND BROOKS. IF WINSLOW DON'T GET IT, BROOKS WILL. >> BROOKS MUST HAVE WAVED HIM OFF, SAID, "BIG GUY, I GOT THIS ONE." >> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. WINSLOW IS BEWILDERED. HE'S NOT BELIEVING THAT THERE WAS ANYONE BEHIND HIM. AND WHEN YOU'RE GOING AFTER A BALL, THE REALLY OUTSTANDING RECEIVERS RUN BLIND AFTER IT. HE'S THINKING, "I KNOW I CAN'T GET -- OH, MY GOODNESS." HE'S GOT TO BE THE MOST SURPRISED MAN IN THE HOUSE TO SEE THAT. >> BROOKS COMES UP TO ABOUT HIS LETTERS. NOW THEY KNOCK IT DOWN THE FIELD ON THE HOP. MIAMI PICKS IT AT THE 30. 35. AND EDDIE HILL TAKES IT TO THE 40-YARD LINE. 52 SECONDS LEFT. >> WHOO-EE. >> THAT'S A LOT OF TIME FOR AN OFFENSE. >> YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST PLAYOFF GAME YOU'VE EVER SEEN. MIAMI HAS A PENCHANT FOR BEING IN PRETTY GOOD ONES. THE LAST PLAYOFF GAME THEY PLAYED IN WAS AGAINST KANSAS CITY IN 1971. YOU REMEMBER THAT BABY? >> THAT WENT FOR A WHILE, DIDN'T IT? >> YEAH. >> CHRISTMAS DAY OF '71, MIAMI BEATING KANSAS CITY 27-24. THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE OVERTIME GAMES IN POSTSEASON PLAY. >> EVERYBODY'S AT THE LINE. >> STROCK HAS TIME. HE THROWS. OH, MY. SAN DIEGO VERY NEARLY INTERCEPTS. GLEN EDWARDS COMES UP ON THE BALL AT THE 44-YARD LINE. THE FIRST OVERTIME PLAYOFF GAME -- YANKEE STADIUM IN NEW YORK, DECEMBER 28, 1958. >> WELL, YOU CAN BET RIGHT NOW THAT SHULA'S TRYING TO GET 3 MORE POINTS ON THE BOARD. HE'S GOT STROCK THROWING THE BALL. A LITTLE OVERTHROWN TO JOE ROSE. PINE ALMOST PICKED IT UP. >> THERE'S UWE VON SCHAMANN LOOKING UP AT THE CLOCK. IT SHOWS 46 SECONDS TO GO. BALTIMORE BEAT THE GIANTS IN THAT FIRST PLAYOFF GAME. DALLAS BEAT HOUSTON IN A PLAYOFF GAME IN THE OLD AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN '62. >> NINE MEN ON THE FRONT, DON. THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANY OPEN RECEIVER. STROCK COCKS HIS ARM. LOOKS. IT'S INTERCEPTED AND DROPPED. WAS IT A FREE BALL? >> THAT WAS CAUGHT. THAT'S GOT TO BE A COMPLETION. >> IT IS. IT'S A FIRST DOWN. IT IS A FIRST DOWN FOR MIAMI. AN INTERCEPTION AND A LOST BALL. A FUMBLE. >> WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK. REMEMBER THE RULES. IF YOU HAVE THE BALL IN YOUR GRASP, WHEN IT COMES DOWN, YOU'VE STILL GOT IT, EVEN IF IT GETS JARRED AWAY. WILLIE BUCHANON MAKES A GREAT INTERCEPTION. THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE RULE. WHEN YOU HIT THE GROUND, IF THAT BALL FALLS AWAY, IT STILL COUNTS. >> IT'S INTERESTING, JOHN. THE SAN DIEGO KICKOFF AFTER THE TYING TOUCHDOWN WAS A SQUIB KICK. THEY BOUNCED IT DOWN THE FIELD AND MIAMI GOT IT WITH AN UP BACK AND STARTED OUT IN GOOD FIELD POSITION WITH A MINUTE TO GO. >> WELL, THE FIRST BALL WAS KICKED OUT OF BOUNDS. THEY WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT A LONG KICKOFF RETURN. I DON'T KNOW. THEY'VE PRETTY GOOD ON KICKOFF COVERAGE. IT'S EASY TO SECOND-GUESS. I WON'T TRY TO DO THAT. I KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT MIAMI HAS TO MAKE ABOUT 12 TO 13 MORE YARDS TO GET WITHIN VON SCHAMANN'S RANGE. THAT MEANS ANYTHING INSIDE THE 40. I THINK HE CAN GET UP TO 55. >> THERE IS A WIND BEHIND THE DOLPHINS. IT HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. >> KIND OF A GUSTING, SWIRLING WIND, THOUGH. >> HOW ABOUT THOSE STATS? SEVEN TOUCHDOWN PASSES, 660-SOME-ODD YARDS. >> AND RATHER AMAZING, JOHN -- THE FACT THAT THEY, BETWEEN THEM, HAVE PUT THE BALL UP 76 TIMES AND ONLY TWO HAVE BEEN INTERCEPTED. >> THAT'S RIGHT. YOU THINK VON SCHAMANN ISN'T A LITTLE PENSIVE? >> HE DOES WELL IN PRESSURE SITUATIONS, UWE VON SCHAMANN. HE'S HOPING TO GET THE CHANCE. 34 SECONDS TO GO. ANOTHER BIG ONE COMING UP TOMORROW ON NBC -- BUFFALO AT CINCINNATI. PREGAME AT 12:30. HERE'S A PASS DOWNFIELD! AND THE DOLPHINS ARE IN RANGE. 26 SECONDS. >> WE SAW VON SCHAMANN IN MEDITATION, WHICH EVERYONE THAT FOLLOWS MIAMI KNOWS HE GOES THROUGH IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS. NOW IT'S TIME TO GET IN AND DO THE KICKING. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER SHULA WILL TRY AND GET A LITTLE BIT FARTHER DOWN THE FIELD OR SEND VON SCHAMANN IN NOW. A PENALTY WOULD MAKE IT AN AWFULLY LONG FIELD-GOAL TRY. NOW HE'S GOT IT WITHIN A 47-YARD RANGE WITH THE WIND. >> SO IT'S FIRST AND 10 NOW. DOWN TO THE 31-YARD LINE. >> WHAT A PERFECT THROW. THIS IS JUST CAPPING OFF ONE OF THE GREATEST PERFORMANCES I'VE EVER SEEN. >> GLAD YOU COULD BE WITH US TODAY ON NBC. STARTING OUT '82 WITH THOSE THREE BOWL GAMES YESTERDAY. A NATIONAL CHAMPION CROWNED HERE LAST NIGHT WHEN THE CLEMSON TIGERS COMPLETED THEIR PERFECT SEASON. AND NOW THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, WHO HAVE NOT WON A PLAYOFF GAME SINCE 1974, LOOKING TO PUT IT UP WITH A FIELD GOAL IF THEY GET IN RANGE. SO DELIGHTED YOU CAN BE WITH US, AND THERE'S MORE TOMORROW, WHEN BUFFALO PLAYS AT CINCINNATI. THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF NBC SPORTS IS DON OHLMEYER. FOOTBALL COORDINATING PRODUCER TED NATHANSON. THE TELECAST OF TODAY'S GAME HAS BEEN PRODUCED BY GEORGE FINKEL AND DIRECTED BY JOHN GONZALEZ. AND WE THANK THEM ALL AND OUR EXCELLENT NBC TECHNICAL TEAM THAT'S PUT THE PICTURES ON THE SCREEN. THE MIAMI DOLPHINS LOST A FUMBLE DOWN HERE NOT THAT LONG AGO, AND THE CHARGERS WENT THE OTHER WAY TO TIE THE GAME. LOOK AT THOSE -- 76 POINTS. >> AND EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER, THEY WERE ALL EARNED. EARLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER, THERE WERE SOME GIMMES. BUT SINCE THEN, BOTH OFFENSES HAVE BEEN RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE FIELD. >> FIRST DOWN. 23 SECONDS TO PLAY IN A TIE GAME. VIGORITO RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE. HE'S DOWN TO THE 26. 17 SECONDS LEFT. >> THEY'RE GONNA LET IT RUN DOWN, I THINK. >> HE'S GOT IT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT IT. SO NOW THOSE PLACEKICKERS, WHO ALL THE JOKES ARE MADE ABOUT, GET SET TO COME OUT. >> IT'S TIME TO STAND UP AND GET COUNTED. HE'S DONE IT ABOUT AS WELL AS ANYONE EVER HAS IN THIS GAME. >> WHILE WE HAVE THIS BRIEF MOMENT, OUR THANKS TO OUR NBC STATISTICIAN STEVE DANZ, TO HARRY VON SUSKIL, MIKE HORVATH IN THE BOOTH. 4 SECONDS LEFT TO GO AS VON SCHAMANN COMES OUT. ONCE, WHEN HE WAS COLLEGIAN AT OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA WAS THEN PLAYING AT OHIO STATE WHEN OHIO STATE WAS THE NUMBER-ONE TEAM IN THE COUNTRY. WITH TIME ALMOST OUT, HE WENT OUT ON THE FIELD, AND THE BUCKEYES CALLED A COUPLE OF TIME-OUTS, AND EVERYBODY AT OHIO STADIUM WAS CHANTING, "BLOCK THAT KICK," AND HE JUST STOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD AND WAVED AND DIRECTED THE CROWD THEN WENT OUT AND RAPPED ONE FOR ABOUT 47 YARDS THAT WON THE GAME. SO HE CAN HANDLE THE HEAT. HE'S DONE THAT HERE IN MIAMI. HE SENT A VERY POPULAR DOLPHIN TO THE SIDELINES, OR AT LEAST AWAY FROM THE DOLPHINS, WHEN GARO YEPREMIAN, THE BOOTIN' CYPRIOT, WENT TO TIE-MAKING. HE MADE A FEW STOPS BETWEEN THEN AND RETIREMENT. NOW VON SCHAMANN WITH THE HOLD BY DON STROCK AT THE 33-YARD LINE. IT'LL BE A 43-YARD ATTEMPT, STRAIGHTAWAY. A WIND AT HIS BACK. KUECHENBERG SNAPS, AND THAT'S ALMOST AS BIG AS THE KICK ITSELF. BLOCKED! NO GOOD. WE GO TO OVERTIME. OVERTIME IN MIAMI. >> AND OLD MO' SHIFTS AGAIN. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET TWO CHANCES. WE REMEMBER DANELO MADE GOOD ON HIS SECOND EFFORT. A LOT OF TIMES, YOU DON'T GET THAT SECOND ONE. TAKE A LOOK. THE SNAP WAS JUST A LITTLE HIGH. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. VON SCHAMANN DIDN'T REALLY HIT IT WELL. I DON'T THINK IT WAS BLOCKED AT ALL. I REALLY THINK THAT HE JUST DIDN'T HIT THE BALL VERY WELL. IT CAME OUT OF THERE -- KIND OF A SPUTTER BALL. BAD TIME TO HAVE ONE IF YOU'RE FOR MIAMI. AND NEW LIFE FOR SAN DIEGO. >> BRODE, YOU AND I ARE GONNA HAVE TO GET A ROOM HERE AT THE ORANGE BOWL. WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME HERE. >> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE TWO BETTER FOOTBALL GAMES THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST TWO DAYS, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED. AND IT IS INDEED NOT OVER YET. NOW, OF COURSE, THE OVERTIME, THEY GO TO A 15-MINUTE MAX IN THE FIRST OVERTIME PERIOD. THE FIRST SCORE ENDS IT. EACH TEAM, IN THE PLAYOFFS, GETS THREE TIME-OUTS IN OVERTIME. IN THE REGULAR SEASON, THEY GET TWO. AND, OF COURSE, IN THE REGULAR SEASON IN OVERTIME, IF THEY PLAY THE FIRST 15 MINUTES AND THERE'S NO SCORE, IT GOES IN THE BOOKS AS A TIE. AND THAT HAPPENED HERE IN MIAMI WHEN THE JETS AND MIAMI DOLPHINS PLAYED TO A REGULAR-SEASON TIE. BUT TONIGHT WE'LL PLAY IT UNTIL SOMEBODY WINS IT. >> AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST COIN TOSSES IN THE HISTORY OF THESE TWO GROUPS IS ABOUT TO BE MADE, BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AND SAY, "OKAY. 76 POINTS HAVE BEEN SCORED. I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE BALL." >> WELL, YOU COULD PULL AN ABNER HAYNES. PLAYOFF GAME MANY YEARS AGO, ABNER HAYNES, HIS TEAM WON THE TOSS, AND ABNER ELECTED TO KICK OFF. >> [ LAUGHS ] >> AND THEY WON ANYWAY. WE'VE JUST BEEN INFORMED IT WAS THIS MAN, WHO'S DONE SO MUCH OFFENSIVELY FOR SAN DIEGO ALL DAY LONG, WHO GOT HIS HAND ON A GAME-WINNING FIELD GOAL, WHICH FORCED IT INTO OVERTIME. DID A LITTLE FOR THE DEFENSE THAT TIME. >> AND THE FLIP OF THE COIN WORKS SAN DIEGO'S WAY ALSO, AS THEY'LL GET THE KICKOFF TO OPEN OVERTIME. JAMES BROOKS FIELDS IT AT HIS 4. [ CROWD CHEERING ] AND SUPERIOR SPECIAL-TEAMS PLAY. STEVE SHULL COMES DOWN AND MAKES THE HIT INSIDE THE 15-YARD LINE OF THE CHARGERS. >> AND THIS IS THE REASON WE'RE HERE. FOUTS, 8 YARDS TO GO FOR A TOUCHDOWN, TRIES TO PUT THE BALL TO WINSLOW. BROOKS RUNNING UNDER IT. PULLS IT TO WITHIN 1. BENIRSCHKE, EXTRA POINT. 38-38. BUT IT'S GETTING TOUGHER RIGHT NOW. THEY'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO MOVE IT. >> IT WAS IN 1977 THAT WE HAD THE LAST PLAYOFF OVERTIME GAME. OAKLAND BEAT BALTIMORE 37-31 IN DECEMBER OF '77. FOUTS ON FIRST DOWN. TAKES A LOOK. SWINGS IT OUT. MUNCIE CAN'T GET NEAR IT. >> ONE OF THE FEW TIMES THAT YOU'LL EVER SEE MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN FOUTS AND ONE OF HIS BACKS IN A SIMPLE LITTLE ROUTE. THAT TIME, MUNCIE STOPPED. FOUTS THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO CONTINUE ON. TRIED TO HIT HIM ON THE DEAD RUN. I THINK CONDITIONS GET TO EVERYBODY. BUT DAN FOUTS LESS THAN ANYBODY I'VE SEEN. >> THIS GAME WILL GET TO SOME PEOPLE. WHOO. GOTTEN TO ME. UWE VON SCHAMANN HAD ONE CHANCE. HE'S HOPING FOR ANOTHER. SECOND AND 10, SAN DIEGO. WE'RE IN OVERTIME. IT'S TIED, 38 ALL. KELLEN WINSLOW GETS ANOTHER ONE AND GETS AHEAD. IT LOOKS LIKE HE HAS A FIRST DOWN FOR THE CHARGERS. >> WHAT A PLAY. I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN YOU'RE A TARGET AS BIG AS WINSLOW -- AND IF YOU SAW THE PLAY FROM ITS INCEPTION, WHILE FOUTS WAS OUT THERE SCRAMBLING FOR HIS LIFE, HE WAS OUT BY THE SIDELINE JUMPING UP AND DOWN. NOW, AT 6'6", A QUARTERBACK MIGHT FIND YOU SOMETIMES. THERE HE IS. GIVING FOUTS THE TARGET. PICKS HIM UP. BIG FIRST DOWN. GETS OUT OF TROUBLE. >> KELLEN WINSLOW GIVES YOU A WHOLE LOT TO LOOK AT AS THE TARGET. NOW HE'S CAUGHT 12 PASSES. HE HAS JUST CONTINUED TO BREAK HIS OWN AFC PLAYOFF RECORD. HERE COMES MUNCIE. RUNNING HARD TO THE OUTSIDE. KNOCKED OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE 33-YARD LINE. SHORT GAIN ON THE PLAY. 30 SECONDS GONE BY NOW IN OVERTIME. >> GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAY BY BETTERS TO STRING THE PLAY OUT, KEEP MUNCIE FROM TURNING THE CORNER. [ WHISTLE BLOWS ] >> DOUG BETTERS, DEFENSIVE LEFT END, HE MISSED MIAMI'S LAST GAME WITH AN INFECTION IN HIS BACK. BACK AND READY TO GO. BAUMHOWER, THE BIG MIDDLE GUARD. KIM BOKAMPER STARTING AT RIGHT END FOR DEN HERDER, ALTHOUGH DEN HERDER'S BEEN IN THERE TO RUSH THE PASSER. LARRY GORDON, A.J. DUHE, EARNEST RHONE BACKING THE LINE. HERE IS FOUTS TAKING A LOOK. THEY ALMOST GET TO HIM. AND THEY SEPARATE THE BALL FROM KELLEN WINSLOW. >> WE'VE GOT A PENALTY DOWN THERE, TOO, DONNIE. >> AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. >> FALSE START. NUMBER 66. >> KELLEN'S HURT AGAIN. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY IN VERY HUMID WEATHER. >> THEY HAVE NO CHOICE ON A FALSE START. THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE 5 YARDS. SO NOW IT'S SECOND DOWN AND 12. FOUTS STANDS IN. THROWS AND MAKES THE CONNECTION. IT'S A FIRST DOWN. CHARLIE JOINER COMING OFF THE LEFT FLANK. TURNS UP OVER THE MIDDLE. AND THE CHARGERS ARE OUT TO THEIR 42-YARD LINE WITH A 14-YARD GAIN. >> BOY, I'LL TELL YOU. YOU CAN GO TO JUST ABOUT ANY ONE OF THEIR RECEIVERS IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS. YOU KEEP SAYING, "HEY, HERE'S A BIG THIRD-DOWN PLAY." CHANDLER'S MADE THEM, JOINER'S MADE THEM, WINSLOW'S MADE THEM, MUNCIE'S PICKED THEM UP ON THE GROUND, AND FOUTS HAS BEEN UNERRING. THROWN ABOUT THREE BAD BALLS ALL DAY LONG. THAT'S NOT MANY WHEN YOU'RE THROWING 40. >> WELL, THEY'RE UP IN THE 80s, THE TWO QUARTERBACKS TOGETHER, AND THERE'S BEEN ONLY TWO INTERCEPTIONS. ONE EACH WAY. FIRST AND 10 NOW, SAN DIEGO. IN OVERTIME. MUNCIE TAKES IT UP THE MIDDLE. HE KEEPS ON TRUCKIN' AND GETS ALL THE WAY TO THE MIAMI 45-YARD LINE. >> OH, BOY. OFFENSIVE LINE IS GRINDING NOW. THEY KNOW -- "ONE DRIVE IS ALL WE NEED." >> MIAMI HAS LED ONCE IN THIS GAME AFTER TRAILING 24-0. THAT'S WHEN THEY WENT AHEAD, 38-31. >> GOOD OFFENSIVE LINE SURGE. YOU CAN SEE THAT DOUG WILKERSON COULDN'T EVEN FIND ANYBODY TO BLOCK. WHEN YOU CAN THROW THE WAY THE CHARGERS THROW, ONCE IN A WHILE, THAT'LL HAPPEN. >> THIS GAME KEEPS ON GOING TILL WE HAVE A WINNER. WE'VE PLAYED 2 MINUTES IN OVERTIME NOW. FOUTS THROWS. AND THE FREE BALL. IT WAS OFF THE HANDS OF TIGHT END ERIC SIEVERS. LARRY GORDON WAS THE CLOSEST TO IT WHEN IT CAME DOWN. >> NOW WE'VE GOT THE OTHER OF THE MOMENT... >> BENIRSCHKE. >> [ LAUGHS ] ...TRYING TO LOOSEN UP. BUT THEY'RE NOT IN FIELD-GOAL POSITION YET. SIEVERS MAKES A PRETTY GOOD MOVE ON KOZLOWSKI, WHO'S IN IN REPLACEMENT OF WINSLOW. YOU NOTICE IT HASN'T CHANGED ANY OF THE DEFENSIVE THOUGHTS AS FAR AS MIAMI'S CONCERNED. JUST TAKE HIS REPLACEMENT, MAN FOR MAN. >> SECOND DOWN AND 10. THEY GET FOUTS BACK AT THE 45-YARD LINE! KIM BOKAMPER COMES FROM THE RIGHT END. AND ONE OF THE FEW TIMES LATE IN THE GAME THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO CATCH DAN FOUTS, THEY DO. A BIG, BIG PLAY. >> BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN COMING UP WITH BIG PLAY AFTER BIG PLAY. HE'S IN THERE BECAUSE OF HIS PASS RUSH. HE DOES HIS JOB AND GETS TO FOUTS. >> ONLY THE SECOND SACK TODAY OF QUARTERBACK DAN FOUTS OF SAN DIEGO. >> HE DOESN'T GET MANY. >> AND NOW WE'RE 2 1/2 MINUTES INTO OVERTIME. AND THIRD AND 20 COMING UP FOR SAN DIEGO. FOUTS STANDS IN. FINALLY THROWS IT. HERE COMES KELLEN WINSLOW. HE GOT THE FIRST DOWN! >> HE MAY HAVE. >> KELLEN WINSLOW GETS THE FIRST DOWN. THIRD AND 20 AND SAN DIEGO DELIVERS. >> I'M TELLING YOU. THEY PLAYED IT OFF. THEY PLAYED IT SOFT. ANYTHING JUST TO KEEP -- THAT'S JUST FATIGUE, FOLKS. HE HAS PLAYED EVERY PLAY AS HARD AS HE COULD. HIS SHOULDER IS HURTING HIM. THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD A SHOULDER-PAD CHANGE. BUT HE'D LIKE TO HAVE A BRAND-NEW RIGHT ARM AT THE MOMENT. HE JUST SUCKED IT UP. HE KNOWS WHERE HE HAS TO GET. MADE AN EXCELLENT PLAY TO GET UNDERNEATH THE CROWD. KOZLOWSKI'S GOT AHOLD OF HIM AGAIN, BUT NOT BEFORE HE PICKS UP THE FIRST. >> AND THAT WAS AS BIG A PLAY AS ANY. >> THEY ALL BECOME SO BIG RIGHT NOW. >> KELLEN WINSLOW WITH A HALL OF FAME DAY. 12 RECEPTIONS TODAY. BUT NOW HE'S DOWN AND OUT OF THE GAME. ERIC SIEVERS IS BACK IN AS ON THIRD AND 20, FOUTS AND WINSLOW CONNECT AGAIN. THIS IS DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE AT THE ORANGE BOWL IN MIAMI. WE'RE IN OVERTIME IN THIS AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME. THE MIAMI DOLPHINS LED ONLY ONCE. THEY WERE UP 38-31, AND THEY WERE DRIVING AND POSITIONED FOR WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOCK-UP FIELD GOAL IN REGULATION. BUT ROOKIE ANDRA FRANKLIN LOST THE BALL ON A FUMBLE. SAN DIEGO WENT THE OTHER WAY, SCORED, AND THE GAME WENT TO OVERTIME. AND NOW THE CHARGERS, LOOKING TO GET IN POSITION, TAKE IT DOWN INSIDE THE 25-YARD LINE. THEY ARE IN FIELD-GOAL RANGE. WELL, WE'VE GONE 4 MINUTES INTO OVERTIME NOW, AND THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, WINNING THAT FLIP AND TAKING IT DOWN THE FIELD, DOWN TO THE 23-YARD LINE. IT WOULD BE A 40-YARD ATTEMPT FROM HERE. >> KNOWING FOUTS' HISTORY, THOUGH, HE'S GONE FOR TOUCHDOWNS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. SO AGAIN, I DON'T GUESS YOU'LL CHANGE HIS VIEWPOINT. >> JAMES BROOKS WORKING HIS WAY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 9-YARD LINE. NOW WHAT DOES COACH CORYELL DO? >> BOY, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. THEY JUST GET AFTER IT AND DON'T STOP TILL THE GUN SOUNDS. HERE WE GO. JAMES BROOKS WITH A BIG PLAY. THE OFFENSIVE LINE REJUVENATED WITH A CHANCE TO GET BACK IN THE BALLGAME. 82 PASSES THROWN TODAY, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE ANY MORE. >> [ LAUGHS ] OVERTIME IS NOW ALMOST 5 MINUTES OLD, AS DON SHULA CAN ONLY HOPE NOW. THEY'RE GONNA TAKE IT RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE AGAIN. HERE IS CHUCK MUNCIE. DOWN TO ABOUT THE 8-YARD LINE. IT'LL BE A 25-YARD FIELD GOAL FROM HERE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE 7-YARD-DEEP HOLE AND THE EXTRA 10 INTO THE END ZONE. AND HERE COMES THE FIELD-GOAL UNIT. ROLF BENIRSCHKE. ROLF BENIRSCHKE COMES OUT. YOU'LL REMEMBER HIS COUNTERPART, UWE VON SCHAMANN, NOT THAT LONG AGO APPEARED TO HAVE WHAT WOULD BE THE GAME-WINNER FOR MIAMI SET TO GO AS REGULATION TIME CLOSED OUT. BUT HIS WAS TIPPED. >> THE LAST BIG SITUATION HE GOT IN, HE WAS SUCCESSFUL AGAINST TAMPA BAY IN THE LAST FEW SECONDS OF A BALLGAME. HE'S A VERY GOOD CLUTCH PLAYER. >> WE ALL FIND OUT TOGETHER RIGHT NOW. IT'S NO GOOD! WE'VE PLAYED OVER 12 MINUTES OF OVERTIME HERE AT THE ORANGE BOWL IN MIAMI. DON CRIQUI WITH JOHN BRODIE IN THIS AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME. THERE IS MORE TOMORROW ON NBC AS THE BUFFALO BILLS TAKE ON THE BENGALS AT CINCINNATI. "NFL '81" BEGINS WITH THE PREGAME SHOW AT 12:30. HERE'S A THROW. SIEVERS GOES FOR THE BALL BUT CAN'T GET TO IT. >> I'LL TELL YOU. BUT BLACKWOOD COULD. >> YEAH. ALMOST THERE. IT'S SECOND DOWN AND 10 FOR SAN DIEGO. >> EVERY PLAY IS SO CRITICAL. >> EVERYONE ABSOLUTELY SPENT ON THAT PLAYING FIELD. >> WE SEE JOHN CAPPELLETTI AND JIM BROOKS IN THE BACKFIELD. MUNCIE HAS NOT RETURNED TO THE ACTION. GLEN EDWARDS. >> CHUCK MUNCIE, WHO LOST THE FUMBLE THAT SEEMINGLY SET MIAMI IN POSITION TO WIN IT WITH THE FIELD GOAL, WAS SLOW GETTING UP AFTER THE HIT AND HE'S NOT COME BACK. AND NOW FOUTS TAKES A LOOK. THROWS HARD. WES CHANDLER GOES UP IN THE AIR, AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE CAME DOWN WITH THE BALL. HE DID AT MIDFIELD. >> OH. >> WES CHANDLER GOES UP, CATCHES IT, IS HAMMERED, AND GOES DOWN AND HOLDS THE BALL. AN 18-YARD GAIN AND A CHARGER FIRST DOWN AS THEY COME OUT QUICKLY TO ATTEND TO WES CHANDLER. >> IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE WIND GOT KNOCKED OUT. >> IN A GAME OF STANDOUT PLAYS, WES CHANDLER CERTAINLY MADE ONE A MOMENT AGO FOR SAN DIEGO, GOING UP IN THE AIR. CATCHES THIS 18-YARD PASS. TAKES A TREMENDOUS HIT. GOES DOWN AND HOLDS ON. IT'S A FIRST DOWN FOR THE CHARGERS IN OVERTIME. WE'VE PLAYED 13 MINUTES OF OVERTIME FOOTBALL. 38-38 THE NUMBERS. FOUTS TAKES A LOOK. DANCING. LOOKING TO GET AWAY. LONG THROW DOWNFIELD. CHARLIE JOINER HAS THE BALL. HE'S NOT DONE YET! INSIDE THE 10. HE'S DOWN TO THE -- KNOCKED DOWN AT THE 10-YARD LINE AS HE CUT BACK AND BACK OUTSIDE THE 10. AND NOW THE CHARGERS HAVE A POINT-BLANK FIELD-GOAL ATTEMPT COMING UP IF THEY SO SELECT. A 40-YARD GAIN ON THAT PLAY. >> NOW CHARLIE JOINER'S DOWN. I'LL TELL YOU. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANYBODY'S MIND ABOUT HOW THE OFFENSIVE LINE IS PROTECTING FOR DAN FOUTS -- WHEN YOU KNOW THEY'RE TIRED, BOTH SIDES ARE TIRED, THEY'RE HOLDING PEOPLE OFF, GIVING FOUTS ENOUGH CHANCE TO GET DOWN TO HIS RECEIVERS IN THE SECONDARY. ABOUT 430-SOME-ODD YARDS FOR THE DAY FOR DAN. >> AND, JOHN, THERE'S BEEN VIRTUALLY NO HOLDING CALLS ON EITHER OFFENSIVE LINE. >> NO, THERE HAVEN'T. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA ELECT TO GO FOR A FIELD GOAL RIGHT HERE. BUT I THINK I'M WRONG. >> THEY'RE CERTAINLY GONNA THINK ABOUT IT. >> [ LAUGHS ] NO, THEY JUST SENT ROLF IN THE BALLGAME, SO LET'S HAVE ANOTHER WHACK AT IT. >> WELL, THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE IS THE 11. IT'D BE A 28-YARDER. THIS ONE MIGHT DO IT. BUT WE'VE THOUGHT THAT BEFORE, HAVEN'T WE? >> YES, SIR. A LITTLE WIND IN HIS FACE, GOING FROM HIS RIGHT TO THE LEFT. >> ED LUTHER HOLDS. IT IS UP, AND THE GAME IS OVER! THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS WIN WITH ALMOST 14 MINUTES OF OVERTIME PLAYED. A 29-YARD FIELD GOAL BY ROLF BENIRSCHKE, AND THE CHARGERS MOVE ON TO THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. >> I'LL TELL YOU, DON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN SAY. IT WAS SEEN. YOU HAVE THREE FIELD GOALS THAT WERE MISSED THAT 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES, BOTH THOSE KICKERS WOULD MAKE. FINALLY, THE OFFENSE RAN UP AND DOWN THE FIELD LONG ENOUGH, GET A FINAL FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT AND MAKE IT. DAN FOUTS, I THINK, PLAYED ONE OF THE MOST COURAGEOUS BALLGAMES I'VE EVER SEEN A QUARTERBACK PLAY. HIS WHOLE OFFENSE IS TO BE LAUDED. THEY PLAYED AGAINST A GREAT MIAMI DEFENSE. GAVE BENIRSCHKE A CHANCE TO GET BACK IN GOOD STEAD WITH HIS TEAMMATES, AND THEY GO ON TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
The 1981 Chargers went through opposite sides of hell in that postseason. Playing their Divisional game in that heat and humidity in Miami, then going to Cincinnati and being freezer-burned in the AFC Championship. I can't think of another team since who have had to take on extreme weather in multiple playoff games, not just one.
Brodie: I don't think we'll ever see another player throw for 300 yards average over a 16 game season ever again
Holy shit was that epic. I had only heard of this game but never actually watched it and wow is all I can say. The comeback itself was exciting but watching Kellen Winslow literally put his all out there was absolutely amazing.
Watching the game already. In the 4th quarter and dam this is exciting
Also I like this commentating crew. Shout out to 49ers forgotten legend John Brodie
Even though the Dolphins lost, this game was the zenith of WoodStrock. Super Bowl XVII was the nadir.
This was the game that cemented my love for football. I loved that Chargers team. Such a shame they could never build a defense.
holy moly that play at the end of the first half
An oldie but a goody.
That penalty at 2:15:28....thank god for some of these rule changes.