Bradley Ruzicka

Headline: Hall of Fame K Jan Stenerud helps kick start Green Bay Packers to six wins in final eight games but team falls just short of the playoffs.

Regular Season Record: 8 – 8 (Third Place NFC Central Division)

Offseason Highlights: Once Green Bay Packers’ Head Coach Bart Starr was relieved of his job as General Manager after the 1980 season, the search began for a successor. It turned out to be a short search. After ten days, despite the stated goal of bringing on board another “football mind” to assist Starr after he was stripped of the GM title on December 23, the Board of Directors ended the process with the statement, “The Packer Executive Committee feels it is not necessary to engage another employee to carry out many of the duties that formerly were the responsibility of the coach and general manager.” Starr would remain in control of the draft and personnel decisions, while continuing to answer directly to the team president, despite being a lame duck coach with only one year remaining on his contract.

Instead of hiring a new GM, it was announced on January 7 that current Green Bay front office personnel Bob Harlan and Business General Manager Tom Miller were to “share” the GM’s duties, with neither actually assigned the title, and with their new duties not specifically spelled out. Former Vince Lombardi and Dan Devine right hand man Pat Peppler, former Minnesota Vikings’ and Chicago Bears’ GM Jim Finks, the Dallas Cowboy’s Personnel Director Gil Brandt, and former Head Coach and GM of the Denver Broncos, John Ralston, expressed interest. Unfortunately for the Packers’ organization, no one seemed to be given serious consideration. To the long term detriment of the franchise, the general manager position would remain unfilled for the next eleven years.

Starr’s demotion wasn’t the only change heading into the 1981 season. His coaching staff continued to change. Interim Defensive Line Coach Jim Champion was let go after taking over for Fred Von Appen, when he resigned in 1980 due to the Ezra Johnson hot dog eating incident. Assistant Offensive Line Coach Tom Lovat left to take a position with the St. Louis Cardinals. Player changes continued as well, including trading starting S Steve Luke and an undisclosed draft choice to the Atlanta Falcons for S Frank Reed and LB Dewey McLain on July 22. Luke had been picked by Starr in the fourth round of the 1975 draft and had started 62 straight games between 1977 and 1980. After sitting on the Falcons’ bench the entire 1981 season, he retired with a total of 10 career interceptions for 149 yards and 1 touchdown.

On a positive note, the 1981 schedule saw Green Bay as the recipient of the league’s parity scheduling for clubs in five team divisions, such as the NFC Central, with the Packers playing a home and home schedule against the other fifth place team in their conference and home and home games against the other two fifth place teams from the other conference. Tampa Bay benefited from this type of schedule in 1979, when they won the division, as did the Detroit Lions in 1980, when they tied the Minnesota Vikings for first place. On the other hand, Green Bay’s 1981 draft turned out to be one of their least productive in many years, and arguably one of the worst in team history, despite having the 6th overall selection.

It was the fourth time in Starr’s tenure the Packers had a top ten draft choice, and the second year in a row they owned the 6th pick. Starr had flown USC DB Ronnie Lott to Green Bay and led him to believe he’d be their selection. Instead, on draft day, Starr chose University of California QB Rich Campbell, with Lott snapped up by the San Francisco 49ers two pick later. Campbell would play just four years for the Packers, with no starts and only 31 completions in 68 attempts for 386 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He was released in 1985, and subsequently signed by the Los Angeles Raiders, where he would not play a game. Lott, meanwhile, would be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 with a total of 63 interceptions for 730 yards and 5 touchdowns, and is widely considered to be one of the best of all-time at the safety position as well as one of the best players in NFL history.

According to Green Bay historian Cliff Christl in 2016, “When Starr announced his decision in the Packers’ draft room, Lloyd Eaton, the team’s West Coast scout, turned to Bob Harlan, who was sitting next to him, and whispered, ‘That’s a mistake. He [Campbell] can’t play.’ Eaton was a respected scout and had a reputation for being a straight shooter. Plus he probably spent more time than anyone in the organization studying Campbell and Lott. … Harlan asked Eaton at that point, ‘Then why didn’t you speak up and say something?’ Eaton responded, ‘They don’t listen to me anyway.'” Campbell was now expected to be QB Lynn Dickey’s heir apparent, and possibly a rookie starter, signing a four year, $1 million contract, a significant amount of money for a player at that time.

With Dickey available, why did Starr pass on Lott and take Campbell with 1981’s first pick? According to Stanton Greene in his book, Falling Starr – Bart Starr As Head Coach of The Green Bay Packers 1975-83, “there had been a lot of talk before the draft about the team needing a quarterback which seems ridiculous now, but Dickey had had a rough year in 1980. … He continued to battle injuries and [David] Whitehurst had been banged up as well. Little did anyone know that Dickey was finally about to hit his stride.” Prior to training camp, there was talk that Whitehurst would be traded now that Green Bay had Campbell. However, according to Greene, “It was doubtful a trade was ever considered once the coaches got a real look at Campbell in training camp with his stunted pass delivery. Starr knew almost immediately that he’d made a mistake.”

To this day, Campbell is considered one of the worst selections in Green Bay history. The Packers’ second round pick, TE Gary Lewis, was also a wasted choice, playing just four seasons, starting only three games, catching 21 passes for 285 yards and one touchdown, before his career ended prematurely due to a blood disorder. Adding insult to injury, their third round selection, P Ray Stachowicz, would play only two seasons in Green Bay, before being moved on to the Chicago Bears. The Gary Lewis pick in particular was baffling given the Packers already had a solid tight end in Paul Coffman. In the previous two seasons, Coffman caught 98 passes for more than 1,200 yards and 7 touchdowns. Out of 12 total draft picks, none would become a consistent starter and none would play for Green Bay more than five years.

The 1981 NFL draft did yield a total of six future Pro Football Hall of Famers, including the 2nd overall selection, University of North Carolina LB Lawrence Taylor (New York Giants), the 8th overall selection, Ronnie Lott (San Francisco 49ers), the 38th overall selection, Baylor University LB Mike Singletary (Chicago Bears), the 48th overall selection, Villanova DE Howie Long (Oakland Raiders), the 51st overall selection, University of Pittsburgh LB Rickey Jackson (New Orleans Saints), and the 69th overall selection, OG Russ Grimm (Washington Redskins), also out of Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, two former Packers, DE Willie Davis and C Jim Ringo, were inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 1981. After being acquired from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for OL A.D. Williams in 1960, Davis anchored Green Bay’s defensive line for the last 10 out of his 12 seasons in the NFL, playing 138 consecutive regular season games, and in part of 162 regular season games. Davis was a member of all five of Vince Lombardi’s NFL title winning teams, and played in Super Bowls I and II. Davis played in an era when neither tackles nor sacks were official statistics. However, John Turney, a member of the Professional Football Researchers Association, reports that his research indicates Davis had in excess of 100 sacks during his Packers’ career, “possibly more than 120,” including a minimum of 40 over the 1963-65 seasons alone.

Ringo played for four different head coaches in his 11 year Green Bay tenure, making 126 consecutive starts. During those first six seasons under three different coaches, the Packers went 20-50-2 (.291). But Lombardi’s arrival in 1959 changed everything. For Ringo’s next five seasons, the Packers went 50-15-1 (.765) and 2-1 in championship games. Ringo certainly knew individual success before the Lombardi era, attending his first of seven straight Pro Bowls in 1957, but he flourished under the coaching legend, earning consensus All-Pro honors from 1959-63. Ringo’s speed and mobility made him an ideal blocker for Lombardi’s famous power sweep. All but one of RB Jim Taylor’s five 1,000 yard seasons came with Ringo at center.

Finally, one rule change of note. As of the 1981 season, it was now illegal for any player to put adhesive or slippery substances, such as the product “stickum”, on his body, equipment, or uniform. This rule is known as both the “Lester Hayes Rule” and the “Fred Biletnikoff Rule”, since both the present and former Oakland Raiders’ players were notorious for using sticky substances to make it easier for them to catch the football.

Regular Season Highlights: Almost. That was the best that could be said of the 1981 season after Green Bay started lousy, finished strong, and, at 8-8, missed reaching the playoffs by one game. The Packers started the season with only two wins in their first eight games but then did an about face, finishing 6-2 in their final eight contests, almost the reverse of the 1978 season, the last time Green Bay had a legitimate chance at a playoff berth. The Packers finished third in the NFC Central Division behind the 9-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 8-8 Detroit Lions. The Lions finished ahead of the Packers based on better record against common opponents (4-4 to Green Bay’s 3-5).

At the outset, Green Bay looked strong, with Starr’s first winning preseason in his seven year tenure, and an opening day road victory over the Chicago Bears, 16-9. But a loss in their home opener at Lambeau Field in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, 31-17, after allowing 31 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, started a three game skid. Similar to 1980, the Packers were at 1-3 and had been outscored 69-105. After a brief respite in the form of a road victory over the New York Giants, 27-14, in Week 5, Green Bay dropped another three in a row to enter mid-season with a 2-6 record. QB Lynn Dickey was banged up, having to yield to backup QB David Whitehurst in losses to the Minnesota Vikings, 30-13, in Week 4, the San Francisco 49ers, 13-3, in Week 7, and, most seriously, against Detroit, 31-27, in Week 8, forcing him to miss three out of the next four games.

Once again, with a losing record at the mid-point of the year for the sixth time in seven seasons, the pressure was on to replace Starr. In October, 90% of the respondents to a Racine newspaper’s poll said it was time for a change. However, a majority of the players stood firm in support of their head coach. LB Rich Wingo spoke for many of the players when he said, “It’d be the biggest mistake they ever made. He’s a damn good coach.” Player loyalty paid off as, unexpectedly, the Packers won their next three games in a row, beginning with Week 9’s 34-24 road victory over the Seattle Seahawks. A loss to Tampa Bay in Week 12, 37-3, slowed Green Bay’s momentum, after both Dickey and Whitehurst were injured, forcing the Packers to play rookie QB Rich Campbell for most of the game.

But instead of collapsing as had been the case in previous seasons, a second three game winning streak put the Packers’ record at 8-7 after fifteen weeks, tied for first place with the division leading Buccaneers and Lions. Going into the last game of the season, Green Bay would make the playoffs as the sixth and final NFC Wild Card team if they defeated the 9-5-1 New York Jets in New York. Unfortunately, the Packers got thumped, 28-3, by a Jets team that qualified for the playoffs as a result their victory. Dickey was sacked nine times and held to just 96 net passing yards. New York outgained Green Bay in total net yards 393 to 84. After coming so close, the playoffs would have to wait another year for the Green and Gold.

Although Dickey struggled to stay healthy in 1981, missing three full games during November after losing feeling in his arms when he was speared in the back by Lions’ DE William Gay during the team’s October 25 loss, as well as parts of other games throughout the season, he played the best football of his career when healthy. Dickey finished the season with 204 completions out of 354 attempts (57.6%) for 2,593 yards, 17 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 79.0, good for 10th overall among NFL quarterbacks. During Dickey’s absence, Whitehurst filled in admirably, completing 66 out of 128 attempts (51.6%) for 792 yards, 7 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 72.8, prompting a brief quarterback controversy after leading Green Bay to come from behind wins over Seattle and Chicago during November’s playoff push.

That controversy ended with Dickey’s record setting performance in Week 15’s 35-7 win over the New Orleans Saints, when he completed 19 out of 20 attempts (90.5%) for 218 yards, 5 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a QB Rating of 149.5. Dickey’s single game completion percentage record still stands today and his five touchdowns tied a 40 year old record first set by QB Cecil Isbell and equaled by QB Don Horn in 1969. First round pick Campbell played sparingly, finishing with 15 completions out of 30 attempts (50%) for 168 yards, no touchdowns, and 4 interceptions, all in the Packers November 22 loss to the Buccaneers, after Whitehurst was injured early in the game. His performance proved convincingly he was not yet ready for primetime.

WR James Lofton had his best season to date, with 71 receptions for 1,294 yards (18.2 yards per catch) and 8 touchdowns, finishing 2nd in the NFL in receiving yards and receiving yards per game as well as 7th in receptions. TE Paul Coffman had the third most receptions on the team with 55 catches for 687 yards (12.5 yards per reception) and 4 touchdowns. After beginning his Green Bay career against Minnesota in Week 4, newly acquired WR John Jefferson caught 39 passes for 632 yards (16.2 yards per catch), adding 4 touchdowns. Although he didn’t have the impact expected on the field in 1981, he made a significant impact as a team leader. Jefferson presence also insured single coverage for other Packer receivers, a significant factor in Lofton being named All-Pro for the first time in 1981.

The San Diego Chargers traded Jefferson to Green Bay after a contract dispute, swapping 1st round selections in 1982, with the Packers also giving San Diego a 2nd round pick in both 1982 and 1984, a 1st round selection in 1983, and WR Aundra Thompson. While with the Chargers, Jefferson, the 14th overall pick of the 1978 draft, had become the first receiver in league history to gain 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, catching 199 passes for 3,431 yards and 36 touchdowns, and was considered by many to be the best wide receiver in the NFL at the time. Thompson, who caught 109 passes for 1,792 yards and 8 touchdowns during his 4+ year Green Bay career, would catch only 14 more passes before retiring after the 1982 season.

RB Eddie Lee Ivory, who emerged as a top halfback in 1980, was lost for the season following an injury. Like 1979, it was a knee injury, again suffered in the season opener against Chicago. Second year RB Gerry Ellis stepped in and led Green Bay in rushing with 196 carries for 860 yards (4.4 yards per carry) and 4 touchdowns. Ellis also had the second most receptions on the team, with 65 catches for 499 yards and 3 touchdowns. A huge spark was provided by K Jan Stenerud. After a long and successful career with the Kansas City Chiefs, Stenerud joined the Packers in late 1980 at age 38, after Green Bay released K Chester Marcol. In 1981, Stenerud scored 101 points, booting 22 out of 24 field goals and 35 out of 36 extra points, leading the NFL in field goal percentage (91.7%).

Overall, Green Bay finished 26th in rushing (1,670 yards) and 14th in both passing (3,189 yards) and points scored, 324, the most since the Packers’ 1967 Super Bowl season. Despite a couple of late game collapses, Green Bay’s defense also improved over the 1980 season, finishing 19th against the run (2,089 yards allowed), 10th in pass defense (3,087 yards allowed), and 20th in total defense, allowing 361 points, after finishing dead last in points allowed the previous year. Still, overall, the defense’s performance left much to be desired.

San Francisco finished with the NFL’s best record at 13-3, winning the NFC West and the NFC’s top playoff seed. The Dallas Cowboys won the NFC East and the second playoff seed with a 12-4 record. Although Tampa Bay finished only 9-7, it was good enough to win the NFC Central and the third playoff seed. The 1980 NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles (fourth seed), at 10-6, and the 9-7 New York Giants (fifth seed) were the NFC’s Wild Card teams. The Cincinnati Bengals finished with the AFC’s best record at 12-4, winning the AFC Central and the AFC’s top playoff seed. The Miami Dolphins won the AFC East with an 11-4-1 record, good for the second playoff spot. San Diego tied with the Denver Broncos at 10-6, but won the AFC West and the third playoff seed based on a better division record (6-2 to Broncos’ 5-3).

The 10-5-1 New York Jets (fourth seed) and the 10-6 Buffalo Bills (fifth seed) were the AFC’s Wild Card teams. Buffalo finished with the same record as Denver, but made the playoffs based on a head-to-head victory over the Broncos. San Francisco finished with their best regular season record ever, making the playoffs for the first time since 1972. Both conference champions (San Francisco and Cincinnati) had losing records the previous season, the only time in NFL history this has happened. The Giants qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 18 years, thanks to an overtime victory over Dallas in the last game of the season, coupled with Green Bay’s loss to the Jets.

After finishing the 1980 season with a 4-12 record and starting the 1981 season with an 0-3 record, the Jets came back to make the playoffs for the first time in 12 years, and the first time as an NFL team since the merger. The Jets’ last playoff team was in 1969, as part of the American Football Conference (AFC). The Oakland Raiders, meanwhile, became the fourth team in NFL history to enter a season as the defending Super Bowl Champion and miss the playoffs, finishing with a 7-9 record, while setting an NFL record by being shut out three consecutive times. After their defense led the NFL in interceptions and takeaways in 1980, they were dead last in 1981, with a -16 turnover differential. This would also be the Raiders last season in Oakland until 1995, and their losing record snapped a streak of 16 consecutive winning seasons.

Lastly, Cincinnati QB Ken Anderson won the 1981 NFL Most Valuable Player Award as well as Offensive Player of the Year. New York Giants’ LB Lawrence Taylor won both Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year, while New Orleans’ RB George Rogers won Offensive Rookie of the Year. San Francisco Head Coach Bill Walsh won Coach of the Year.

Post Season Highlights: In the AFC Wild Card Playoffs, the Buffalo Bills traveled to Shea Stadium to play the New York Jets while, in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles hosted the New York Giant in Veterans Stadium. The winners would advance to their respective Divisional Playoffs.

On December 27, Buffalo Bills’ DB Bill Simpson’s interception at the Bills’ 1 yard line with two seconds left in the game preserved Buffalo’s victory over the New York Jets, and gave the Bills their first playoff win since 1965. This would also turn out to be the final pro football playoff game at Shea Stadium, as the Jets moved to Giants Stadium three years later.

Buffalo jumped to a 24-0 lead by the second quarter. First, New York fumbled the opening kickoff, and the Bills’ Charles Romes returned the ball 26 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 lead. Then, after a punt, QB Joe Ferguson completed a 50 yard touchdown pass to WR Frank Lewis and a 14-0 advantage. On the Jets next drive, DB Rufus Bess intercepted a pass from QB Richard Todd, and returned it 49 yards to the New York 12 yard line, leading to a 29 yard field goal by K Nick Mike-Mayer. Now down 17-0, New York had a good chance to get back in the game when DE Mark Gastineau forced a fumble on Buffalo’s next drive. Gastineau got to the ball first, but wound up accidentally knocking it forward twice while trying to pick it up, and the Bills recovered.

Following a punt, Todd threw another interception, this one to LB Phil Villapiano, and Buffalo converted it into a 24-0 lead on Ferguson’s 26 yard touchdown pass to Lewis. However, Todd threw a 30 yard touchdown to TE Mickey Shuler late in the second quarter to cut the Bills’ lead to 24-7. Then, Jets’ LB Greg Buttle returned an interception from Ferguson 29 yards, to set up K Pat Leahy’s 26 yard field goal, further cutting the score to 24-10 at the end of the half. Leahy kicked another field goal in the third quarter to bring his team within 11 points at 24-13. But, with about 10 minutes left in the game, RB Joe Cribbs ran for a 45 yard touchdown, increasing the Buffalo lead to 31-13.

Todd then led New York 80 yards in 8 plays, and completed a 30 yard touchdown to WR Bobby Jones, narrowing the gap to 31-20. After forcing a punt, the Jets drove for another score, aided by a pass interference call against the Bills that nullified an interception. RB Kevin Long finished the 58 yard drive with a 1 yard touchdown, to further cut the score to 31-27. New York got the ball back with 2:36 remaining and drove 69 yards to the Buffalo 11 yard line, aided by a holding penalty that wiped out a Bills’ interception. Todd made several key completions, including a 29 yarder to Shuler and a 26 yard pass to WR Derrick Gaffney on 3rd and 20. However, Simpson’s interception at the 1 yard line halted the Jets comeback with two seconds left, and Buffalo had its victory, 31-27.

Meanwhile, despite playing without starting QB Phil Simms and LB Brad Van Pelt, the New York Giants jumped to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter, and withstood a Philadelphia Eagles’ comeback at the end of the game, to hold on to the win.

In the first quarter, Philadelphia’s Wally Henry fumbled a punt, and New York recovered at the Eagles’ 26 yard line. A few plays later, QB Scott Brunner threw a 9 yard touchdown to RB Leon Bright for a 6-0 lead, after the extra point attempt failed. Later in the first period, Brunner threw a 10 yard touchdown to WR John Mistler, extending the Giants’ lead to 13-0. Henry muffed the ensuing kickoff and, as he tried to pick it up, lost the ball. New York DB Mark Haynes recovered the ball in the end zone to give the Giants a commanding 20-0 lead. In the second quarter, Philadelphia QB Ron Jaworski completed a 15 yard touchdown pass to WR Harold Carmichael, to cut the deficit to 20-7.

But the Eagles’ score was subsequently countered by Brunner’s 22 yard touchdown to WR Tom Mullady, to give New York a 27-7 halftime lead. However, the Giants were shut out in the second half, while Philadelphia opened the third period by marching 82 yards to score on RB Wilbert Montgomery’s 6 yard rushing touchdown, cutting New York’s lead to 27-14. Montgomery added another touchdown with 2:51 left in the game, but the Giants were able to run out the clock, preserving a 27-21 victory. It marked New York’s first postseason win since 1956.

In the Divisional Playoffs, the NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys hosted the NFC Central Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Texas Stadium, while the AFC West Champion San Diego Chargers traveled to the Orange Bowl to play the AFC East Champion Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, the AFC Central Champion and top seed Cincinnati Bengals hosted the AFC Wild Card winner, the Buffalo Bills, in Riverfront Stadium, while the NFC Wild Card winner, the New York Giants, traveled to Candlestick Park to play the NFC West Champion and top seed San Francisco 49ers. The winners would advance to their respective Conference Championship games.

On January 2 1982, the Dallas Cowboys crushed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, limiting them to 24 rushing yards and 222 total yards. Tampa Bay’s QB Doug Williams threw four interceptions, committed two intentional grounding penalties, and was sacked four times.

After a scoreless first quarter, Dallas DB Dennis Thurmans’ 19 yard interception return to the Bucs’ 47 yard line set up QB Danny White’s 9 yard touchdown pass to WR Tony Hill, for a 7-0 lead. Tampa Bay responded with a 59 yard drive to the Cowboys’ 21 yard line. But, on 2nd and 6, Dallas DE Ed “Too Tall” Jones chased Williams all the way back to the 49 yard line, before he grounded the ball with a desperate throw. The lost yardage on the grounding penalty pushed the Buccaneers out of field goal range, and they ended up punting. Cowboys’ K Rafael Septien later added a 32 yard field goal, to give Dallas a 10-0 halftime lead.

The Cowboys took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 80 yards, including a 25 yard gain on a reception by RB Tony Dorsett from White, to score on RB Ron Springs’ 1 yard touchdown, increasing their lead to 17-0. Then, rookie S Michael Downs picked off a pass from Williams and returned it 21 yards to the Tampa Bay 33 yard line, leading to Dorsett’s 5 yard score, putting Dallas up 24-0. On the next drive, DT John Dutton deflected Williams’ pass into the arms of Ed Jones for an interception on the Bucs’ 25 yard line, and the Cowboys scored yet another touchdown, with a 5 yard run by RB James Jones, for a 31-0 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Williams completed a 75 yard pass to TE Jimmie Giles, down to the Cowboys’ 5 yard line, but the Buccaneers were still unable to get any points on the drive. On 2nd and 8, Williams was sacked by DE Harvey Martin for a 9 yard loss, and then turned the ball over with consecutive incompletions. Later on, a pass interference penalty in the end zone against Tampa Bay set up the final score of the game on RB Timmy Newsome’s 1 yard run, for a 38-0 Dallas victory.

Later that day, San Diego Chargers’ Rolf Benirschke kicked the winning 29 yard field goal after 13:52 of overtime, beating the Miami Dolphins, and ending a game that became known in NFL lore as the “Epic in Miami”. This game set playoff records for the most points scored in a playoff game (79), most total yards by both teams (1,036), and most passing yards by both teams (809).

On San Diego’s opening drive, QB Dan Fouts’ 47 yard completion to WR Wes Chandler set up Benirschke’s 32 yard field goal for a 3-0 advantage. Miami was then forced to punt, and Chandler returned the kick 56 yards for a touchdown, and a 10-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball hit the ground and bounced back in the Chargers direction, enabling them to recover it and eventually score on RB Chuck Muncie’s 1 yard touchdown, for a 17-0 lead. On the Dolphins next possession, San Diego S Glen Edwards intercepted a pass from QB David Woodley and returned it 35 yards, setting up Fouts’ 8 yard touchdown pass to rookie RB James Brooks, increasing the score to 24-0.

Early in the second quarter, Woodley was replaced by reserve QB Don Strock, who started off his first play with a 17 yard completion to WR Duriel Harris, on a drive that K Uwe von Schamann finished with a 34 yard field goal, for Miami’s first score of the game. Down 24-3, the Dolphins’ defense subsequently recovered a Fouts’ fumble, giving their offense the ball on the Chargers’ 39 yard line. Strock took advantage, leading Miami to a score on his 1 yard touchdown pass to TE Joe Rose, cutting San Diego’s lead to 24-10. Later on, Benirschke missed a 55 yard field goal attempt, giving the Dolphins good field position. Three plays later, from the 40 yard line, Strock took the snap and threw a pass to Harris at the 20 yard line.

Harris caught the pass and immediately lateraled it to RB Tony Nathan, who took the ball 25 yards to the end zone as time expired in the half, cutting the deficit to 24-17. In the third quarter, Miami drove 74 yards and tied the score at 24-24, with Strock’s 15 yard touchdown completion to Rose. The Chargers countered with a 6 play, 60 yard drive to score on Fouts’ 25 yard touchdown pass to TE Kellen Winslow to retake the lead, 31-24. But the Dolphins again tied the game at 31-31, with Strock completing six consecutive passes, the last a 50 yard score to TE Bruce Hardy. Miami DB Lyle Blackwood’s subsequent interception of a Fouts’ pass set up a 12 yard touchdown run by Nathan, giving the Dolphins their first lead of the game, 38-31, on the first play of the fourth quarter.

With Miami just trying to maintain their lead and run out the clock, Chargers’ S Pete Shaw recovered RB Andra Franklin’s fumble on San Diego’s 18 yard line with 4:39 left in regulation. Fouts then led his team down to the Dolphins’ 9 yard line. With only 58 seconds left in the game, a heavy Miami pass rush forced Fouts to throw a blind pass intended for Winslow in the end zone. The pass sailed over Winslow’s head, but went right into the arms of Brooks for a touchdown, tying the game at 38-38. The Dolphins took over on their own 40 yard line following Benirschke’s squib kick, needing only a field goal to win.

Following an incomplete pass, Strock’s next throw was intercepted by CB Willie Buchanon but, as he made a diving catch, he fumbled the ball back to Miami when he hit the ground. Nathan’s 17 yard reception from Strock and RB Tommy Vigorito’s 6 yard run moved the Dolphins to the Chargers’ 26 yard line, where Von Schamann attempted a 43 yard field goal. At the last second, Winslow extended his 6’5″ frame at the line of scrimmage, just enough to deflect the kick with his fingers, causing it to fall short, and sending the game into overtime. San Diego took the opening kickoff, advancing to the Miami 8 yard line, but Benirschke missed a 27 yard field goal attempt.

After both teams exchanged punts twice, the Dolphins reached the Chargers’ 17 yard line, only to see von Schamann’s 34 yard attempt once again blocked. Aided by two passes from Fouts to WR Charlie Joiner for 49 yards, San Diego drove 74 yards to the Miami 10 yard line, where Benirschke finally kicked the game winning 29 yard field goal, for a 41-38 Charger victory. The image of an exhausted Winslow, who finished the game with 13 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown, being helped off the field by two of his San Diego teammates, has been replayed ever since.

On January 3, the Cincinnati Bengals earned their first playoff win in team history, after Buffalo Bills’ QB Joe Ferguson’s fourth down pass fell incomplete while attempting to drive for the tying touchdown.

Two key plays allowed Cincinnati to start their first two drives in Buffalo territory, and they took advantage of their field position with touchdowns each time. First, the Bengals returned a punt 27 yards to the Bills’ 42 yard line. Six plays later, RB Charles Alexander scored on a 4 yard touchdown, for a 7-0 Cincinnati lead. On Buffalo’s ensuing drive, DB Ken Riley intercepted a Ferguson pass on the Bills’ 48 yard line. The Bengals then drove 48 yards in 8 plays, including WR Issac Curtis’ 22 yard reception from QB Ken Anderson on 2nd and 17, to score with RB Pete Johnson’s 1 yard run, extending Cincinnati’s lead to 14-0, all before Buffalo had gained a single first down or completed a pass.

After another Buffalo punt, Anderson completed an 18 yard pass to Ross to give the Bengals a first down on the Bills’ 41 yard line. Cincinnati eventually drove inside the 10 yard line, but Buffalo made a key defensive stand as DE Ken Johnson sacked Anderson at the 15 yard line on third down, and then blocked K Jim Breech’s 33 yard field goal attempt. On their next possession, the Bills’ offense picked up three consecutive first downs, driving to the Bengals’ 30 yard line, but came up empty when LB Bo Harris intercepted Ferguson’s pass. Following a Cincinnati punt, Ferguson’s 54 yard completion to WR Jerry Butler set up a 1 yard touchdown by RB Joe Cribbs, cutting the score to 14-7 at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, the Bills advanced 69 yards in 5 plays, starting with Ferguson’s 15 yard pass to WR Frank Lewis, and ending with a 44 yard touchdown run by Cribbs, to tie the game at 14-14. Cincinnati responded with a 7 play, 65 yard drive, including a 13 yard scramble by Anderson, to retake the lead, 21-14, with a 20 yard touchdown run by Alexander. Buffalo struck right back with a 79 yard scoring drive. Cribbs was injured and knocked out of the game on the first play, but his replacement, RB Roland Hooks, rushed 5 times for 24 yards, and caught a pass for 6 yards, while Ferguson finished the drive with a 20 yard touchdown pass to Butler, tying the game again at 21-21 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

With 10:39 left in the game, Anderson threw a 16 yard touchdown pass to rookie WR Chris Collinsworth, giving the Bengals a 28-21 lead at the end of a 9 play, 79 yard drive. The Bills drove to the Cincinnati 21 yard line with about three minutes left to play. It appeared that Ferguson completed a fourth down pass to WR Lou Piccone to gain a first down. However, Buffalo was called for a delay of game penalty, and Ferguson’s pass attempt on the next snap fell incomplete. The Bills defense managed to force a punt with under a minute left, but Ferguson threw four consecutive incompletions as time expired, insuring a 28-21 Bengal victory.

Meanwhile, 25 year old San Francisco 49ers’ QB Joe Montana led San Francisco to victory over the New York Giants in his first ever playoff game, completing 20 of 31 passes for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns. His top target in the game was WR Dwight Clark, who caught 5 passes for 104 yards.

San Francisco jumped to a 24-7 lead in the second quarter. The 49ers took the opening kickoff and advanced 85 yards to score on Montana’s 8 yard touchdown to TE Charlie Young for a 7-0 advantage. New York countered with QB Scott Brunner’s 72 yard touchdown pass to WR Earnest Gray, tying the score at 7-7. After San Francisco went ahead, 10-7, in the second quarter on a 22 yard field goal by K Ray Wersching, 49er rookie DB Ronnie Lott intercepted a Brunner pass, to set up WR Freddie Solomon’s 58 yard touchdown reception from Montana, and 17-3 lead.

San Francisco recovered a Giants’ fumble on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, and RB Ricky Patton subsequently scored on a 25 yard touchdown run a few plays later, to give the 49ers a 24-7 lead. A 48 yard field goal by New York K Joe Danelo cut the San Francisco lead to 24-10 at halftime. In the third quarter, Brunner completed a 59 yard touchdown pass to WR Johnny Perkins, further cutting the deficit to 24-17. But, in the fourth quarter, 49ers’ RB Bill Ring scored on a 3 yard touchdown, and Lott later returned his second Brunner interception 20 yards to the end zone for a 38-17 lead. Brunner threw a meaningless 17 yard touchdown to Perkins at the end of the game, to make the final score 38-24.

On January 12, the AFC Championship Game pitted the Cincinnati Bengals against the San Diego Chargers in Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys played the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC Championship in San Francisco’s Candlestick Park.

In the AFC, in a game subsequently known as the “Freezer Bowl”, the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Diego Chargers, despite a game time temperature of −9°F and a 35 mile per hour wind that sent wind chills as low as −59°F. In NFL history, only the 1967 “Ice Bowl” was colder. Cincinnati QB Ken Anderson threw for 161 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions, while rushing for 39 yards. Cincinnati’s defense shutdown the top ranked San Diego offense, intercepting QB Dan Fouts twice while recovering two fumbles.

Aided by an 18 yard completion from Anderson to TE Dan Ross, Cincinnati scored first for a 3-0 lead, with a 31 yard field goal from K Jim Breech. Then the Bengals forced a Charger fumble on the subsequent kickoff, recovering it on the San Diego 12 yard line. Two plays later, Cincinnati scored a touchdown on an 8 yard pass from Anderson to TE M.L. Harris, increasing their lead to 10-0. Fouts’ 21 yard completion to WR Wes Chandler moved the ball to the Bengals’ 33 yard line, but Cincinnati’s defense halted the drive at the 18 yard line, and it ended with no points, when K Rolf Benirschke missed a 37 yard field goal attempt.

After a Bengals’ punt, Chandler gave the Chargers good field position at the 45 yard line. San Diego drove 55 yards to cut their deficit to 10-7, when Fouts managed to fire a pass to TE Kellen Winslow at the line scrimmage, and he subsequently raced 33 yards down the right sideline for a score. But Cincinnati stormed right back on their next drive. Faced with 3rd and 7 inside the red zone, Anderson kept the drive going with a 16 yard completion to WR Issac Curtis to the Chargers’ 1 yard line, and RB Pete Johnson scored a touchdown on the next play, giving the Bengals a 17-7 halftime lead.

From that point on, Cincinnati completely took over the game. San Diego would move the ball inside the Bengals’ 40 yard line five times during the rest of the game, but failed to score on each possession. On the Chargers next drive, San Diego drove to Cincinnati’s 33 yard line, but came up empty when DB Louis Breeden intercepted a Fouts’ deep pass intended for WR Charlie Joiner at the 5 yard line. The Charger defense quickly gave the offense another scoring opportunity, forcing a Bengal punt that went just 32 yards to the 45 yard line. But, once again, the drive amounted to nothing as Fouts was intercepted in the end zone by rookie S Bobby Kemp.

On the opening drive of the second half, San Diego drove to the Bengals’ 38 yard line, only to lose their fourth turnover of the day, when LB Reggie Williams stripped the ball from RB Chuck Muncie, and Cincinnati recovered. Anderson went to work, rushing 3 times for 31 yards and completing a 19 yard pass to Ross, on a drive that moved the ball inside the Charger 10 yard line. Following three incompletions and a touchdown called back by a holding penalty, Breech’s 38 yard field goal made the score 20-7. On their next drive, Anderson’s five completions moved the ball deep into San Diego territory, but DB Willie Buchanon put an end to it when he recovered a Ross fumble.

The Chargers then drove to the Bengals’ 20 yard line but, on third down, Fouts tripped over the foot of OG Doug Wilkerson, and was downed for an 11 yard loss. Benirschke subsequently missed a 50 yard field goal try on the next play. Cincinnati then put the game away with a 14 play touchdown drive. Anderson was injured early in the drive, and was replaced for two plays by reserve QB Jack Thompson. But Johnson kept the Bengals moving, first rushing for 8 yards, and then gaining 14 yards on a screen pass on 3rd and 8. Later in the drive, Johnson converted a 4th and inches situation with a 7 yard run, and Anderson eventually finished it off with a 3 yard touchdown pass to TE Don Bass, making the final score 27-7.

Meanwhile, in a play that became known as “The Catch”, San Francisco 49ers’ WR Dwight Clark made a leaping grab at the back of the end zone to score the winning touchdown with 51 seconds left in the game. San Francisco won despite losing six turnovers, snapping their consecutive three game playoff losing streak to the Dallas Cowboys between 1970 and 1972.

After forcing Dallas to punt on the opening drive, San Francisco QB Joe Montana completed a 17 yard pass to TE Charlie Young and a 24 yarder to RB Lenvil Elliott, before throwing an 8 yard touchdown pass to WR Freddie Solomon, for a 7-0 lead. The Cowboys responded with QB Danny White’s 20 yard pass to WR Butch Johnson, setting up a 44 yard field goal by K Rafael Septien, to cut the deficit to 7-3. Then, 49ers’ RB Bill Ring lost a fumble on his own 29 yard line, leading to White’s 26 yard touchdown pass to WR Tony Hill, putting Dallas up 10-7. In the second quarter, San Francisco reached the Cowboys’ 27 yard line, only to lose the ball when DB Everson Walls intercepted a Montana pass in the end zone.

However, after forcing a Dallas punt, Montana threw a 20 yard touchdown to Clark to retake the lead, 14-10. Dallas responded with an 80 yard drive, including a controversial pass interference penalty on 49ers’ DB Ronnie Lott, which nullified his interception, giving the Cowboys a 35 yard gain to the San Francisco 12 yard line. Three plays later, RB Tony Dorsett scored on a 5 yard rushing touchdown, to give Dallas a 17-14 lead. The 49ers got another chance to score before halftime when they recovered a fumbled punt on the Cowboy 42 yard line. But, after a 15 yard illegal block penalty, Montana lost a fumble while being sacked by DE Harvey Martin. Dallas fared no better, as White was sacked twice on their next drive, and the half ended soon after.

In the third quarter, San Francisco got another scoring opportunity, when Dwight Hicks returned a punt 12 yards to midfield. The 49ers then drove to the Dallas 16 yard line, but once again failed to score, when Montana threw a pass that bounced out of Elliot’s hands and was intercepted by DT Randy White. However, the Cowboys soon returned the favor, with White’s interception by LB Bobby Leopold. This time, the 49ers converted, regaining the lead at 21-17, with a 2 yard touchdown by RB Johnny Davis. One minute into the fourth quarter, Septien kicked a 22 yard field goal that cut the scoring difference down to 21-20.

Walls next recovered a fumble by RB Walt Easley at midfield, to set up White’s 21 yard touchdown pass to TE Doug Cosbie, giving Dallas a 27-21 advantage. Things got even better for Dallas when, on the 49ers next drive, Walls recorded his second Montana interception at the Cowboys’ 27 yard line. However, Dallas managed to pick up only a few first downs and were forced to punt. White’s kick gave San Francisco the ball at their own 11 yard line with 4:54 left in the game. Montana then led the 49ers 83 yards to the Dallas 6 yard line. Elliott rushed 4 times for 30 yards on the drive, while Solomon also made a big impact, catching 2 passes for 18 yards and rushing for 15 yards on a wide receiver reverse.

Facing 3rd and 3 on the Cowboys’ 6 yard line with 58 seconds left, Montana threw a high pass towards the back of the end zone. Clark just managed to break ahead of Walls and reach in the air for the game winning touchdown reception, now referred to as “The Catch”. However, Dallas needed only a field goal to win, and still had enough time left in the game for one last drive. White threw a completion to WR Drew Pearson that almost went for a touchdown, but 49ers’ DB Eric Wright made a key tackle, by getting one hand inside Pearson’s jersey and dragging him down. One play later, Pillers sacked White, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Stuckey, and San Francisco held on for a 28-27 victory.

The game marked the end of one dynasty, the 1970’s Dallas Cowboys, and the birth of another, the 1980’s San Francisco 49ers. For the first time since Super Bowl III, two teams, the 49ers and the Bengals, would be making their first Super Bowl appearances in Super Bowl XVI.

Super Bowl Highlights: On January 24 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac MI, the AFC Conference Champion Cincinnati Bengals, led by Head Coach Forrest Gregg, in only his second year, played the NFC Conference Champion San Francisco 49ers, led by three year Head Coach Bill Walsh, in Super Bowl XVI. Gregg became the second man to both play and coach in a Super Bowl, playing in Super Bowls I and II as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Tom Flores, who played in Super Bowl IV and coached in Super Bowl XV, was the first coach to accomplish this feat. Super Bowl XVI also marked the first time a Super Bowl was held at a cold weather city. The domed stadium saved the crowd at the game from the very cold and snowy weather, but the weather did affect traffic and other logistical issues related to the game.

The San Francisco 49ers were founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and joined the NFL at the end of the 1949 season when the leagues merged. The 49ers were the first major league professional sports franchise based in San Francisco and is the 10th oldest franchise in the NFL. Between 1950 and 1970, the 49ers finished in first place only once, in 1957, when they tied for the Western Division title with the Detroit Lions. At that time, if two teams tied for the title, they’d play a one game playoff to determine the division winner. Detroit beat San Francisco, 31-27, to win the division and went on to win the 1957 NFL Championship.

In 1970, San Francisco finally won their first division title under Head Coach Dick Nolan and 14 year veteran QB John Brodie, finishing 10-3-1 to claim the new NFC West Division, created that year as part of the NFL-AFL merger. The 49ers went on to win three straight NFC West titles, falling just short of a Super Bowl berth in 1970 and 1971, losing the NFC Conference title both times to the Dallas Cowboys. However, after Brodie’s retirement in 1973, the 49ers again fell on hard times, finishing with a winning record just once over the next eight years. But everything changed for this long time NFL franchise in 1979, with the hiring of Head Coach and General Manager Bill Walsh by second year owner Edward DeBartolo and the subsequent drafting of QB Joe Montana.

After finishing with a 2-14 record in 1979 and a 6-10 record in 1980, San Francisco’s 13-3 success surprised most experts in 1981. A major reason for the 49ers’ turnaround was the emergence of Montana. Selected at the end of the third round, the 82nd pick of the draft, Montana started just eight games over his first two seasons. However, he become a full-time starter in his third year, completing 311 out of 488 passes (63.7%) for 3,565 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, earning a QB Rating of 88.4, fourth highest in the league. Montana’s favorite targets were WRs Dwight Clark (85 receptions, 1,104 yards, 4 touchdowns), a 10th round selection in 1979, and Freddie Solomon (59 catches, 969 yards, 8 touchdowns), along with TE Charlie Young (37 receptions, 400 yards, 5 touchdowns).

Walsh’s offense was based on using a short, precise, timed passing game to control the football and outscore their opponents, resulting in San Francisco finishing 7th overall in passing yards (3,543) and points scored (357). But the 49er running game struggled, finishing 19th out of 28 teams in rushing yards (1,941). RB Ricky Patton was the top rusher on the team, with just 543 yards and 4 touchdowns, while also catching 27 passes for 195 yards. Multi-talented RB Earl Cooper provided the team with a good receiving threat out of the backfield, catching 51 passes for 477 yards, but rushed for only 330 yards on 98 attempts, scoring a single rushing touchdown.

Although the 49ers had three rookies starting as defensive backs, they all were major defensive threats; Carlton Williamson recorded 4 interceptions, Eric Wright had 3 interceptions, and All-Pro Ronnie Lott recorded 7 interceptions, tying an NFL record by returning three of them for touchdowns. Three year veteran DB Dwight Hicks led the team with 9 interceptions, giving the secondary a total of 23 interceptions. DE Fred Dean and LB Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds were big contributors up front, making it difficult for the opposing teams to rush the ball. Dean became a 49er after an in-season trade with the San Diego Chargers, piling up 12 sacks. Overall, San Francisco’s defense finished 12th against the run, allowing 1,918 yards, 3rd against the pass, allowing 2,854 yards, and 2nd in points allowed with 250, behind only the Philadelphia Eagles.

Unlike their Super Bowl opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals were a more recent creation. The Bengals were founded in 1967 as a member of the American Football League (AFL) by former Cleveland Browns Head Coach Paul Brown, the 10th and last AFL franchise. Brown was not only the franchise owner but the head coach during the team’s first eight seasons. Cincinnati began play in 1968 and, by 1970, in only their third year and their first in the NFL after the NFL-AFL merger, the Bengals won the AFC Central Division. Cincinnati made the playoffs with an 8-6 record after starting the season with a 1-6 record before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Colts in the divisional round. The Bengals continued to play good football during the remainder of Brown’s tenure but were unable to win that elusive first playoff game.

Cincinnati won a second division title in 1973 with 10 victories before losing to another Super Bowl champion, the Miami Dolphins, again in the divisional round. The Bengals won 11 games in 1975, Brown’s last as head coach, but had to settle for a Wild Card berth, finishing behind the 1974 World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Once more, they failed to advance, losing a close one to the Oakland Raiders. Cincinnati then struggled through three losing seasons before their fortunes turned around in 1981. Like San Francisco, the Bengals were a surprise team, recording a 6-10 record during the 1980 season. Unlike the 49ers, Head Coach Forrest Gregg’s team was molded in the Vince Lombardi tradition, a throwback to the 1960s. Brown hired Gregg, Coach of the Year for the Cleveland Browns in 1976, after unimpressive stints by Bill Johnson and Homer Rice.

In 1981, All-Pro QB Ken Anderson was the top rated passer in the league (98.4), winning both the NFL MVP and Comeback Player of the Year Awards. Anderson completed 300 out of 479 attempts (62.6%) for 3,754 yards, 29 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions, finishing in the NFL’s Top 10 in all passing categories. He was also an outstanding scrambler, running for 320 yards and one touchdown, the highest rushing total among all NFL quarterbacks during the season. The Bengals main deep threat was rookie WR Chris Collinsworth, who caught 67 passes for 1,009 yards and 8 touchdowns. TE Dan Ross led the team in receptions with 71 catches for 910 yards and 5 touchdowns, while WRs Issac Curtis and Steve Kreider each recorded 37 receptions, combining for a total of 1,129 yards and 9 touchdowns.

RB Pete Johnson was the team’s leading rusher, with 1,077 yards on 274 carries (3.9 yards per rush) and 12 touchdowns. He was also a good receiver out of the backfield, catching 46 passes for another 320 yards and 4 touchdowns, the team’s third highest reception total. RBs Charles Alexander and Archie Griffin were big contributors, both on the ground and through the air, with a combined total of 455 rushing yards, 422 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. In only his second season, another All-Pro, LT Anthony Munoz, anchored the offensive line. Overall, Cincinnati finished 3rd in both passing yards (3,995) and points scored (421). However, like San Francisco, the Bengals finished a below average 17th in rushing yards (1,973).

The Bengals had a good defense that had not given up more than 30 points in any of their regular season or playoff games. Their line was anchored by DEs Ross Browner and Eddie Edwards, who did a great job stopping the run. Cincinnati’s defense was also led by DBs Louis Breeden and Ken Riley as well as LBs Bo Harris, Jim LeClair, and Reggie Williams, who intercepted 4 passes and recovered 3 fumbles during the regular season. Overall, the Cincinnati defense finished 9th in rushing yards allowed (1,881) and 12th in points allowed (304), but a miserable 22nd in passing yards allowed (3,408). But both teams had shown impressive ball security throughout the season. The Bengals had the fewest turnovers of any team with 24, while San Francisco ranked second with 25.

Cincinnati had the first opportunity to score early in the game. San Francisco RB Amos Lawerence fumbled the opening kickoff at his own 26 yard line, where it was recovered by the Bengals. Ken Anderson started the drive off with a completion to Issac Curtis for 8 yards and Pete Johnson’s 2 yard run for a first down. Anderson followed with an 11 yard pass to Dan Ross, moving the ball to the 49ers’ 5 yard line. However, Anderson threw an incomplete pass on first down, then was sacked by DE Jim Stuckey for a 6 yard loss on second down. Facing third down, Anderson tried to connect with Curtis in the end zone, but Dwight Hicks intercepted the ball at the 5 yard line, returning it 27 yards to the 32 yard line.

From there, Joe Montana led the San Francisco offense to the Cincinnati 47 yard line with three consecutive completions. Then, the 49ers ran a fake reverse – flea flicker play that ended with Montana completing a 14 yard pass to Charlie Young at the 33 yard line. Three running plays and Montana’s 14 yard completion to Freddie Solomon moved the ball to the 1 yard line. Finally, Montana scored on a 1 yard sneak, giving San Francisco a 7-0 lead. The Bengals threatened to score early in the second quarter, advancing to the 49ers’ 30 yard line. But, after catching a 19 yard pass from Anderson at the 5 yard line, Chris Collinsworth lost a fumble while being tackled by San Francisco’s Eric Wright.

After recovering the fumble, the 49ers drove a Super Bowl record 92 yards, scoring on an 10 yard pass from Montana to Earl Cooper, increasing their lead to 14-0. Cooper’s leaping, celebratory spike of the football after scoring became the photo Sports Illustrated used for its postgame cover. Following the touchdown came a sqib kick by Ray Wersching that was finally recovered by Cincinnati at their 2 yard line. The Bengals could only advance to their 25 yard line before having to punt and, with just over four minutes left in the half, Montana led the 49ers on another scoring drive. First, he completed a 17 yard pass to Dwight Clark at the Cincinnati 49 yard line.

Then Ricky Patton ran twice, advancing the ball to the 39 yard line. Montana’s next two completions to Clark and Solomon moved the ball to the 5 yard line. From there, Montana threw two straight incompletions, forcing San Francisco to settle for Wersching’s 22 yard field goal, increasing their lead to 17-0. With just 15 seconds left in the half, Wersching kicked a second sqib kick that was muffed by the Bengals, and the 49ers recovered the ball on Cincinnati’s 4 yard line. A false start penalty against San Francisco prevented them from scoring a touchdown, but Wersching kicked a 26 yard field goal, increasing the 49ers’ lead to 20-0, the largest halftime lead in Super Bowl history to date.

After receiving the opening kickoff of the second half, the Bengals drove 83 yards in 9 plays, scoring on a 5 yard touchdown run by Anderson, to cut the deficit to 20-7. Cincinnati’s defense then limited San Francisco to only eight plays and four offensive yards for the remainder of the third quarter. Late in that quarter, Bengals’ DB Mike Fuller’s 17 yard punt return gave them the ball at midfield. Two penalties and a 4 yard sack pushed them back to their own 37 yard line. But, on third down, Collinsworth’s 49 yard reception from Anderson moved the ball to the 49ers’ 14 yard line. Johnson later successfully converted on a fourth down run to give Cincinnati a first down on the 3 yard line.

On first down, Johnson drove into the line and gained 2 yards down to the San Francisco 1 yard line. The Bengals then tried to run Johnson into the line on second down but to no avail. On third down, 49ers’ LB Dan Bunz made probably the key defensive play of the game. Anderson faked to Johnson and threw a swing pass out to Charles Alexander. Bunz, however, corralled Alexander at the line of scrimmage and kept him from reaching the end zone. Rather than attempting a field goal on fourth down, Cincinnati sent Johnson into the middle of the line one last time. But San Francisco’s Ronnie Lott, as well as Bunz and Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, tackled him for no gain, giving the ball back to the 49ers. San Francisco had stopped the Bengals in one of the greatest goal line stands in Super Bowl history.

However, the 49ers gained only eight yards on their ensuing drive, and Cincinnati got the ball back at their own 47 yard line. Taking advantage of the great field position, the Bengals marched 53 yards in 7 plays, scoring a touchdown on a 4 yard pass from Anderson to Ross, cutting the deficit to 20-14 with 10:06 left in the fourth quarter. But San Francisco countered with a 50 yard, 9 play drive that took 4:41 off the clock, and included Montana’s 22 yard pass to WR Mike Wilson as well as seven consecutive running plays. Wersching ended the drive with a 40 yard field goal, giving the 49ers a 23-14 lead with just five minutes left.

On Cincinnati’s first play after receiving the ensuing kickoff, Eric Wright intercepted an Anderson pass. San Francisco then ran the ball on five straight plays, taking another three minutes off the clock, to advance to the Bengals’ 6 yard line. Wersching kicked his fourth field goal to increase the 49ers’ lead to 26-14 with less than two minutes left in the game. Wersching’s four field goals tied a Super Bowl record set by Green Bay’s K Don Chandler in Super Bowl II. Because of Wersching’s four field goals and the close score, this is the only Super Bowl in which the losing team scored more touchdowns than the winning team.

Anderson completed six consecutive passes on Cincinnati’s ensuing drive, the last one a 3 yard touchdown pass to Ross, making the score 26-21. However, none of the receivers on Anderson’s completions were able to get out of bounds to stop the clock. By the time Ross scored, less than 20 seconds remained in regulation. The Bengals tried an onside kick, but Clark recovered the ball for San Francisco, allowing them to run out the clock, and win the game, 26-21. For the first time in their 35 year history, the 49ers were the champions of professional football.

Joe Montana was named Super Bowl XVI’s Most Valuable Player, completing 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 18 yards and a touchdown on the ground. For the Cincinnati, WR Chris Collinsworth and TE Dan Ross became the second pair of teammates to each have 100 yards receiving in a Super Bowl. Collinsworth had 107 yards while Ross had 104 yards. Pittsburgh Steelers’ WRs John Stallworth and Lynn Swan were the first to do so in Super Bowl XIII. Ross is the only tight end to have 100 yards receiving in a Super Bowl.

Conclusion: While Green Bay fans endured another rollercoaster season that again fell just short of a playoff berth, in many ways, according to Stanton Greene, “… this had been Bart’s finest season as head coach of the Packers, better even than the following [year] which would field his only playoff team. He had held together a shaky enterprise and pulled off an in-season trade that actually worked without mortgaging the team’s future. He’d also shaken off the bad karma with the local press, despite efforts to keep the pot boiling.”

Towards the end of November, the Green Bay Press-Gazette ran for six days a mostly negative series of stories concerning Starr’s relationship with the press. By now, Starr must have felt like he was under a microscope and, with his contract up, no one was sure at the time if he would be brought back in 1982. Starr himself had mused in an early October interview that his inexperience had hampered him during his early years as a head coach, but he insisted the experience had made him more attentive and alert, saying, “I was too naïve, too trusting, too gullible. Today, I’m a far better, more complete person than I’ve ever been in my life. I personally feel that what has happened to me is part of God’s plan. His way of having me grow as a person.”

On December 29, the Executive Committee announced Starr would receive a two year extension on his contract, running through the 1983 season. Despite a record that would have seen most NFL coaches fired long ago, both Green Bay fans and players seemed to feel the decision was the right one. Starr now had a mature team, one that he had built from the ground up, despite a lack of first round draft picks in his early years and missing on various first round selections, with the exception of star WR James Lofton, in his later years. What Starr would do with this team in 1982 would demonstrate the success or failure of seven years of hard work.

To end this post, I’ve attached two videos. The first highlights the “Epic in Miami” Divisional Playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and the San Diego Chargers, and the second is the NFL Films Super Bowl XVI Highlight video, narrated once again by the great John Facenda.

Enjoy!

As always, your feedback is appreciated!