NFL playoffs, 1982-83
Encyclopedia
The NFL playoffs
following the 1982 NFL season
led up to Super Bowl XVII
.
A players' strike reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special 16-team playoff format (dubbed the "Super Bowl Tournament"), just for this year. Division standings were ignored (although each division did send at least one team to the playoffs). Eight teams from each conference were seeded 1-8 based on their regular season records:
Because of the eight-game first round, this was the first (and currently only) time that NFL playoff games were regionally televised across the United States instead of nationwide. This year was also the only season in which the conference championship games were played on separate days.
In addition, it marked the first time in NFL history in which a team that qualified for the playoffs had a losing record (< .500), as both Cleveland and Detroit finished with 4-5 records (.444). Both teams lost in the first round of the playoffs. Until 2010, it was also the only time any team had made the playoffs with a losing record, a feat since broken by the 2010 Seattle Seahawks
, which finished 7-9 (.438). However, it is not the only time that teams with non-winning records (≤ .500) have made the playoffs. In seven seasons, eight teams with a record of 8-8 (.500) made the playoffs: 1985 Browns
, 1990 Saints
, 1991 Jets
, 1999 Lions
, 2004 Vikings
, 2004 Rams
, 2006 Giants
, and the 2008 Chargers.
, who only caught 1 pass during the regular season, recorded 6 receptions for 110 yards and 3 touchdowns. Fullback John Riggins
led the team on the ground with 119 rushing yards. Quarterback Joe Theismann
compiled 210 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. And the defense forced five turnovers to lead this romp over Detroit.
Jeris White
got Washington on the board with a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown. Then after Mark Moseley
's 26-yard field goal made it 10-0, Joe Theismann connected with Garrett for touchdowns twice in the second quarter.
threw for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns en route to a 41-16 win. The Packers scored four touchdowns on four consecutive possessions. It was their first playoff victory since Super Bowl II
in 1968. Oddly, this victory was 15 years after that Super Bowl victory, 15 the same jersey number of Super Bowl II MVP (and then-Packer coach) Bart Starr.
After stopping the Cardinals on fourth and goal on the Packers 1-yard line, Dickey put Green Bay in the lead by finishing off two long drives with touchdown passes to John Jefferson
and James Lofton
. Later in the first half, they converted two St. Louis turnovers into a pair of touchdowns by Eddie Lee Ivery
.
By the end of the game, the Packers had set numerous franchise post season records, including most touchdown passes in a game (4). most receiving yards (6 receptions for 148 yards by Jefferson), longest touchdown reception (Jefferson's 60-yard score), and longest field goal (46 yards by Jan Stenerud
)
Cardinals receiver Roy Green
caught 9 passes for 113 yards.
twice. Miami quarterback David Woodley
had one of the best performances of his career, completing 16 of 19 passes for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns (both to tight end Bruce Hardy
) with no interceptions, while also rushing for 16 yards. David Woodley's passer rating for this game was 153.8.
threw for 386 yards, while running back Marcus Allen
rushed for 72 yards, caught 6 passes for 74 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns.
led the Jets to a victory with 210 rushing yards and a touchdown, while also catching a pass for 9 yards and throwing a touchdown pass on a halfback option play
. Receiver Wesley Walker
caught 8 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. Jets quarterback Richard Todd completed 20 of 28 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown. Playing in the final postseason game of his legendary career, Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson completed 26 of 35 passes for a career playoff high 354 yards and 2 touchdowns, but was intercepted 3 times. Receiver Cris Collinsworth
caught 7 passes for 120 yards.
Two first quarter touchdown passes from Anderson gave the Bengals an early 14-3 lead, but New York stormed back with 17 points in the second quarter and added a field goal early in the third. With time running out in the third quarter, Bengals kicker Jim Breech
made 20-yard field goal. So despite giving up 20 unanswered points, Cincinnati only trailed 23-17 going into the final period. However, the Bengals self destructed in the fourth quarter, suffering one of the worst collapses in franchise history. Throughout the fourth quarter, Cincinnati had a 69-yard touchdown pass called back by a false start penalty, gave up two Jets rushing touchdowns, missed a 46-yard field goal, and threw two interceptions, one of which was returned a playoff record 98 yards for a touchdown by safety Darrol Ray
.
threw for 333 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions to lead his team to victory. With the Steelers leading 28-17 in the fourth quarter, the Chargers scored two touchdowns in the final period—the second with only a minute remaining. Chargers running back Chuck Muncie
rushed for 126 yards and caught a pass for 12, while tight end Kellen Winslow
caught 7 passes for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns. Steelers receiver John Stallworth
caught 8 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw
threw for 325 yards and 2 touchdowns and scored a rushing touchdown in his final postseason of the game, but was intercepted twice.
rushed for 110 yards, while kicker Rafael Septien
made 3 field goals.
This was Tampa Bay's last playoff game until 1997, by which time the Buccaneers ditched their orange uniforms. From 1983 through 1996, the Bucs suffered 14 consecutive losing seasons, 13 of which saw Tampa Bay lose 10 or more games.
The Vikings cut a 14-0 Redskins lead in half early in the second period, but Washington responded immediately with Joe Theismann
's touchdown pass to Alvin Garrett.
In the closing moments of the game, fans at RFK Stadium began chanting "We Want Dallas" indicating their ideal choice of opponent for the NFC Championship Game.
scored the Jets' winning touchdown with 3:45 remaining to upset the top-seeded Raiders. The New York defense then forced two interceptions in the final minutes to seal the victory. Jets running back Freeman McNeil
rushed for 105 yards and caught a pass for 11. Wesley Walker
caught 7 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown.
with dominating 34-13 win. The Dolphins defense completely shut down Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts, limiting him to just 15 of 34 completions for 194 yards and a touchdown while intercepting him 5 times. The Dolphins led 27-13 at halftime. Miami quarterback David Woodley
, who was benched in the second quarter of the Epic in Miami due to poor performance, redeemed himself by completing 17 of 22 passes for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception, while also scoring a rushing touchdown. The Dolphins converted 3 turnovers, including 2 fumbled kickoffs, into 21 points. This was the final postseason game in the hall of fame careers of Chargers stars Dan Fouts
, Charlie Joiner
, and Kellen Winslow
.
had 3 interceptions, including a 39-yard touchdown and one to clinch the victory. Packers quarterback Lynn Dickey
threw for a franchise postseason record 332 yards and a touchdown, but his 3 interceptions were too costly to overcome. Receiver James Lofton
caught 5 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, and also had a 71-yard touchdown run on a reverse play, which tied the record for longest running play in a playoff game at the time.
Two field goals by Rafael Septien
, a touchdown run by Robert Newhouse
, and Thurman's 39-yard touchdown return gave the Cowboys a 20-7 lead by halftime. In the second half, the Packers mounted a strong comeback attempt, racking up 363 yards and scoring 19 points. Midway through the fourth quarter, Green Bay defensive back Mark Lee's 22-yard interception return for a touchdown cut the Packers deficit to 30-26. But later on, Thurman's third interception set up a 74-yard scoring drive to put the game away with Newhouse's second touchdown run.
Green Bay finished the game with a franchise playoff record 466 total yards.
's 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Charlie Brown. Then in the second quarter, after Redskins kicker Mark Moseley
missed a 27-yard field goal attempt, Dallas' Rod Hill lost a muffed punt, setting up a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Redskins running back John Riggins
to increase their lead, 14-3.
With 32 seconds left in the first half, Cowboys quarterback Danny White
suffered a concussion after being hit by Washington's Dexter Manley
and was replaced by unknown backup Gary Hogeboom
for the rest of the game. A short Redskins punt early in the third quarter then set up Hogeboom's 6-yard touchdown toss to Drew Pearson, capping a six-play, 38-yard drive, cutting the score to 14-10. But on the ensuing kickoff, Mike Nelms returned the ball 76 yards down the right sideline to the Dallas 21-yard line. A 22-yard pass from Theismann to Brown was then followed by Riggins' four-yard touchdown run. Hogeboom then responded by leading Dallas on an 84-yard, 14-play drive capped by his 23-yard scoring pass to Butch Johnson, cutting the margin was back to 21-17 with 3:25 left in the third quarter.
Dallas threatened to cut the lead further, driving to the Washington 23-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but Septien missed a 42-yard field goal. Following a Washington punt, Dallas had the ball at the Washington 32-yard line, but linebacker Mel Kaufman made a leaping, over-the-shoulder interception that was intended to Cowboys receiver Tony Hill, setting up Washington kicker Mark Moseley's 29-yard field goal with 6:55 left to play. Then from the Dallas 20-yard line, defensive lineman Dexter Manley
tipped Hogeboom's delayed screen pass intended for running back Tony Dorsett
; tackle Darryl Grant caught it and returned it 10 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.
Riggins, who ran nine straight times to help Washington run out the clock in the final period, finished the game with 140 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.
rushed into the end zone for a touchdown. Then early in the final period, Duhe intercepted a screen pass
and returned it 35 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.
NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the...
following the 1982 NFL season
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
led up to Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
.
A players' strike reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special 16-team playoff format (dubbed the "Super Bowl Tournament"), just for this year. Division standings were ignored (although each division did send at least one team to the playoffs). Eight teams from each conference were seeded 1-8 based on their regular season records:
| Playoff seeds | ||
| Seed | AFC American Football Conference The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.... | NFC National Football Conference The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,... |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Raiders | Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
| 2 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
| 3 | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
| 5 | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| 6 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| 7 | New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
| 8 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
Because of the eight-game first round, this was the first (and currently only) time that NFL playoff games were regionally televised across the United States instead of nationwide. This year was also the only season in which the conference championship games were played on separate days.
In addition, it marked the first time in NFL history in which a team that qualified for the playoffs had a losing record (< .500), as both Cleveland and Detroit finished with 4-5 records (.444). Both teams lost in the first round of the playoffs. Until 2010, it was also the only time any team had made the playoffs with a losing record, a feat since broken by the 2010 Seattle Seahawks
2010 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2010 Seattle Seahawks season was the 35th season for the team in the National Football League. Jim Mora was fired on January 8, 2010, leading the Seahawks to come to an agreement with Pete Carroll, instating him as head coach the following day. This marks the 9th season that the Seahawks will...
, which finished 7-9 (.438). However, it is not the only time that teams with non-winning records (≤ .500) have made the playoffs. In seven seasons, eight teams with a record of 8-8 (.500) made the playoffs: 1985 Browns
1985 Cleveland Browns season
The 1985 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 36th season with the National Football League.In Marty Schottenheimer's first full year as head coach, the Browns bounced back from a horrible 5–11 season in 1984 to make the playoffs, despite a .500 season...
, 1990 Saints
1990 New Orleans Saints season
The 1990 New Orleans Saints season saw the Saints qualify for the postseason. The Saints became the 5th team in NFL history at or below .500 to qualify for postseason play.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-External links:**...
, 1991 Jets
1991 New York Jets season
-Schedule:-Playoffs:-External links:*...
, 1999 Lions
1999 Detroit Lions season
The 1999 Detroit Lions season was their 70th in the league. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 5–11 and qualified for the playoffs, where they lost to the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round...
, 2004 Vikings
2004 Minnesota Vikings season
2004 was the 44th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 85th regular season of the National Football League.The Vikings finished the 2004 season going 3-7 over the final 10 weeks just like they did in 2003. However, they made the playoffs with an 8-8 record...
, 2004 Rams
2004 St. Louis Rams season
The 2004 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 67th year with the National Football League and the 10th season in St. Louis.-Schedule:-Playoffs:...
, 2006 Giants
2006 New York Giants season
The 2006 New York Giants season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record in 2005, which saw them win the NFC East. They did not win the NFC East or improve on that record, falling to 8-8 on the season after starting 6-2...
, and the 2008 Chargers.
NFC: Washington Redskins 31, Detroit Lions 7
The Redskins jumped to a 24-0 lead enroute to a 31-7 victory over the Lions. Washington receiver Alvin GarrettAlvin Garrett
Alvin Lynn Garrett is a former American football wide receiver who played five seasons for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins from 1980 to 1984...
, who only caught 1 pass during the regular season, recorded 6 receptions for 110 yards and 3 touchdowns. Fullback John Riggins
John Riggins
Robert John Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel", is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992....
led the team on the ground with 119 rushing yards. Quarterback Joe Theismann
Joe Theismann
Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...
compiled 210 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. And the defense forced five turnovers to lead this romp over Detroit.
Jeris White
Jeris White
Jeris Jerome White is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League for nine seasons for the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. He played football at Radford High School, Honolulu, Hawaii and at the University of Hawaii...
got Washington on the board with a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown. Then after Mark Moseley
Mark Moseley
Mark DeWayne Moseley is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Houston Oilers , the Washington Redskins , and the Cleveland Browns . He won the Most Valuable Player Award during the strike-shortened 1982 season...
's 26-yard field goal made it 10-0, Joe Theismann connected with Garrett for touchdowns twice in the second quarter.
NFC: Green Bay Packers 41, St. Louis Cardinals 16
Green Bay quarterback Lynn DickeyLynn Dickey
Clifford Lynn Dickey is a retired National Football League quarterback, who played for the Houston Oilers and the Green Bay Packers in the 1970s and 1980s.-High school:...
threw for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns en route to a 41-16 win. The Packers scored four touchdowns on four consecutive possessions. It was their first playoff victory since Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II
The second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
in 1968. Oddly, this victory was 15 years after that Super Bowl victory, 15 the same jersey number of Super Bowl II MVP (and then-Packer coach) Bart Starr.
After stopping the Cardinals on fourth and goal on the Packers 1-yard line, Dickey put Green Bay in the lead by finishing off two long drives with touchdown passes to John Jefferson
John Jefferson
John Jefferson is a retired American football wide receiver in the National Football League . He was selected out of Arizona State University in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He played three seasons in San Diego, where he became the first NFL player to gain...
and James Lofton
James Lofton
James David Lofton is a former American football player and coach. He is a former American football coach for the San Diego Chargers but is best known for his years in the National Football League as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers , Los Angeles Raiders , the Buffalo Bills...
. Later in the first half, they converted two St. Louis turnovers into a pair of touchdowns by Eddie Lee Ivery
Eddie Lee Ivery
Eddie Lee Ivery is a former professional American football player.-Early years through college:Ivery was born in McDuffie County, Georgia. He played high school football at Thomson High School in Thomson, Georgia...
.
By the end of the game, the Packers had set numerous franchise post season records, including most touchdown passes in a game (4). most receiving yards (6 receptions for 148 yards by Jefferson), longest touchdown reception (Jefferson's 60-yard score), and longest field goal (46 yards by Jan Stenerud
Jan Stenerud
Jan Stenerud is a former professional football player for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs , and the NFL's Chiefs , Green Bay Packers , and Minnesota Vikings .-Background:...
)
Cardinals receiver Roy Green
Roy Green
Roy Calvin Green is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Phoenix Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles ....
caught 9 passes for 113 yards.
AFC: Miami Dolphins 28, New England Patriots 13
The Dolphins controlled most of the game with four long touchdown drives, and intercepted Patriots quarterback Steve GroganSteve Grogan
Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:...
twice. Miami quarterback David Woodley
David Woodley
David Eugene Woodley was an American football player and quarterback for Louisiana State University , the National Football League's Miami Dolphins , and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
had one of the best performances of his career, completing 16 of 19 passes for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns (both to tight end Bruce Hardy
Bruce Hardy
Bruce Alan Hardy , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 9th round of the 1978 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 232 lbs. tight end from Arizona State University, Hardy played his entire NFL career with the Dolphins from 1978-1989...
) with no interceptions, while also rushing for 16 yards. David Woodley's passer rating for this game was 153.8.
AFC: Los Angeles Raiders 27, Cleveland Browns 10
The Raiders gained 510 total yards of offense. Quarterback Jim PlunkettJim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...
threw for 386 yards, while running back Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen
Marcus LeMarr Allen is a former American football player and, until recently, was affiliated with CBS as a game analyst. As a professional, Allen ran for 12,243 yards and caught 587 passes for 5,412 yards during his career for both the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1982 to 1997...
rushed for 72 yards, caught 6 passes for 74 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns.
AFC: New York Jets 44, Cincinnati Bengals 17
The underdog Jets overcame an early 14-3 deficit by racking up 517 yards of offense and scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter. Running back Freeman McNeilFreeman McNeil
Freeman McNeil is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Jets in the 1st round of the 1981 NFL Draft....
led the Jets to a victory with 210 rushing yards and a touchdown, while also catching a pass for 9 yards and throwing a touchdown pass on a halfback option play
Halfback option play
The halfback option play is an unorthodox play in American football. It resembles a normal running play, but the running back has the option to throw a pass to a wide receiver or tight end before crossing the line of scrimmage....
. Receiver Wesley Walker
Wesley Walker
Wesley Darcel Walker is a former professional American football wide receiver for the New York Jets in 1977 - 1989....
caught 8 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. Jets quarterback Richard Todd completed 20 of 28 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown. Playing in the final postseason game of his legendary career, Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson completed 26 of 35 passes for a career playoff high 354 yards and 2 touchdowns, but was intercepted 3 times. Receiver Cris Collinsworth
Cris Collinsworth
Anthony Cris Collinsworth is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eight seasons in the 1980s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played his entire professional career for...
caught 7 passes for 120 yards.
Two first quarter touchdown passes from Anderson gave the Bengals an early 14-3 lead, but New York stormed back with 17 points in the second quarter and added a field goal early in the third. With time running out in the third quarter, Bengals kicker Jim Breech
Jim Breech
James Thomas Breech is a former American football kicker in the National Football League, who played for Oakland Raiders in 1979 and Cincinnati Bengals from 1980-1992. Before his NFL career, Breech played for the University of California and Sacramento High School...
made 20-yard field goal. So despite giving up 20 unanswered points, Cincinnati only trailed 23-17 going into the final period. However, the Bengals self destructed in the fourth quarter, suffering one of the worst collapses in franchise history. Throughout the fourth quarter, Cincinnati had a 69-yard touchdown pass called back by a false start penalty, gave up two Jets rushing touchdowns, missed a 46-yard field goal, and threw two interceptions, one of which was returned a playoff record 98 yards for a touchdown by safety Darrol Ray
Darrol Ray
Darrol Anthony Ray is a former American football player for the New York Jets of the National Football League.-Early years:...
.
AFC: San Diego Chargers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 28
San Diego quarterback Dan FoutsDan Fouts
Daniel Francis Fouts is a retired Hall of Fame American football quarterback in the National Football League. Fouts played his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987...
threw for 333 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions to lead his team to victory. With the Steelers leading 28-17 in the fourth quarter, the Chargers scored two touchdowns in the final period—the second with only a minute remaining. Chargers running back Chuck Muncie
Chuck Muncie
Harry Vance "Chuck" Muncie is a former American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984...
rushed for 126 yards and caught a pass for 12, while tight end Kellen Winslow
Kellen Winslow
Kellen Boswell Winslow is a former American football tight end with the Missouri Tigers and the San Diego Chargers. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. He is currently the athletic director at Central State University.Winslow did not play high...
caught 7 passes for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns. Steelers receiver John Stallworth
John Stallworth
Johnny Lee Stallworth is a former American football wide receiver who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at Alabama A&M, and was the Steelers' fourth-round draft pick in 1974. Stallworth played in six AFC championships,...
caught 8 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
threw for 325 yards and 2 touchdowns and scored a rushing touchdown in his final postseason of the game, but was intercepted twice.
NFC: Dallas Cowboys 30, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17
The Cowboys had 445 yards of total offense, while their defense held Buccaneers quarterback Doug Williams, playing in his final game in a Bucs uniform, to just 8 of 28 completions for 113 yards and intercepted him 3 times. Dallas running back Tony DorsettTony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
rushed for 110 yards, while kicker Rafael Septien
Rafael Septien
Jose Rafael Septien was a Mexican placekicker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys from 1978 through 1986. He was the leading scorer for the Cowboys those nine years...
made 3 field goals.
This was Tampa Bay's last playoff game until 1997, by which time the Buccaneers ditched their orange uniforms. From 1983 through 1996, the Bucs suffered 14 consecutive losing seasons, 13 of which saw Tampa Bay lose 10 or more games.
NFC: Minnesota Vikings 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
The Vikings drove 72 yards to score the winning touchdown with 1:44 left in the game.NFC: Washington Redskins 21, Minnesota Vikings 7
Running back John Riggins led the Redskins to a victory with 185 rushing yards on 37 carries and a touchdown. Washington scored 21 points in the games's first 20 minutes.The Vikings cut a 14-0 Redskins lead in half early in the second period, but Washington responded immediately with Joe Theismann
Joe Theismann
Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...
's touchdown pass to Alvin Garrett.
In the closing moments of the game, fans at RFK Stadium began chanting "We Want Dallas" indicating their ideal choice of opponent for the NFC Championship Game.
AFC: New York Jets 17, Los Angeles Raiders 14
Scott DierkingScott Dierking
Scott Dierking was a running back in the NFL. He played for the New York Jets from 1977-1983. Before his NFL career, he played for Purdue University....
scored the Jets' winning touchdown with 3:45 remaining to upset the top-seeded Raiders. The New York defense then forced two interceptions in the final minutes to seal the victory. Jets running back Freeman McNeil
Freeman McNeil
Freeman McNeil is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Jets in the 1st round of the 1981 NFL Draft....
rushed for 105 yards and caught a pass for 11. Wesley Walker
Wesley Walker
Wesley Darcel Walker is a former professional American football wide receiver for the New York Jets in 1977 - 1989....
caught 7 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown.
AFC: Miami Dolphins 34, San Diego Chargers 13
Miami avenged their divisional playoff loss to San Diego in the previous season known as The Epic In MiamiThe Epic in Miami
The Epic in Miami is the name given to a National Football League AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins that took place on January 2, 1982 in the Miami Orange Bowl...
with dominating 34-13 win. The Dolphins defense completely shut down Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts, limiting him to just 15 of 34 completions for 194 yards and a touchdown while intercepting him 5 times. The Dolphins led 27-13 at halftime. Miami quarterback David Woodley
David Woodley
David Eugene Woodley was an American football player and quarterback for Louisiana State University , the National Football League's Miami Dolphins , and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, who was benched in the second quarter of the Epic in Miami due to poor performance, redeemed himself by completing 17 of 22 passes for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception, while also scoring a rushing touchdown. The Dolphins converted 3 turnovers, including 2 fumbled kickoffs, into 21 points. This was the final postseason game in the hall of fame careers of Chargers stars Dan Fouts
Dan Fouts
Daniel Francis Fouts is a retired Hall of Fame American football quarterback in the National Football League. Fouts played his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987...
, Charlie Joiner
Charlie Joiner
Charles B. Joiner Jr. is a former American football player who starred in professional football for eighteen seasons, virtually exclusively at the position of wide receiver. He retired with the most career receptions, receiving yards, and games played of any wide receiver in NFL history. He was...
, and Kellen Winslow
Kellen Winslow
Kellen Boswell Winslow is a former American football tight end with the Missouri Tigers and the San Diego Chargers. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. He is currently the athletic director at Central State University.Winslow did not play high...
.
NFC: Dallas Cowboys 37, Green Bay Packers 26
The Cowboys scored touchdowns on two 80-yard drives while cornerback Dennis ThurmanDennis Thurman
Dennis Lee Thurman is a retired American football cornerback in the National Football League.- Early life :...
had 3 interceptions, including a 39-yard touchdown and one to clinch the victory. Packers quarterback Lynn Dickey
Lynn Dickey
Clifford Lynn Dickey is a retired National Football League quarterback, who played for the Houston Oilers and the Green Bay Packers in the 1970s and 1980s.-High school:...
threw for a franchise postseason record 332 yards and a touchdown, but his 3 interceptions were too costly to overcome. Receiver James Lofton
James Lofton
James David Lofton is a former American football player and coach. He is a former American football coach for the San Diego Chargers but is best known for his years in the National Football League as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers , Los Angeles Raiders , the Buffalo Bills...
caught 5 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, and also had a 71-yard touchdown run on a reverse play, which tied the record for longest running play in a playoff game at the time.
Two field goals by Rafael Septien
Rafael Septien
Jose Rafael Septien was a Mexican placekicker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys from 1978 through 1986. He was the leading scorer for the Cowboys those nine years...
, a touchdown run by Robert Newhouse
Robert Newhouse
Robert Fulton Newhouse is a former professional American football player in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys .-College career:...
, and Thurman's 39-yard touchdown return gave the Cowboys a 20-7 lead by halftime. In the second half, the Packers mounted a strong comeback attempt, racking up 363 yards and scoring 19 points. Midway through the fourth quarter, Green Bay defensive back Mark Lee's 22-yard interception return for a touchdown cut the Packers deficit to 30-26. But later on, Thurman's third interception set up a 74-yard scoring drive to put the game away with Newhouse's second touchdown run.
Green Bay finished the game with a franchise playoff record 466 total yards.
NFC Championship: Washington Redskins 31, Dallas Cowboys 17
The Redskins sealed the victory by converting 2 turnovers in the final period into 10 points. The Cowboys scored first after a 75-yard drive led to a 27-yard field goal by kicker Rafael Septien. But Washington then scored on an 84-yard drive that was capped by quarterback Joe TheismannJoe Theismann
Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...
's 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Charlie Brown. Then in the second quarter, after Redskins kicker Mark Moseley
Mark Moseley
Mark DeWayne Moseley is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Houston Oilers , the Washington Redskins , and the Cleveland Browns . He won the Most Valuable Player Award during the strike-shortened 1982 season...
missed a 27-yard field goal attempt, Dallas' Rod Hill lost a muffed punt, setting up a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Redskins running back John Riggins
John Riggins
Robert John Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel", is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992....
to increase their lead, 14-3.
With 32 seconds left in the first half, Cowboys quarterback Danny White
Danny White
Wilford Daniel "Danny" White is a former quarterback and punter for the Dallas Cowboys, an American football coach in the Arena Football League and also occasionally appears as an analyst on broadcasts of college football games. He was named the head coach of the Arena Football League expansion...
suffered a concussion after being hit by Washington's Dexter Manley
Dexter Manley
Dexter Keith Manley, nicknamed the "Secretary of Defense" is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Phoenix Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an eleven-year career from 1981 to 1991. He also played in the Canadian Football...
and was replaced by unknown backup Gary Hogeboom
Gary Hogeboom
Gary Keith Hogeboom is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League and a contestant on the CBS reality TV show Survivor: Guatemala.-Career:...
for the rest of the game. A short Redskins punt early in the third quarter then set up Hogeboom's 6-yard touchdown toss to Drew Pearson, capping a six-play, 38-yard drive, cutting the score to 14-10. But on the ensuing kickoff, Mike Nelms returned the ball 76 yards down the right sideline to the Dallas 21-yard line. A 22-yard pass from Theismann to Brown was then followed by Riggins' four-yard touchdown run. Hogeboom then responded by leading Dallas on an 84-yard, 14-play drive capped by his 23-yard scoring pass to Butch Johnson, cutting the margin was back to 21-17 with 3:25 left in the third quarter.
Dallas threatened to cut the lead further, driving to the Washington 23-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but Septien missed a 42-yard field goal. Following a Washington punt, Dallas had the ball at the Washington 32-yard line, but linebacker Mel Kaufman made a leaping, over-the-shoulder interception that was intended to Cowboys receiver Tony Hill, setting up Washington kicker Mark Moseley's 29-yard field goal with 6:55 left to play. Then from the Dallas 20-yard line, defensive lineman Dexter Manley
Dexter Manley
Dexter Keith Manley, nicknamed the "Secretary of Defense" is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Phoenix Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an eleven-year career from 1981 to 1991. He also played in the Canadian Football...
tipped Hogeboom's delayed screen pass intended for running back Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
; tackle Darryl Grant caught it and returned it 10 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.
Riggins, who ran nine straight times to help Washington run out the clock in the final period, finished the game with 140 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.
AFC Championship: Miami Dolphins 14, New York Jets 0
On a wet, muddy field (the Jets complained about the Dolphins' decision not to place the tarp over the field before the game), the Dolphins defense held Jets quarterback Richard Todd to only 15 of 37 completions for 103 yards and intercepted 5 of his passes. Linebacker A.J. Duhe led Miami to a victory with 3 interceptions, scoring a 35-yard touchdown and setting up the other Dolphins score. Miami held the Jets to 139 total yards and forced 5 interceptions. The game was scoreless until the third period when Duhe intercepted a pass from Todd. Aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Jets, the Dolphins advanced to the New York 7-yard line where Woody BennettWoody Bennett
Woodrow Bennett, Jr. Woodrow Bennett, Jr. Woodrow Bennett, Jr. (born March 24, 1956 in York, Pennsylvania is a former professional American football player who played running back for ten seasons for the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.----About Woody Bennett NOW Spiritual Life Coach:...
rushed into the end zone for a touchdown. Then early in the final period, Duhe intercepted a screen pass
Screen pass
A screen pass is a type of play in American football. During a screen pass, a number of things happen concurrently in order to fool the defense into thinking a long pass is being thrown, when in fact the pass is merely a short one, just beyond the defensive linemen. Screens are usually deployed...
and returned it 35 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.