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Nfl Playoffs, 1981-82




  AFC 1 Cincinnati Bengals
  AFC 1 Div Central
  AFC 2 Miami Dolphins
  AFC 2 Div East
  AFC 3 San Diego Chargers
  AFC 3 Div West
  AFC 4 New York Jets
  AFC 5 Buffalo Bills
  NFC 1 San Francisco 49ers
  NFC 1 Div West
  NFC 2 Dallas Cowboys
  NFC 2 Div East
  NFC 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  NFC 3 Div Central
  NFC 4 Philadelphia Eagles
  NFC 5 New York Giants



WILD CARD PLAYOFFS


December 27 1981


AFC: Buffalo Bills 31, New York Jets 27

  Road '''Bills'''
  R1 17
  R2 7
  R3 0
  R4 7
  RT 31
  Home Jets
  H1 0
  H2 10
  H3 3
  H4 14
  HT 27



''at Shea Stadium , New York City ''


Bills defensive back Bill Simpson's interception at the Buffalo 1-yard line with 2 seconds left in the game preserved a 31-27 victory. The Bills jumped to a 24-0 lead by the second quarter, starting when the Jets' Bruce Harper fumbled the opening kickoff, and Charles Romes picked it up and returned it 26-yards to the end zone. Quarterback Joe Ferguson completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Frank Lewis, while interceptions led to a 29-yard field goal by Nick Mike-Mayer and a 26-yard scoring reception by Lewis. However, Jets quarterback Richard Todd threw a 30-yard touchdown to tight end Mickey Shuler, and kicker Pat Leahy added two field goals to cut Buffalo's lead, 24-13. With about 10 minutes left in the game, running back Joe Cribbs ran for a 45-yard touchdown. But Todd then completed a 30-yard touchdown to Bobby Jones, and a 1-yard touchdown run by Kevin Long cut the lead, 31-27. The Jets got the ball back with 2:36 remaining and then drove 69 yards to the Buffalo 11-yard line. However, Simpson's interception at the 1-yard line halted New York's comeback with 2 seconds left.

  • Scoring

  • ---BUF - Romes 26 fumble return (Mike-Mayer kick)

  • ---BUF - Lewis 50 pass from Ferguson (Mike-Mayer kick)

  • ---BUF - FG Mike-Mayer 29

  • ---BUF - Lewis 26 pass from Ferguson (Mike-Mayer kick)

  • ---NYJ - Shuler 30 pass from Todd (Leahy kick)

  • ---NYJ - FG Leahy 26

  • ---NYJ - FG Leahy 19

  • ---BUF - Cribbs 45 run (Mike-Mayer kick)

  • ---NYJ - Jones 30 pass from Todd (Leahy kick)

  • ---NYJ - Long 1 run (Leahy kick)



NFC: New York Giants 27, Philadelphia Eagles 21

  Road '''Giants'''
  R1 20
  R2 7
  R3 0
  R4 0
  RT 27
  Home Eagles
  H1 0
  H2 7
  H3 7
  H4 7
  HT 21



''at Veterans Stadium , Philadelphia ''


The Giants jumped to a 20-0 in the first quarter, but had to withstand an Eagles comeback at the end to hold on to a 27-21 win. In the first quarter, Eagles kick/punt returner Wally Henry fumbled a punt and Beasley Reece recovered the ball at the Philadelphia 26-yard line. A few plays later, quarterback Scott Brunner then threw a 9-yard touchdown to running back Leon Bright (the extra point attempt failed). Later in the first period, Brunner threw a 10-yard touchdown to wide receiver John Mistler, Henry then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Mark Haynes recovered the ball in the end zone to give New York a 20-0 lead. In the second quarter, Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Harold Carmichael , but it was countered by Brunner's 22-yard touchdown to wide receiver Tom Mullady to give the Giants a 27-7 halftime lead. However, New York was shut out in the second half, while the Eagles opened the third period by marching 82 yards to score on running back Wilbert Montgomery's 6-yard rushing touchdown. Montgomery added another touchdown with 2:51 left in the game, but the Giants were able to run out the rest of the clock to preserve the victory.

  • Scoring

  • ---NYG - Bright 9 pass from Brunner (kick failed)

  • ---NYG - Mistler 10 pass from Brunner (Danelo kick)

  • ---NYG - Haynes recovered fumble in end zone (Danelo kick)

  • ---PHI - Carmichael 15 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick)

  • ---NYG - Mullady 22 pass from Brunner (Danelo kick)

  • ---PHI - Montgomery 6 run (Franklin kick)

  • ---PHI - Montgomery 1 run (Franklin kick)



DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS


January 2 1982


AFC: San Diego Chargers 41, Miami Dolphins 38 (OT)

  Road '''Chargers'''
  R1 24
  R2 0
  R3 7
  R4 7
  R5 3
  RT 41
  Home Dolphins
  H1 0
  H2 17
  H3 14
  H4 7
  H5 0
  HT 38



''at Miami Orange Bowl , Miami, Florida ''


Chargers placekicker to Tony Nathan, who then ran 25 yards to the end zone.

In the third quarter, Miami tied the game, 24-24, with Strock's 15-yard touchdown completion to tight end Joe Rose. Each team then scored two touchdowns, with San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts 's 9-yard tying score to James Brooks with about a minute left in regulation. Dolphins kicker Uwe von Schamann had a chance to win the game on the last play of regulation, but his field goal attempt was blocked.

In overtime, the Chargers took the opening kickoff and advanced to the Miami 8-yard line, but Benirschke missed a 27-yard field goal attempt. Then after both teams exchanged punts twice, the Dolphins reached the San Diego 17-yard line, only to see von Schamann's 34-yard attempt get blocked. The Chargers then drive to the Miami 10-yard line, where Benirschke eventually kicks the winning field goal.

  • Scoring

  • ---SD - FG Benirschke 32

  • ---SD - Chandler 56 punt return (Benirschke kick)

  • ---SD - Muncie 1 run (Benirschke kick)

  • ---SD - Brooks 8 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)

  • ---MIA - FG von Schamann 34

  • ---MIA - Ross 1 pass from Strock (von Schamann kick)

  • ---MIA - Nathan 25 lateral pass from Harris (von Schamann kick)

  • ---MIA - Rose 15 pass from Strock (von Schamann kick)

  • ---SD - Winslow 25 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)

  • ---MIA - Hardy 50 pass from Strock (von Schamann kick)

  • ---MIA - Nathan 12 run (von Schamann kick)

  • ---SD - Brooks 9 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)

  • ---SD - FG Benirschke 29



NFC: Dallas Cowboys 38, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0

  Road Buccaneers
  R1 0
  R2 0
  R3 0
  R4 0
  RT 0
  Home '''Cowboys'''
  H1 0
  H2 10
  H3 21
  H4 7
  HT 38



''at Texas Stadium , Irving, Texas ''


The Cowboys crushed the Buccaneers, limiting them to 24 rushing yards and forcing 4 interceptions and 4 sacks. After the first quarter remained scoreless, Dallas wide receiver Tony Hill made a 9-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Danny White , and Rafael Septien later added a 32-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a 10-0 halftime lead. Dallas then took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 80-yards to score on running back Ron Springs' 1-yard rushing touchdown. Two interceptions later in the third quarter led to two more touchdowns by the Cowboys.

  • Scoring

  • ---DAL - Hill 9 pass from White (Septien kick)

  • ---DAL - FG Septien 32

  • ---DAL - Springs 1 run (Septien kick)

  • ---DAL - Dorsett 5 run (Septien kick)

  • ---DAL - Jones 5 run (Septien kick)

  • ---DAL - Newsome 1 run (Septien kick)



January 3 1982


AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 28, Buffalo Bills 21

  Road Bills
  R1 0
  R2 7
  R3 7
  R4 7
  RT 21
  Home '''Bengals'''
  H1 14
  H2 0
  H3 7
  H4 7
  HT 28



''at Riverfront Stadium , Cincinnati, Ohio ''


The Bengals won their first playoff game in team history after Bills quarterback Joe Ferguson's fourth-down pass fell incomplete, thus enabling Cincinnati to take over and run out the clock. The Bengals jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Bills scored two touchdowns of their own, including a 44-yard rushing touchdown by running back Joe Cribbs to tie the game. Cincinnati scored again with running back Charles Alexander's 20-yard touchdown run, but was countered by Ferguson's 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jerry Butler. With 10:39 remaining in the game, Bengals rookie wide receiver Cris Collinsworth made a 16-yard touchdown reception to give Cincinnati the lead, 28-21. The Bills drove to the Cincinnati 21-yard line with about three minutes left to play, and it appeared that Ferguson completed a fourth-down pass to 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 Bengals were then able to take over and run out the clock.

  • Scoring

  • ---CIN - Alexander 4 run (Breech kick)

  • ---CIN - Johnson 1 run (Breech kick)

  • ---BUF - Cribbs 1 run (Mike-Mayer kick)

  • ---BUF - Cribbs 44 run (Mike-Mayer kick)

  • ---CIN - Alexander 20 run (Breech kick)

  • ---BUF - Butler 20 pass from Ferguson (Mike-Mayer kick)

  • ---CIN - Collinsworth 18 pass from Anderson (Breech kick)



NFC: San Francisco 49ers 38, New York Giants 24

  Road Giants
  R1 7
  R2 3
  R3 7
  R4 7
  RT 24
  Home '''49ers'''
  H1 7
  H2 17
  H3 0
  H4 14
  HT 38



''at Candlestick Park , San Francisco ''


The 49ers jumped to a 24-7 lead in the second quarter, and scored 2 touchdowns in the final period to secure the victory. San Francisco took the opening kickoff and advanced 85 yards to score on quarterback Joe Montana 's 8-yard touchdown to tight end Charlie Young. The Giants countered with quarterback Scott Brunner's 72-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Earnest Gray. Then after the 49ers went ahead, 10-7, in the second quarter, San Francisco defensive back Ronnie Lott intercepted a pass from Brunner to set up wide receiver Freddie Solomon's 58-yard touchdown reception. Linebacker Keena Turner recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and Ricky Patton scored on a 25-yard touchdown run to give the 49ers a 24-7 lead. Later, a 48-yard field goal by New York kicker Joe Danelo made the score 24-10 at halftime. In the third quarter, Brunner completed a 59-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Johnny Perkins to cut the score, 24-17. But in the fourth quarter, running back Bill Ring scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown, and Lott returned his second interception of the game 20-yards to the end zone. Brunner then made a 17-yard touchdown to Perkins to close out the scoring.

  • Scoring

  • ---SF - Young 8 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)

  • ---NYG - Gray 72 pass from Brunner (Danelo kick)

  • ---SF - FG Wersching 22

  • ---SF - Solomon 58 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)

  • ---SF - Patton 25 run (Wersching kick)

  • ---NYG - FG Danelo 48

  • ---NYG - Perkins 59 pass from Brunner (Danelo kick)

  • ---SF - Ring 3 run (Wersching kick)

  • ---SF - Lott 20 interception return (Wersching kick)

  • ---NYG - Perkins 17 pass from Brunner (Danelo kick)



CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS


January 10 1982


AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 27, San Diego Chargers 7

  Road Chargers
  R1 0
  R2 7
  R3 0
  R4 0
  RT 7
  Home '''Bengals'''
  H1 10
  H2 7
  H3 3
  H4 7
  HT 27



''at Riverfront Stadium , Cincinnati, Ohio ''


Known as the Freezer Bowl , the Bengals defeated the Chargers, 27-7. Despite a game-time temperature of -9 °F (-23 °C ) and a 35-mile-per-hour wind that sent Wind Chill s into sub-zero temperatures, Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson threw 2 touchdown passes to lead his team to a victory.

  • Scoring

  • ---CIN - FG Breech 31

  • ---CIN - Harris 8 pass from Anderson (Breech kick)

  • ---SD - Winslow 33 pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)

  • ---CIN - Johnson 1 run (Breech kick)

  • ---CIN - FG Breech 38

  • ---CIN - Bass 3 pass from Anderson (Breech kick)



NFC: San Francisco 49ers 28, Dallas Cowboys 27

  Road Cowboys
  R1 10
  R2 7
  R3 0
  R4 10
  RT 27
  Home '''49ers'''
  H1 7
  H2 7
  H3 7
  H4 7
  HT 28



''at Candlestick Park , San Francisco ''

  • '''TV announcers ( and Hank Stram

  • Referee: Jim Tunney


In a play the would become known as the The Catch , 49ers wide receiver 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 opened the scoring with quarterback Joe Montana's 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Freddie Solomon. However, Dallas countered with a 44-yard field goal by Rafael Septien, and then Tony Hill's 26-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Danny White. Montana then threw a 20-yard touchdown to Clark, to retake the lead, 14-10. Then a controversial pass interference penalty on 49ers defensive back Ronnie Lott nullified his interception and gave the Cowboys a first down at the San Francisco 12-yard line. Three plays later, running back Tony Dorsett scored on a 5-yard rushing touchdown to give Dallas a 17-14 lead by halftime.

In the third quarter, the 49ers regained the lead again with a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Johnny Davis. However, Septien made a 22-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Then, Cowboys cornerback Everson Walls recovered a fumble to set up White's 21-yard touchdown to tight end Doug Cosbie to give Dallas a 27-21 advantage. With 4:54 left in the game, San Francisco found themselves with the ball at their own 11-yard line. But they marched 89 yards to the 6-yard line, where Montana threw a high pass that Clark just managed to grab for the game winning touchdown.

However, the Cowboys still had enough time left in the game for one last drive. White threw a completion that almost went for a touchdown, but then Lawrence Pillers forced a sack and a fumble from White, Jim Stuckey recovered the ball, and the 49ers had their victory.

  • Scoring

  • ---SF - Solomon 8 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)

  • ---DAL - FG Septien 44

  • ---DAL - Hill 26 pass from White (Septien kick)

  • ---SF - Clark 20 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)

  • ---DAL - Dorsett 5 run (Septien kick)

  • ---SF - Davis 2 run (Wersching kick)

  • ---DAL - FG Septien 22

  • ---DAL - Cosbie 21 pass from White (Septien kick)

  • ---SF - Clark 6 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)



SUPER BOWL


San Francisco 49ers (NFC) 26, Cincinnati Bengals (AFC) 21, at Silverdome , Pontiac, Michigan


BRACKET

  RD2 Divisional Playoffs
  RD3 Conference Championships
  RD4 Super Bowl XVI
  Group1 '''NFC'''
  Group2 '''AFC'''
  RD1-seed05 5
  RD1-team05 '''Giants'''
  RD1-score05 '''27'''
  RD1-seed06 4
  RD1-team06 Eagles
  RD1-score06 21
  RD1-seed13 5
  RD1-team13 '''Bills'''
  RD1-score13 '''31'''
  RD1-seed14 4
  RD1-team14 Jets
  RD1-score14 '''27'''
  RD2-seed01 3
  RD2-team01 Buccaneers
  RD2-score01 0
  RD2-seed02 2
  RD2-team02 '''Cowboys'''
  RD2-score02 '''38'''
  RD2-seed03 5
  RD2-team03 Giants
  RD2-score03 24
  RD2-seed04 1
  RD2-team04 '''49ers'''
  RD2-score04 '''38'''
  RD2-seed05 3
  RD2-team05 '''Chargers'''
  RD2-score05 '''41'''
  RD2-seed06 2
  RD2-team06 Dolphins
  RD2-score06 38
  RD2-seed07 5
  RD2-team07 Bills
  RD2-score07 21
  RD2-seed08 1
  RD2-team08 '''Bengals'''
  RD2-score08 '''28'''
  RD3-seed01 2
  RD3-team01 Cowboys
  RD3-score01 27
  RD3-seed02 1
  RD3-team02 '''49ers'''
  RD3-score02 '''28'''
  RD3-seed03 3
  RD3-team03 Chargers
  RD3-score03 7
  RD3-seed04 1
  RD3-team04 '''Bengals'''
  RD3-score04 '''27'''
  RD4-seed01 N1
  RD4-team01 '''49ers'''
  RD4-score01 '''26'''
  RD4-seed02 A1
  RD4-team02 Bengals
  RD4-score02 21




REFERENCES

  • ''Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League'' (ISBN 0062701746)

  • ''The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995'' (ISBN 089204523X)



  Title NFL Playoffs
  Years 1981-82
  Before NFL Playoffs, 1980-81
  After NFL Playoffs, 1982-83