1980 San Diego Chargers season

The 1980 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 11th season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 21st overall. the team failed to improve on their 12–4 record in 1979 and finished 11-5. They won their first playoff game in 17 years. The season ended with loss to the Raiders in the playoffs.

1980 San Diego Chargers season
OwnerEugene V. Klein
(Since 1966)
Head coachDon Coryell
(3rd season)
General managerJohnny Sanders
(Since 1976)
Home fieldJack Murphy Stadium
Results
Record11–5
Division place1st AFC West
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs (Bills) (20–14)
Lost Conference Championship (Raiders) (27–34)
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros

Dan Fouts broke his own record with over 4,500 yards passing, with 30 touchdowns. The Chargers finished #1 in total offense #2 in scoring. The defensive unit finished #6, leading the NFL with 60 QB sacks. The Chargers finished 11-5, winning the tiebreaker with the Oakland Raiders for the AFC West crown.

To help bolster a sagging running game, Running back Chuck Muncie was traded from the New Orleans Saints after four games.[3]

The Chargers Achilles heel that season was turnovers which they led the league in giveaways. In the Divisional Round against Buffalo, a 50-yard touchdown pass from Fouts to Ron Smith in the final 3 minutes of the game lifted the Chargers to a 20-14 win. In the AFC Championship Game, big plays and turnovers got the Chargers down, 28 to 7. The Chargers comeback fell short as the Raiders hung on to win 34-27, with Oakland running out the final 7 minutes of the 4th quarter.

1980 NFL Draft
Main article: 1980 NFL Draft
1980 San Diego Chargers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
4 101 Ed Luther  Quarterback San Jose State
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Roster
1980 San Diego Chargers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics
 , 5 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 7, 1980 at Seattle Seahawks W 34–13
62,042
2 September 14, 1980 Oakland Raiders W 30–24
51,943
3 September 21, 1980 at Denver Broncos W 30–13
74,970
4 September 28, 1980 at Kansas City Chiefs W 24–7
45,161
5 October 5, 1980 Buffalo Bills L 26–24
51,982
6 October 12, 1980 at Oakland Raiders L 38–24
44,826
7 October 19, 1980 New York Giants W 44–7
50,397
8 October 26, 1980 at Dallas Cowboys L 42–31
60,639
9 November 2, 1980 at Cincinnati Bengals W 31–14
46,406
10 November 9, 1980 Denver Broncos L 20–13
51,435
11 November 16, 1980 Kansas City Chiefs W 20–7
50,248
12 November 20, 1980 at Miami Dolphins W 27–24
63,013
13 November 30, 1980 Philadelphia Eagles W 22–21
51,567
14 December 7, 1980 at Washington Redskins L 40–17
48,556
15 December 13, 1980 Seattle Seahawks W 21–14
49,980
16 December 22, 1980 Pittsburgh Steelers W 26–17
51,785

Playoffs
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
Divisional January 3, 1981 Buffalo Bills W 20–14
52,028
Conference Championship January 11, 1981 Oakland Raiders L 34–27
52,428

Week 1
Week One: San Diego Chargers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 21 7334
Seahawks 3 0 3713

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 62,042
  • Box score

Four touchdown passes from Dan Fouts saw the Chargers to an easy win on opening day. It was 3-3 early in the 2nd quarter when Woodrow Lowe sparked San Diego with a blocked punt, setting them up at the Seattle five yard line. Fouts found Greg McCrary three plays later for the opening touchdown. On the next two Chargers possessions, Joiner and Jefferson got on the scoresheet, and the lead was 24-3 at halftime.

Pete Shaw's interception set up another Jefferson touchdown as San Diego eased to victory in the second half. The receiver caught 6 passes for 103 yards and 2 TDs.

Week 2
Week Two: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34OTTotal
Raiders 3 7 77024
Chargers 3 7 014630

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: September 14
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20.0 °C), relative humidity 68%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 51,943
  • Box score

Tight end Kellen Winslow had a breakout performance as the Chargers edged an overtime epic. Oakland attempted field goals on their first three possessions, but Chris Bahr only converted one of them, while Rolf Benirschke made a club-record 52-yarder; it was 3-3 midway through the 2nd quarter. Clarence Williams then lost a fumble in his own territory, but Bob Horn pounced on a mishandled snap a play later to win possession back. Following this reprieve, the Chargers drove 63 yards, Jefferson scoring with 48 seconds left in the half. That proved to be enough time for the Raiders, who moved from their own 18 to the Charger 48, from where Dan Pastorini found Cliff Branch for a game-tying touchdown with 6 seconds on the clock.

Fouts gave an error-strewn performance during the 3rd quarter. He lost a fumble, which was run back for a Raider touchdown, and threw four interceptions, three in Oakland territory to end scoring chances, and a fourth which set up a field goal try for Bahr. This kick was no good from 53 yards, and the Chargers drove 56 yards in 5 plays to tie the game, Winslow scoring from 25 yards out. Oakland responded quickly, reaching a 1st and 10 at the Charger 19 before Glen Edwards intercepted Pastorini. San Diego made the most of the reprieve, going 80 yards in 12 plays, including a 22-yard completion from Fouts to Winslow and a 4-yard touchdown run from Williams with 2:00 on the clock.

Trailing 24-17, Oakland reached a 1st and 10 from the San Diego 16, from where Pastorini threw two incompletions before Gary Johnson sacked him for a loss of 7 and temporarily knocked him out of the game. Backup Jim Plunkett was then sacked by Johnson on 4th down, but the apparent game-clinching play was ruled out by penalty, and Plunkett threw the game-tying touchdown a play later. With 33 seconds on the clock, there was still time for Fouts to connect on three straight passes, giving Benirschke a chance to win the game from 51 yards out. The kick came up short and right, sending the game into overtime.

Oakland won the toss. Pastorini returned, but was intercepted again by Edwards on the first play of the extra period. Fouts, however then threw his fifth pick of the game, giving the Raiders a golden chance at the San Diego 46. They drove as far as the 32, from where Bahr tried a 50-yard game-winner. Mike Williams partially blocked the kick, giving Bahr his fourth miss of the game. Fouts connected with Joiner for 28 yards on the next drive, and the Chargers reached a 3rd and 11 at the Raider 24. Fouts then lofted a high pass to Jefferson just short of the end. The receiver leapt to make the catch, fell at the one-yard line and rolled over the goalline untouched for the winner, 8:09 into overtime.

Fouts had an eventful day, completing 29 of 44 for a club-record 387 yards, 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Winslow had 9 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown; Jefferson had 9 for 110 yards and two scores. San Diego won despite losing the turnover battle 7-4. To date, this is the last win by a Chargers team over an eventual Super Bowl champion.

Week 3
Week Three: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 24 3030
Broncos 3 3 7013

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: September 21
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: 66 °F (18.9 °C), relative humidity 37%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 74,970
  • Box score

For the second straight week, San Diego played in a turnover-riddled game - this time, they won that battle 7-3, and had the game safe with time to spare. On the opening possession, Benirschke broke the Charger record for longest field goal for the second consecutive week, this time converting from 53 yards out. After Denver tied the scores, a 41-yard connection between Fouts and Winslow had San Diego back in Bronco territory, but Fouts was intercepted. Fred Dean won possession back when he recovered an errant snap, and John Cappelletti scored his first Charger touchdown at the end of a 48-yard drive.

Another Fouts interception led to a Denver field goal, but the tables soon turned. First, Woodrow Lowe intercepted Matt Robinson, and ran the ball back 28 yards to the Denver 22. Fouts found Joiner in the end zone on the very next play. Denver then reached the Charger 45, but a Gary Johnson sack pushed them back 9 yards, and Edwards picked off a Robinson pass two plays later, returning it 68 yards for a touchdown. Benirschke added another field goal before halftime, pushing the lead to 27-6. Denver's attempts to come back in the second half were foiled by a further four interceptions.

Edwards had two of the Chargers' total of six interceptions. Johnson had four sacks in the first half alone, and the team finished with six.

Week 4
Week Four: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 14 3024
Chiefs 0 7 007

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: September 28
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14.4 °C), relative humidity 59%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 45,161
  • Box score

Turnovers were again the key, as San Diego defeated the winless Chiefs. After five punts to start the game, Louie Kelcher recovered a fumble at the Kansas City 3, and Cappelletti scored on the next play. The Chiefs went 80 yards to tie the scores, but Kellen Winslow scored on consecutive drives to break the game open: his first touchdown was set up by Hal Stringert's fumble recovery, the second by Jefferson's 42-yard reception. Benirschke completed the scoring early in the 3rd quarter, following a Kelcher interception.

After completing a clean sweep of AFC West opponents in the first four weeks, San Diego were now two games clear in the division.

Week 5
Week Five: Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Bills 3 9 01426
Chargers 7 10 7024

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 5
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20.0 °C), relative humidity 82%, wind 10 mph
  • Game attendance: 51,982
  • Box score

A 4th quarter collapse cost San Diego in the battle of the last two unbeaten AFC teams. They had capitalised on short fields in taking a 14-3 lead early in the 2nd quarter. First, Lowe forced Bills' running back Joe Cribbs to fumble, with Willie Buchanon recovering at the Buffalo 44 - that led to Winslow's touchdown catch on 3rd and goal from the 4. Then Buchanan pressured Buffalo's punter, forcing him to run; he was stopped well short of a first down, and San Diego took over at the Buffalo 29. That led to a 5-yard Jefferson touchdown, again on 3rd and goal. The Bills responded with a field goal, then blocked a punt by Rick Partridge and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. A Benirschke field goal made it 17-13 at the break.

Mike Williams blocked a punt at the start of the second half, but the Chargers came up empty handed after Benirschke missed from 31 yards out. However, Clarence Williams scored from the 4 on their next drive, and the lead was 24-12. Buffalo gambled on 4th and 1 from the Charger 10 early in the 4th quarter, but Cribbs was stuffed for no gain. However, there was yet another problem punt soon afterwards, Partridge struggling to field a high snap and getting tackled well behind the line. That set of a Bills touchdown on 4th and 3 from the 9. On the next play from scrimmage, Fouts was intercepted, and Cribbs scored the winner five plays later. These two Buffalo scores came 3:15 apart, after drives covering 16 and 21 yards.

San Diego looked to respond quickly, but Winslow fumbled after what would have been a first down reception at the Bill 25. Buffalo then picked up three first downs to run out the final 4:38 from the clock.

Week 6
Week Six: San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 3 7724
Raiders 7 10 71438

at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: October 12
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 44,826
  • Box score

Week 7
Week Seven: New York Giants at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Giants 0 0 707
Chargers 0 21 71644

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 19
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19.4 °C), relative humidity 44%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 50,397
  • Box score

Week 8
Week Eight: San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 21 0731
Cowboys 7 7 21742

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: October 26
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 55 °F (12.8 °C), relative humidity 59%, wind 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 60,639
  • Box score

Week 9
Week Nine: San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chargers 10 7 14031
Bengals 0 7 0714

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: November 2
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 42 °F (5.6 °C), relative humidity 58%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 46,406
  • Box score

Week 10
Week Ten: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 7 6720
Chargers 0 6 0713

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), relative humidity 86%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 51,435
  • Box score

Week 11
Week Eleven: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 0 007
Chargers 0 6 7720

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 16
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 60 °F (15.6 °C), relative humidity 37%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 50,248
  • Box score

Week 12
Week Twelve: San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
1 2 34OTTotal
Chargers 7 10 70327
Dolphins 7 10 07024

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

  • Date: November 20
  • Game time: 8:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 64 °F (17.8 °C), relative humidity 72%, wind 12 mph
  • Game attendance: 63,013
  • Box score

Week 13
Week Thirteen: Philadelphia Eagles at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Eagles 0 0 71421
Chargers 9 10 0322

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 30
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), relative humidity 81%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 51,567
  • Box score

Week 14
Week Fourteen: San Diego Chargers at Washington Redskins – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 3 0717
Redskins 14 6 61440

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

  • Date: December 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12.2 °C), relative humidity 65%, wind 7 mph
  • Game attendance: 48,556
  • Box score

Week 15
Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 0 7714
Chargers 0 21 0021

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 13
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 60 °F (15.6 °C), relative humidity 48%, wind 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 49,980
  • Box score

Week 16
Week Sixteen: Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 3 7717
Chargers 3 6 10726

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 22
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 57 °F (13.9 °C), relative humidity 87%, wind 7 mph
  • Game attendance: 51,785
  • Box score

Divisional playoffs

AFC: San Diego Chargers 20, Buffalo Bills 14
Game summary
1 2 34Total
Bills 0 14 0014
Chargers 3 0 71020

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego

Conference championships

AFC Championship: Oakland Raiders 34, San Diego Chargers 27
Game summary
1 2 34Total
Raiders 21 7 3334
Chargers 7 7 10327

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego

Standings
AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
San Diego Chargers(1) 11 5 0 .688 6–2 9–3 418 327 W2
Oakland Raiders(4) 11 5 0 .688 6–2 9–3 364 306 W2
Kansas City Chiefs 8 8 0 .500 4–4 6–8 319 336 W1
Denver Broncos 8 8 0 .500 3–5 5–7 310 323 W1
Seattle Seahawks 4 12 0 .250 1–7 3–9 291 408 L9

Awards and records
  • John Jefferson, NFL Leader in Receiving Yards, (1,340)
  • Kellen Winslow, Second in NFL in Receiving Yards, (1,290)

Milestones
  • The San Diego Chargers became the first team in NFL history to have three of its receivers with over 1,000 receiving yards.

References
  1. "1980 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. "1980 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. Williamson, Bill (May 14, 2013). "Chuck Muncie was a memorable Charger". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.