Visitor: San Diego Chargers
Home: Kansas City Chiefs
Date: September 20,
1981
Scoring:
Team 1 2 3 4 Final
SD 14 14 7 7 42
KC 7 7 14 3 31
Visitor playmakers:
TE Kellen Winslow, HB James Brooks, RB Chuck Muncie, TE Eric
Sievers, DE Gary “Big Hands” Johnson, LB Linden King, DE Leroy Jones, CB Irvin
Phillips, S Bob Gregor, CB Willie Buchanon
Home playmakers:
RB Ted McKnight, TE Al Dixon, RB Billy Jackson, LB Frank
Manumaleuga, S Gary Barbaro, WR Stan Rome
Network: NBC (KCST San Diego)
Announcers: Mike
Adamle, Rocky Bleier
Pregame: No
Halftime: Yes –
limited to Bryant Gumbel phone interview with SD owner Gene Klein about John
Jefferson trade
Postgame: No
Commercials: No
Grade: Fair. Broadcast interference, snow, and occasional
tape problems detract. Watchable.
Notes: Kansas City’s #4 rush
offense comes out strong and scores on a 10-play, 5:48 opening drive. San
Diego’s first possession is fraught with errors, as QB
Dan Fouts cannot complete any passes except to KC defenders. KC goes 3 and out on the next possession and
when the Chargers get the ball back Fouts finds his rhythm, passing them down
the field and hitting Winslow in the end zone. San
Diego takes control after that,
taking advantage of QB Bill Kenney’s haplessness and building a 28-7 lead.
The Chiefs put together a solid drive in
the 3rd quarter to cut San
Diego’s lead to 7, but the Chargers answer with an
equally impressive drive to stay ahead and hold on for the win. This is a sloppy game filled with penalties
and turnovers. San Diego, the #1 passing
offense with 320 yards per game, turns the ball over three times, all
interceptions, while Kansas City gives it to the Chargers 8 times. Kenney shows expertise in drawing the
Chargers offside, but otherwise he stinks up the field again. WR Carlos Carson breaks his left fibula on a
great catch and leaves the game.
Thanks Tim!
Running time: 3:05 (2
discs)
