The 1982 San Diego Chargers season was the team's 23rd year, and 13th in the National Football League. The team had a 10–6 record in 1981. 1982 was a strike-shortened season so the league was divided up into two conferences instead of its normal divisional alignment — the Chargers finished 6–3, qualifying for the playoffs as the #5 seed. Their run ended with a second round loss to the Dolphins. This would prove the team's last playoff appearance until 1992.
The 1982 Chargers were the top-scoring team in the NFL. They scored a total of 288 points — an average of 32 points per game. They led the league in passing touchdowns (19), rushing touchdowns (15, tied with the Raiders) passing yards (2,927), and yards per pass attempt (8.9).
The Chargers defense, however, surrendered the most passing yards (2,292), and second-most first downs (119) in the league.Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1982 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts was named Pro Football Writers of America MVP, and 1982 AP Offensive Player of the Year.Pro-Football-Reference: 1982 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics While the shortened season prevented him from breaking the passing yardage record for the fourth season in a row, his mark of 320.3 yards per game would not be surpassed until 2011. Wes Chandler missed one game through injury but still led the league with 1,032 receiving yards; his average of 129.0 yards per game remains a record, and his nine touchdown receptions led the league. In support, Kellen Winslow had the second-most receptions (54) and the third-most yards (721) in the NFL; veteran Charlie Joiner saw a small drop-off in production but still contributed 545 yards.
At running back, Chuck Muncie had another strong all-around year, rushing for 569 yards, catching passes for a further 207, and scoring nine touchdowns while throwing for two more. James Brooks added 430 rushing yards and, with his receiving and kick returns, gained a league-leading 1,383 all-purpose yards.
San Diego's defensive line was unchanged, and helped the team rank ninth against the run. Keith Ferguson led the team with 4.5 sacks, half a sack ahead of Gary "Big Hands" Johnson. Three new starters were brought into the defensive backfield in an attempt to strengthen the pass defense, but they were ranked dead last for the second consecutive season. The unit did rank seventh for turnovers with 25; newly signed free safety Tim Fox led the team with four interceptions. Rolf Benirschke made his lone Pro Bowl after converting 16 of 22 kicks, including all seven of his attempts in the 40–49-yard range.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 16 Chicago Bears W 28–27 1–0 Jack Murphy Stadium 2 August 21 Dallas Cowboys L 16–26 1–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 3 August 28 San Francisco 49ers W 23–9 2–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 4 September 4 at Los Angeles Rams L 14–20 2–2 Anaheim Stadium
Regular season
Schedule Week Originalweek Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 11 September 12 at Denver Broncos W 23–3 1–0 Mile High Stadium 73,564 Recap 22 September 19 at Kansas City Chiefs L 12–19 1–1 Arrowhead Stadium 60,514 Recap— 3 September 26 Los Angeles Raiders postponed 1–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 1982 NFL player strike4 October 3 at Atlanta Falcons cancelled Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium—5 October 10 Seattle Seahawks Jack Murphy Stadium—6 October 17 Kansas City Chiefs Jack Murphy Stadium —7 October 24 at Seattle Seahawks Kingdome—8 October 31 Los Angeles Rams Jack Murphy Stadium —9 November 8 at Miami Dolphins Miami Orange Bowl—10 November 14 New Orleans Saints Jack Murphy Stadium 311 November 22 at Los Angeles Raiders L 24–28 1–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 42,162 Recap 412 November 28 Denver Broncos W 30–20 2–2 Jack Murphy Stadium 47,629 Recap 513 December 5 at Cleveland Browns W 30–13 3–2 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 54,064 Recap 614 at San Francisco 49ers W 41–37 4–2 Candlestick Park 55,988 Recap 715 Cincinnati Bengals W 50–34 5–2 Jack Murphy Stadium 51,296 Recap 816 December 26 Baltimore Colts W 44–26 6–2 Jack Murphy Stadium 49,711 Recap 917 January 2, 1983 Los Angeles Raiders L 34–41 6–3 Jack Murphy Stadium 51,612 RecapNote: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Denver Broncos
Benirschke opened the scoring with a 50-yard kick, though he later missed from the same distance. Denver tied the score in the 2nd quarter before San Diego responded with a 71-yard drive that stalled at the Denver 7-yard line; Benirschke restored the lead from 24 yards out. The Broncos moved to a 3rd and 15 at the San Diego 27. From there Craig Morton found Rick Upchurch for a 14-yard catch, Dewey Selmon forced a fumble that Ray Preston recovered. The Chargers drove into Denver territory in the final seconds of the half, but Benirschke missed a 58-yard field goal try and it remained 6–3 at the break.
Bob Gregor intercepted Morton early in the second half, and Fouts found Chandler for 40 yards on a 3rd and 16, leading to Benirschke's third field goal. Andre Young added another interception on the next Denver drive—he fumbled afterwards, but Selmon recovered at his own 12-yard line. San Diego drove 88 yards from there: Chandler twice converted third downs by running the ball, and Fouts found Scott Fitzkee in the end zone for the touchdown. Denver blocked a Maury Buford punt in the final quarter, taking over at the San Diego 21-yard line and reaching 2nd and goal at the 3; a fumbled handoff then bounced into the end zone for Preston to make his second fumble recovery of the day. Chandler's 39-yard reception on a 3rd and 10 then set up Muncie's insurance touchdown.
San Diego forced all six of the game's turnovers, with four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Young had two fumble recoveries and an interception, plus seven tackles. Fitzkee's touchdown reception was one of three catches he had in his two seasons with the Chargers.
Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs
San Diego were forced to punt on their first possession, and Buford's kick was blocked and recovered in the end zone to put the Chiefs ahead to stay. Andre Young stopped the next Chiefs drive with an interception; on the one after that, Gregor and Dave Lewis combined to tackle a receiver one yard short of the goal line on a 3rd and goal play, leading to a short field goal. Dwight Scales' 27-yard catch on 3rd and 14 prolonged the Chargers' answering drive, which appeared to have ended with Benirschke's 45-yard kick; a holding penalty called on Linden King forced San Diego to punt instead. Fumbles by Brooks (on a punt return) and Fouts (on a 2nd and 5 from the Kansas City 38-yard line) set up further Chiefs field goals and the score was 16–0 at the break.
The Chargers' defense forced a punt to open the second half, and their offense drove 77 yards for a touchdown: Winslow caught 3 passes for 47 yards, and Muncie threw a touchdown to Chandler on a halfback option play. Wilbur Young sacked Chiefs quarterback Bill Kenney on the next drive—backed up near to their own goal line, the Chiefs committed a penalty in their own end zone two plays later, conceding a safety. Three plays later, Fouts was intercepted and Kansas City added a fourth field goal. Brooks ran the ensuing kickoff back 47 yards to midfield, and Chandler's 26-yard catch moved the Chargers to the Kansas City 12-yard line. Fouts was sacked on third down, and Benirschke made a 49-yard field goal. San Diego had one more possession, which started at their own 20-yard line. Chandler's 26-yard catch converted a 3rd and 20 before they reached a 4th and 5 at the Kansas City 40. From there, Joiner made a catch that would have produced a first down, but Russ Washington was flagged for holding; that pushed the Chargers back 10 yards and they punted instead. Kansas City gained three first downs and ran the final four minutes off the clock.
Both teams gained 282 yards on offense. Fouts threw for 204 yards, his smallest total in a regular season game since week 14, 1980.
Week 3: at Los Angeles Raiders
San Diego took the opening kickoff in their first game back after the players' strike and drove from their own 26 to a 1st and goal from the 1-yard line. From there, Muncie was stopped on three straight carries and Benirschke made a short field goal. Los Angeles went three-and-out, and Fouts led the Chargers 83 yards in four plays, completing passes of 12, 22 and 29 yards, the last of these a touchdown to Dwight Scales. Jim Plunkett was intercepted by Tim Fox three plays later. The teams exchanged punts, then receptions of 24 yards by Chandler and 19 yards by Winslow set up Muncie's first touchdown run. Los Angeles reached the Chargers 29-yard line, but Leroy Jones sacked Jim Plunkett for a loss of 10 yards and Cliff Thrift intercepted him on the next play. Soon afterwards, a 42-yard pass interference penalty moved the ball to the Los Angeles 2-yard line; Muncie scored again two plays later. The Raiders missed a field goal on the next drive, but Muncie fumbled on the next play. Los Angeles took over at the San Diego 17, Plunkett threw a 1-yard touchdown pass on 4th and goal, pulling the deficit back to 24–7 at halftime.
Los Angeles continued to draw closer in the 3rd quarter, with two Marcus Allen touchdowns either side of a Winslow fumble. Winslow had back-to-back receptions of 15 and 27 yards early in the final quarter, positioning Benirschke for a 22-yard field goal that he missed wide left. The Raiders took over at their own 20-yard line and drove for the winning touchdown with six minutes to play. Fouts responded by leading San Diego from their own 20 to the Raiders 18, with Chandler converting a 3rd and 15 with a 24-yard catch. The drive ended when Fouts threw a pass under heavy pressure that was intercepted in the end zone. After Allen ran for a first down, three further rushes left the Raiders facing a 4th down with 10 seconds on the clock. Ray Guy was then tackled at the Los Angeles 29-yard line with 4 seconds still to play. Fouts threw a Hail Mary pass into the back of the end zone, which the Raiders batted down as the game ended.
The Chargers had two 100-yard receivers, as Chandler caught 7 passes for 118 yards while Winslow caught 8 for 105 yards. Fouts had 235 of his 357 passing yards in the first half.
Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
Fouts converted 3rd downs on the opening drive, but Brooks fumbled the ball into the end zone and Denver recovered; the Broncos drove 65 yards the other way for a field goal. San Diego came straight back with a 13-play, 86-yard drive, ending with Winslow bobbling the ball multiple times before possessing it for just long enough to claim a disputed 3-yard touchdown. Jones recovered a fumble two plays later, setting up a Benirschke field goal. On the next Chargers drive Joiner had a 10-yard catch on a 3rd and 8 before Winslow's second touchdown came on a 3rd and 3 from the Denver 28-yard line; Broncos defenders said that Joiner had illegally interfered with their coverage before the catch. The Broncos halved the deficit with a touchdown on the following drive, 1:22 before halftime. San Diego moved from their own 10 to the Broncos 36 before time expired in the half with them 17–10 up.