81 Chargers and Sour Grapes

[ExtraNirvana]

I'm watching some kind of Superbowl show and they were talking about the AFC Championship game against the Chargers. I wasn't alive during the game but I'm glad we beat them simply because they sounded like arrogant pricks.

"It was hard to lose the game because we knew we were the better team." - Charlie Joiner

They still seem bent out of shape. They spoke like they were robbed because of the weather.

It sounded like an exciting game though. Does anyone wanna elaborate on how awesome it was to be a Bengals fan at that time?

[-CR-]

We also beat them 40 - 17 during the regular season. We earned home field advantage in the playoffs.

We were the better team.

I was 11 when this game was played and it was awesome to see. Complete domination.

[McC]

Originally Posted by ExtraNirvana

I'm watching some kind of Superbowl show and they were talking about the AFC Championship game against the Chargers. I wasn't alive during the game but I'm glad we beat them simply because they sounded like arrogant pricks.

"It was hard to lose the game because we knew we were the better team." - Charlie Joiner

They still seem bent out of shape. They spoke like they were robbed because of the weather.

It sounded like an exciting game though. Does anyone wanna elaborate on how awesome it was to be a Bengals fan at that time?

Pretty sure the Bengals played in the same weather. Of course, a lot of them did it in short sleeves.

I was cold inside the house watching the game that day.

[J24]

The most overrated team in NFL History.

[SunsetBengal]

I'll eloborate! I was 11 years old, the Bengals had just come out with the stripes on their helmets. San Diego was the "popular" pick, because they had endured, and won the double overtime thriller with Miami the week before.

Personally, I was ecstatic about the Bengals beating the Chargers. It meant that all the Browns and Steeler fans that I went to school with had to shut their big mouths for a while.

[DaGator8888]

I was at the game and remember the season. Cincinnati was the better team. Believe we were 12-4 that year and San Diego was 10-6. They always complain about the weather, but we totally dominated them in San Diego a few weeks before the playoffs. I saw the Program you mention. Phil Sims is an idiot.

[Go Cards]

Was 18 at the time and everybody my age loved the new helmets.

Later would don our Super Bowl party, the "Striper Bowl" party. Featuring a keg of Little Kings.

We were the better team that day and any day against SD.

We were better than the 49ers as well, imo. Want to say we set 7 offensive Super Bowl records in the loss to 49ers. Fumbles killed us.

But I digressed. It was so cold on AFC Championship game day it hurt our lungs when we stepped out to smoke a joint at halftime and just gave up and went back in until after the game. Then warmed up our cars first and smoked in victory celebration later.

[ThunderCloud]

We beat them twice decisively that year, and yet they were the better team?

They were media darlings is what they were, and they just couldn't believe an Ohio team could beat their overrated butts.

Fouts hates us to this day, and you can see it in his broadcasting. He was an overrated quarterback on an overrated team.

By the way, as long as we're talking sour grapes, we should have beaten the Niners twice.

[THE PISTONS]

I think its common in the playoffs for teams that lose to think they are better.

[vegaswhodey]

I was 10 living in Cincinnati during that season. It was a great season, as people have said, the first years with the stripes, and they just rolled. Funny the Chargers believe that though, because the Bengals were never really challenged either game. The regular season game was 40-17 IN SAN DIEGO, and Fouts was picked twice, once for a 102 yard TD by Louis Breeden. So to day "ohhh, it was too cold..." is pure BS. The Bengals outgained the Chargers both games, and had more than one possession leads by halftime in both games as well. Hell, in San Diego, Anderson came out and the backups did mop up time against "the better team"...

[Rattler]

The Bengals owned the Chargers in 81.

They're filled with delusion from the Miami win a week prior, we would have dismantled them again at Jack Murphy if they had managed a few more wins.

Best thing about the Chargers was stealing James Brooks from them for Pete Johnson, every bit as satisfying as the Freezer Bowl.

[Bengal Dude]

You want bitter? Listen to Dan Fouts call one of our games. He uses every opportunity to bash us. We've never won a game, the other team just doesn't do a good job of beating us, when he calls it.

[Rattler]

Originally Posted by Bengal Dude

You want bitter? Listen to Dan Fouts call one of our games. He uses every opportunity to bash us. We've never won a game, the other team just doesn't do a good job of beating us, when he calls it.

This is exactly right...and we shot down Air Coryell when it mattered the most.

[Old White Guy]

I was there eight rows up from the field.
Lots of clothing and still froze.
One of the best moments of my life.

[Jasonew6]

Originally Posted by -CR-

We also beat them 40 - 17 during the regular season. We earned home field advantage in the playoffs.

We were the better team.

I was 11 when this game was played and it was awesome to see. Complete domination.

And on their field.

We were clearly the better team.

[bengalfan74]

I was like 16 and yes it was awesome to be a Bengal fan then ! And ummm we were the better team without a doubt, they were one dimensional.

[ElkValleyBengal]

That entire game is availabe on YouTube.

[Carolina_Cat]

I was 17 at the time and was practically numb by the time we entered the stadium. I recall that when we would pour hot chocolate from a thermos that any of it that was dripping down the side would be froze before it reached the bottom.

Was one of the best games of my life, I don't think that I have ever screamed that much since and was pretty evident that we owned that team from the start. I also saw that pre-game special and we should have been listed as the best team to not win the SuperBowl that year.

[Dr Tarzan]

Chargers were doomed before the game even started. Playing in the heat and humidity in Miami in overtime, they needed all week just to recover physically from that game. Now throw some weakened bodies to a temperature difference of of 140 degrees...the game was closer than it should have been. The only way they could have won that day is if the Bengals pull an entire game like they played the 1st half of the super bowl that year.

[fullonbehavior]

Watching the game now. God I wish we had fans like we did then. We actually had a home field advantage back then. I remember that game very well.

[Goose]

Originally Posted by fullonbehavior

Watching the game now. God I wish we had fans like we did then. We actually had a home field advantage back then. I remember that game very well.

Yeah! like early Packers or Bears with all the steam. Lots of parties during the year and two SB runs, Now it's more a wait an see.

[ExtraNirvana]

Originally Posted by Goose

Yeah! like early Packers or Bears with all the steam. Lots of parties during the year and two SB runs, Now it's more a wait an see.

I think the 90s rattled some Bengals fans indefinitely. :(

[ImpactPlaya]

I remember Fouts asking "I don't know how Kenny Anderson was able to throw spirals in that game?"
How about Anderson was a better QB,Danny boy.

[BengalTrucker]

Anderson was better than Fouts, in SD and at River Front.
Johnson just ran over anyone wearing a SD uniform.
They could not cover Curtis, Collinsworth, or Ross.

Breeden and Riley shut them down.

They were not in the same class as the Bengals in either game. The Freezer Bowl showed the chargers did not belong.