text: "I can't say how much it [Dean's leaving] affected us, because we did make it to the AFC championship game", said Johnson on the loss of fellow lineman Dean. "But I could say if we had more pass rush from the corner, it might've been different."
  In the 1981 playoffs divisional round, the Chargers defeated the Miami Dolphins 41–38 at the Miami Orange Bowl where the temperature on a humid day was . The game became known as "The Epic in Miami". ESPN journalists named the epic the best game in NFL history. Both teams showed strong offense. The Chargers were led by Fouts who made an NFL single season record of 4,802 yards and 33 touchdowns.
  This game set records for the most points scored in a playoff game (79 points); the greatest total yards by both teams (1,036 yards); and the most passing yards by both teams (809 yards).
  The Chargers placekicker, Rolf Benirschke kicked the winning 29-yard field goal after 13 minutes and 52 seconds overtime. The tight end, Kellen Winslow, made 13 receptions for 166 yards, a touchdown and one blocked field goal. He became exhausted and was assisted from the field by his teammates. The win sent the Chargers to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.
  At the championship game in Cincinnati, the Bengals defeated the Chargers 27–7. The game became known as the "Freezer Bowl". The temperature was a record low  with a wind-chill factor of .