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Show CHARGERS NIP DOLPHINS The San Diego Chargers, on the verge of the biggest foldup in NFL history, used a 29 yard field goal by Rolf Benirschke with 70 seconds left in overtime Saturday night to defeat the Miami Dolphins, 41-38 and moved into the AFC title game for the second year in a row. Benirschke, who blew a 27 yard field goal attempt earlier in the overtime, got his second chance to win the game after the Chargers blocked a 35 yard field goal attempt by Uwe Von Schamann. The Chargers took over on their 16 and Fouts quickly moved them to " midfield, hitting Wes Chandler with a 19 yard pass. A 40 yard strike to Charlie Joiner down the middle gave San Diego a first down on Miami's 10 and Chargers' Coach Don Coryell signalled Benirschke onto the field immediately. Benirschke calmly delivered the kick that sent the Chargers in- " to the title game. It was a see-saw game and the 79 points were the most ever produced in an NFL playoff game. The Chargers took a 24-0 lead in the first period to see Miami rally for a 38-31 lead in the fourth quarter. Fouts refused to let this one slip away. A fumble by Miami returned the ball to San Diego at its 18 yard line. Fouts hit Joiner for 14 yards and again for 15 yards and connected with Kellen Winslow on a 7 yard strike and hit Chandler with a 19 yard pass to set up a first and goal at the Miami nine with 67 seconds left. Fouts then hit rookie James Brooks in the right corner of the end zone with 58 seconds left in the game to tie up the game 38-38. Quarterback Don Strock replaced starter David Woodley in the se- cond quarter with the Dolphins trailing 24-0 and threw four touchdown passes and set up a 12 yard sprint by Tony Nathan early in the fourth quarter to send the Dolphins ahead 38-31. The Dolphins tied up the score earlier at 31-31 due to a 50 yard pass play touchdown by Bruce Hardy. Hardy played high school football foot-ball at Bingham High School in Utah and played college ball at Arizona State. Von Schamann missed a field goal with four seconds left in the game and thus the contest was forced into overtime. |