San Diego Chargers vs Cincinnati Bengals 1985 1st Half Week 3

The 1st half needed to be reposted because of copyright content. Dan Fouts vs Boomer Esiason are in a high scoring shootout. The amount of tipped passes created a different element to the 1st half.

[@bradoneil536]

The first game of the Boomer Era in Cincinnati. He got a handful of starts his rookie year in ‘84 but this game was when they officially handed him the keys to the franchise, so to speak. His journey to the 1988 MVP and Super Bowl begins in earnest here.

[@rustykuntz94]

Lionel "LITTLE TRAIN" James with the game of his life....or was it a game later in 85 vs the Raiders? Another classic game I hope you have.

[@Haurko01]

44:11 This is how we 80's Kids got most of our NFL Highlights.

[@caponsacchi]

Where is KEN ANDERSON? The previous season saw new headcoach Sam Wyche force Paul Brown to accede complete control to Wyche--another of the many Brown-Walsh power struggles won by Walsh. Despite losing Walsh (who bolted from the Bengals along with his films of Ken Anderson as teaching aids), and despite losing future Hall of Famers Charlie Joiner (pried loose by Walsh)and Kellen Winslow (passed over in the draft), Anderson continued to shine as the premiere NFL QB, with and without Walsh, with and without an effective running game or offensive line. With the exception of a mere 2 seasons('78 and '79) Kenny led an expansion team that first won (in '73), then remained a powerhouse, in the toughest division. Moreover, he had out-passed and outplayed Fouts in their '82 Monday Night Shoot-out, which the Chargers won thanks to the passing and rushing of Muncie (150 yds) and the rushing of Brooks (100 yds). He deserved a chance to "rectify" that score (he had defeated the Chargers twice in the '81 season)--especially after he had finished the '84 season with two solid victories (the last by a score of 52 to 22), despite receiving the lowest percentage of starts (9 of 16) since his rookie year. At the age of 35 Ken Anderson did not deserve to be "platooned" in '84, after coming back from a horrific facemask tackle in 1983 to lead the entire NFL in passing percentage and force changes that would protect quarterbacks from head-neck injuries as well as obstructions of their view (by 6'6" defenders holding their arms up in front of the QB's face). And at the age of 36 in '85 Anderson deserved AT LEAST the same respect and affirmation from his coach as players like Fouts, Montana and Marino received. Wyche seemed bent on a grandstanding play for personal glory, following the example of a "control-freak" coach who, regardless of his team's playing, was never less than perfect, never undeserving of the title "genius.". Watching the two quarterbacks in this Bengal-Charger rematch would be laughable if it were not so painful. Both QB's look clumsy while backpedaling (a technique condemned by Bill Walsh). The throwing is often careless and off-balance, both QB's tossing wildly into "zones." Just because a receiver gets his hands on the ball long enough to deflect it, does not mean the pass was on target or thrown at the right trajectory and speed to be a catchable, confidence-inspiring pass. No one threw a more consistent, carefully aimed, tight spiral than Ken Anderson. Sadly, beginning with this, the 3rd game of 1985, we would never have an opportunity to witness the Bengals' legendary QB (proven many times over) in action ever again. Kenny Anderson, always the "team" player--despite his many individual records--accepted (but certainly could not have agreed with) his role as little more than a number, or a symbol--for almost the entire '85 season, then all of the '86 season, then--after working hard to be in shape for the '87 season--he got the message loud and clear: he was no longer respected for his potential contributions, and no longer needed or wanted. Yet Ken Anderson never complained, never expressed dissatisfaction, though he would gladly have accepted a role like Sam Wyche's. It never came, and when Anderson accepted a minor coaching job with the Steelers, he was finally important enough to be noticed---but unfavorably. As though he were a traitor worthy of villification for taking a minor job offer from a rival team, he was no longer even a number on the bench. His #14 was up for grabs, interchangeable with whoever came along as the next quarterback for the Bengals. It should not come as news to the Bengal administrators, that Ken Anderson was NOT just "another quarterback." NUMBER 14 was not only the heart and soul of the Bengals. He was the "story" of the expansion team for which he was selected, then became its "franchise quarterback," leading them to a Division title in only his 2nd season as a starter. Not long ago I went to the Bengal website and found pages devoted to Greg Cook and Boomer Esiason without a mention of the team's humble and modest, true "aristocrat." Ken Anderson is the only quarterback to serve as a "window" to the game's transformations at the beginning of two decades: first, the new emphasis on frequent and high-completion passing in 1973-75, when he sent Isaac Curtis to the.Pro Bowl in the latter's first 4 seasons, prompting Paul Brown's successful efforts to enable receivers to "perform" without constant physical harassment by defenders. The new rules helped quarterbacks like Fouts and Marino move Anderson's league-leading base of 3000 yards to 4000 and 5000 yds. But in 1981 Anderson brought attention to a game that was about much more than the accumulation of passing yardage. Memorizing intricate passing patterns and working hard on execution, Anderson attained a level of passing accuracy and proficiency which, along with the rules provoked by his suffering a brutal face-mask tackle, led to a game of impressive numbers supported by keen intelligence and finely honed skills--in passing accuracy, footwork, ball-handling, and quarterback mobility. Even before 1984 it's difficult to think of anyone more deserving of the title "most valuable."

[@Jelperman]

I agree that Ken Anderson should have been in the HoF decades ago. The problem is twofold: 1) Anderson played in Cincinnati, which is like the Bermuda Triangle for NFL careers. The only lifetime Bengal in the Hall is Anthony Munoz. 2) Anderson lost his starting job in the prime of his career. I blame the coach at the time, but the QB gets the blame unfortunately. How great was Anderson? When Bill Walsh coached other QBs (Fouts, DeBerg, Montana, Young) he used footage of Ken Anderson to show how the position is played. By the way, the awkward backpedal for Fouts was the result of two wobbly injured knees.

[@sportsfisher9677]

Great points points about Kenny. You only forgot that when Bruce Coslet became head coach he hired Kenny as The offensive cdtr in the 90s.

[@sportsfisher9677]

@@Jelperman kenny was about 36/37 in 1985 so not his prime anymore. And 78-80, & 84 anytime he didn't start was only due to injury. He never actually lost his job in his his prime.

[@gturcott1]

More great work and research by Ken Andersen!