NFL game summary for 01/10/1982:
This game not only brought the Bengals their first AFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl XVI, it was played in conditions that made the 46,302 fans on hand feel like champions themselves. With a frigid temperature of minus-9 degrees, winds gusting from 20 to 35 miles per hour and an incredible wind chill factor of minus-59, this famous game became known as the "Freezer Bowl." To this day, no NFL game has been played with a wind chill so cold. More than 13,000 ticket holders stayed home, but those who came saw the Bengals dominate their opponents from sunny San Diego.
The Bengals first attacked them mentally, as every Cincinnati offensive and defensive lineman -- along with fullback Pete Johnson -- took the psychological initiative to tough the cold and play in short sleeves. The teams were relatively even in yards gained with Cincinnati leading 318-301, but the Bengals won the turnover battle 4-0 with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Chargers QB Dan Fouts struggled more in the arctic atmosphere than the Bengals' Ken Anderson, who completed 14 of 22 passes for 161 yards, two TDs and no interceptions. Only one player suffered a weather-related injury in the game -- Bengals defensive end Eddie Edwards with a frostbitten right ear.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 125.3 (16) | 296.2 (1) | 421.5 (1) | 40 |
| DEFENSE | 114.1 (5) | 269.4 (28) | 383.5 (27) | 41 | |
 | OFFENSE | 123.3 (17) | 249.7 (3) | 373.0 (2) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 117.6 (9) | 213.0 (22) | 330.6 (12) | 37 |
Line: Bengals by 4½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (11-7-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (14-4-0) | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
( 0- 3) CIN Jim Breech 31 yard field goal ( 0-10) CIN M.L. Harris 8 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Jim Breech kick) ( 0-17) CIN Pete Johnson 1 yard rush (Jim Breech kick) ( 7-17) SD Kellen Winslow 33 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) ( 7-20) CIN Jim Breech 38 yard field goal ( 7-27) CIN Don Bass 3 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Jim Breech kick)
SD CIN
First Downs: 18 19
Rushes-yards: 31-128 36-143
Yards/rush: 4.1 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-28-185-2 13-25-175-0
Sacked-yards: 2-12 0-0
Net pass yards: 173 175
Net yards/pass: 5.8 7.0
Total net yards: 301 318
Total plays: 61 (50% run) 61 (59% run)
Yards/play: 4.9 5.2
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 3-1
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 2-15 3-25
Attendance: 46,302
SD: Dan Fouts, 15 of 28 for 185 yards and 1 TD (2 int) CIN: Ken Anderson, 14 of 22 for 161 yards and 2 TDs; Jack Thompson, 1 of 1 for 14 yards
Rushing:
SD: Chuck Muncie, 23 for 94 yards; James Brooks, 6 for 23 yards; Dan Fouts, 1 for 6 yards; John Cappelletti, 1 for 5 yards CIN: Pete Johnson, 21 for 80 yards and 1 TD; Charles Alexander, 9 for 22 yards; Ken Anderson, 5 for 39 yards; Cris Collinsworth, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
SD: Wes Chandler, 6 for 79 yards; Kellen Winslow, 3 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 41 yards; James Brooks, 2 for 5 yards; Eric Sievers, 1 for 13 yards CIN: Dan Ross, 5 for 69 yards; Charles Alexander, 3 for 25 yards; Cris Collinsworth, 2 for 28 yards; Isaac Curtis, 2 for 28 yards; Pete Johnson, 1 for 14 yards; M.L. Harris, 1 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Don Bass, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
SD: James Brooks, 4 for 87 yards; Doug Beaudoin, 2 for 38 yards; Pete Shaw, 1 for 7 yards CIN: David Verser, 1 for 40 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Wes Chandler, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Bobby Kemp, 1 for 24 yards; Louis Breeden, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: George Roberts, 2 for 59 yards CIN: Pat McInally, 3 for 92 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 0/2 CIN: Jim Breech, 2/2