Well I just finished watching the NFL Channel's feature presentation called "The Missing Rings - 1981 SD Chargers".

I must say that it was an excellent show to watch. For some of us, it will bring back many memories of Dan Fouts, Winslow and all of Air Coryell's offense.

Even as a Bronco fan who's arch enemy was the Raiders, the Chargers became more potent an offense that the Raiders ever were. There is no denying that from 79 and on into the 80's, the Chargers were the best show in the NFL. Fouts was always a bit of an **S, but he ran his team well. Kelen Winslow, arguably one of the best 3 tight ends in history narates the show along with Dan Fouts and Hank Bauer.

All the great offensive players are shown: Wes Chandler, Chuck Muncie, Charlie Joiner, JJ Jefferson, James Brooks. Man those guys were really really good. Honestly, the only thing that gave other teams a chance was that their defense was not so good. For me personally, I never really hated the Chargers back then, not like the Raiders. They didnt talk smack and rub it in our faces like Oakland did. I respected the Chargers back then and wished Denver had their talent.

The gist of the show was that with the Chargers reign making the playoffs from 1979-1982, they appeared in the playoffs 4 straight years and went to the AFC Championship twice - losing both times. Yes they were close, but no Cigar. The show is a great story, but shows how woulda, coulda, shoulda can play out with even the best of talent in the NFL.  It didn't seem as if the players themselves feel they were cheated out of a Superbowl. The Championship they lost in Cincy was the 2nd coldest day ever for a playoff game.They knew their failures and accepted them, but at the same time, they can also say with pride "We were pretty damn good". and they were. They just never made the Superbowl. Many of those Chargers are now in the HOF and deservedly so.

As I watched the show, I couldnt help but compare them to the Chargers of today. San Diego started a run two years ago, losing in the Divisional playoff to NE in 2006. Then in 07, they lose the AFC Championship to the same NE Team; This is about the only real comparison I can find between the Fouts led team and the Rivers era. They had a shot and failed. But the real story is that the Coryell offensive teams were much much better than todays Chargers.

I suppose their will be an argument due to win loss collums, but Fouts ran the AFC West for several years and his teams had character.  The talent of the Coryell teams were simply amazing, but more importantly, those men were great team players. There were no me guys on the team, with the exception of King Fouts from time to time, but he was a General on the field and no doubt let the team know who was in charge. I never really felt that Fouts carried that around off the field. Sure there was some cockyness here and there from the Chargers back then but not close to the way the current Chargers conduct themselves.

Take a look at the key players of the 80's offense vs the current Chargers:

1980's Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, JJ Jefferson, Wes Chandler, Kelen Winslow, Chuck Muncie, Lionel James, James Brooks,  

Current Phillip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson, Antonio gates, Vincent Jacksn, Chris Chambers, Darren Spoles

While Chuck Muncie was a power back, I would say that LT is the only player that is better than what the 80's Chargers had. I believe that LT needs to continue to show for several years the kind of play he demonstrated in 06 to be considered the best RB in Charger history.

Probably the biggest reason for the current teams success is the defense. Todays Chargers are more balanced with their defense. After Fred Dean was traded in 1981, they lost their best defensive player all because of contract issues. But as far as an explosive offense, todays Chargers are not, and never will be as dangerous as the Chargers of the 80's.

via cache.eb.com

I highly reccomend watching "The Missing Ring - The 1981 SD Chargers" It is sure to entertain and will make Bronco fans happy they don't have to play Winslow and Fouts anymore.