The 1985 Los Angeles Raiders improved upon their previous season’s output of 11–5 winning 12 games….as the team qualified for the playoffs for the fourth straight season by winning the AFC West Division….as Coach Tom Flores led the Raiders for a 7th season….while RB Marcus Allen earned the 1985 league MVP…..starting all 16 games and caught the ball 99 times for 1,759 yards and 7 touchdowns. His longest reception was 61 yards and his receiving average 11.6 yards per catch. The 1985 Raiders had four players make it to the Pro Bowl….including Marcus Allen, Todd Christensen, Mike Haynes and Howie Long. There is no two ways about it, the Raiders of the 1980’s were an awesome bunch of “bad men” coming together to play the game the way it is supposed to be played….and always well worth the watch.
The 1985 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 7–9 record in 1984….and for the third time in five years, the Chargers led the league in scoring….due to the fact that Coach Don “Air” Coryell was at the helm…..leading an offense that included NFL Hall of Fame QB Dan Fouts along with WR Charlie Joyner and TE Kellen Winslow…..as 1985 would be Air Coryell’s final full season as the teams head coach….for he would resign halfway through the following season after a 1-7 start. Any way you cut the pie, the San Diego offense was always a joy to watch.
In this video, ESPN commentators Steve Sabol and Coach Allie Sherman breakdown this Monday Night Match-Up on October 28, 1985 between the Raiders and the Chargers perfectly and incitefully.
