| | Friday, September 20, 2002
Users' favorite Monday Night Football memories
When the Oakland Raiders square off against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 11, they will be making NFL history. The game will mark the 500th regular season telecast of Monday Night Football on ABC.
To help celebrate the event, Monday Night Football asked fans to say what they thought was the greatest Monday Night game of all-time. The top 13 games, as voted on by a panel of Monday Night Football producers was announced on Sept. 20.
Here are your top 15 games.
1. Oct. 17, 1994 -- Denver at Kansas City (36 letters)
The year Elway and Montana battled on Monday Night Football. Neither one was going to give in, neither one was going to lose. Until the zeros were on the clock there was always a chance with these two. That is why they were so special to the NFL. Touchdown for touchdown I remember. Elway slinging 'em and no-name receivers catching them, while each pass Montana made was with precision and right on target. Neither QB going to surrender that night the only way a winner was going to be decided was going to be by the clock. Time was going to have to run out eventually. Last one to have it in the end will score and win. The buzz, the noise, the chaos, the game lights. What an awesome feeling I get the goose bumps just reflecting. Elway and his fourth quarter heroics almost won it, and probably would have if any other QB would have been on the other sideline. The stadium was going nuts. As they marched you knew, you knew. Montana was going to find the end zone.
Tim Gleason, Denver, Colo.
It doesn't get any better than that.
Bryan Anderson, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
I will always remember John Elway leading the Broncos down the field and scoring a touchdown in the final minutes of the game only to have Joe Montana do the exact same thing in the final seconds to win the game over the Broncos. One of the greatest showdowns ever between two Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks!!!
Chris Lee, Phoenix, Ariz.
John Elway shows why he's considered one of the best quarterbacks ever when he leads the Broncos to what would be another of his comeback victories in the final minutes. Then Joe Montana comes onto the field and shows why he is the best ever, marching his team down the field to win the game as time expires.
Robert D Johnston, Louisville, Ky.
2. Oct. 23, 2000 -- Miami at New York Jets (35 letters)
The comeback. Unbelievable.
Jay Toskey, Royersford, Pa.
Oh Vinny, you fourth quarter king. Testaverde throws for over 370 yards and 5 TDs. Even with 3 INTs, he manages to mount another fourth-quarter comeback and beat the tough Dolphins defense. Final score V-V-V-Vinny and the Jets 40-37 over the Dolphins.
Alex Fritsch, Coleman, Texas
Look on Jumbo Elliot's face after catching TD for the win in OT.
Barrett Webster, Houston, Texas
Arnold Schwarzenegger was in the booth as a guest early in the game when the Jets were losing considerably. He was asked what he thought would happen and he said "I think the Jets will come back and win this." The announcers laughed at his analysis, but when the game ended he was right. The Jets made one of the greatest comebacks.
Peter Helseth, Florida, N.Y.
3. Dec. 18, 2000 -- St. Louis at Tampa Bay (34 letters)
It was a game with so many great plays on both sides of the ball. A classic seesaw back and forth battle on the scoreboard.
Dave Meyer, Tampa, Fla.
Back and forth game that came down to a John Lynch pick late in the forth to ice it. Warrick Dunn pitching the ball to Shaun King for a big gain. A great offensive game when everyone predicted a defensive game because of the low-scoring NFC championship game the previous year.
Shawn, Port Charlotte, Fla.
This game was absolutely amazing. Shaun King led the Bucs to an amazing victory over the Rams. Between the amazing Bucs defense to the incredible last drive by the Bucs to win the game, this one had it all. This one is a classic, and I will never forget it.
Daniel Smajovits, Montreal, Quebec
I'm a huge Buccaneers fan, and I can't tell you how pumped up I was for that game, especially coming off the 11-6 loss to St. Louis in the '99 NFC championship game. I taped the game, and when John Lynch intercepted Kurt Warner to effectively seal the Bucs' 38-35 win, I went nuts!! I had revenge for that heartbreaking loss nine months earlier. It's one of my many videotapes that I absolutely treasure and will keep forever.
Blake Baumgartner, Naperville, Ill.
4. Nov. 30, 1987 -- L.A. Raiders at Seattle (29 letters)
It was the "Bo Jackson Show". It was the game between part-time football/baseball player Bo vs. Seahawks new franchisee player "The Boz". Bo rushed for records, and when they met on the 5-yard line, Bo dragged the Boz deep into the end zone for another touchdown. We never heard from the "Boz" again, soon afterward he retired. It is my favorite Monday Night game.
Robert Littell, Blackshear, Ga.
I remember the night that Bo Jackson ran over Brian Bosworth. That was great!
Rob Blaisdell, East Millinocket, Maine
Bo running through the tunnel ...
Dan Sanders, Las Vegas
The most classic play on MNF history that I will never forget!
Isaac Ramirez Jr., San Jose, Calif.
5. Nov. 6, 2000 -- Minnesota at Green Bay (23 letters)
Antonio Freeman's amazing catch and getting up to score a touchdown.
Shannon, Kenosha, Wisc.
Brett Favre passes to Antonio Freeman. Freeman makes one of the all-time circus catches and gets up off of the turf to run it in to the end zone!!! Thanks for the memories.
Kurt Young, Altoon, Pa.
When Antonio Freeman caught the ball that went off his back and his shoulder. Al Michaels call of that game. ("He did what?") Greatest Monday Night game I've ever seen. Go Packers.
Steven Mauno, Ahmeek, Mich.
6. Oct. 17, 1983 - Washington at Green Bay (20 letters)
It was just an incredibly exciting and non-stop game. Even though the Skins lost, it was still great.
Robert Ommodt, Indian Rocks Beach, Fla.
I watched a game that only the clock would put an end to the scoring. I have been a Packer fan since I was born. On Sundays I would be out in the yard as a kid cutting the lawn or raking leaves, etc. But when the Packer game started, you dropped what you were doing and went in the house to watch the game. It did not matter that the Packers were 8-8 or 2-12, you dropped what you were doing to watch the game. I saw the Packers score 48 points to the Redskins 47. They had Theismann, Riggins and some talented guys on the Skins team, they were Super Bowl bound, but the lowly Packers gave them a black eye on Monday Night Football and scored 48 points. It was amazing.
Frank Pavelec, Middleton, Wisc.
Greatest Shootout Ever!
Carlos, Arvada, Colo.
7. Dec. 2, 1985 - Chicago at Miami (19 letters)
The Chicago Bears were unstoppable ... until they went to Miami for a Monday Night game. Dan Marino was on top of his game, and the Dolphins as a team, played error-free football. The loss was the only one of the season for Chicago, who went on to win the Super Bowl. Coincidentally, Miami preserved the franchise's, and NFL's, record of an undefeated season.
Damian de Manincor, Rochester, N.Y.
The Bears went in 12-0 and were thinking of breaking the 1972 Dolphins 17-0 record. But I guess the ghosts of Dolphin history were with the 'Phins as they beat the Bears 38-24. I was only 13 at the time, but I still remember thinking that the Bears would pull it out with two minutes left.
Scott Valenti, Surprise, Ariz.
I've never been to a game that was so electric, so emotional as this Monday night showdown in 1985. The Bears come in with their undefeated record, and it looks like the only team that has a remote chance of stopping the unbeatable Bears are the Miami Dolphins. I was present at that game in the Orange Bowl as I was for many others, and every fan knew the 1972 undefeated Dolphin record was on the line. That was what was at stake for this game. I've never screamed so loud and so hard for so long. Every great play Miami made, fans were high fiving, hugging and jumping around like little kids in the candy store. Miami was such a big underdog this game meant so much to the Miami Dolphin franchise and the Miami fans. I will never ever forget this greatest game of Monday Night Football.
Rich Doak, Concord, N.C.
8. Jan. 3, 1983 -- Dallas at Minnesota (16 letters)
Down at the goal line. The ball is snapped, and chaos. Then suddenly Tony Dorsett breaks out of the jumble of bodies. The speed, the grace, those were the Dallas Cowboys.
Rob Honzell, Freeport, Texas
Tony Dorsett 99-yard touchdown run. Still don't believe it!
Darren Foster, Dallas, TX
I was a teenager and it was a school night (school had started that day after the Christmas break). I'd been a Cowboys fan since 1972 and managed to convince my mom to let me stay up and watch the game. Thank God she let me or I would have missed Tony Dorsett's 99-yard run from scrimmage. As it was, I was jumping around in the living room during the run, trying to be quiet and not to wake anyone up -- or I'd have to go to bed. Just that memory alone made me vote for that game.
Thomas A. Conlon, Jr., Johnson City, N.Y.
9. Dec 11, 1989 - San Francisco at L.A. Rams (13 letters)
I will never forget the night that John Taylor had two 90+ yard receptions for touchdowns. I'm not even a San Fran. fan, but I will always remember the runs after the catch that Taylor had that night. He was like a quarterback's best friend, catching two passes that couldn't have been any more than 10 yards and following with twisting runs all the way down the field. Talk about a great way to pad the stats.
Stephen Quinlan, New York, N.Y.
10. (tie) Sept. 5, 1983 -- Dallas at Washington (12 letters)
The greatest memory for me isn't about a team or a final score, but a particular play that let the world know a star was in the making. When Tony Dorsett broke loose against the Washington Redskins, the world thought he was gone. Then we were introduced to the NFL's fastest man Darrell Green, who ran Dorsett down, and as they say, the rest, for Darrell Green, is history.
Will Dillard, Winston-Salem, N.C.
I was about 14 years old. I remember the game was in D.C. and the Redskins had a big lead at halftime, something like 24-0. So being mad I went to bed only to wake up and see that the Cowboys pulled out the victory by a score of 31-30 with big second half performances by Tony D., Danny White and Tony Hill.
David Fickel, East Berlin, Pa.
Tony Dorsett had broken free on what appeared to be a sure touchdown going up the left side of the field. He was running free deep down the sideline when Darrell Green came from the right side of the field way, trailing Dorsett by so much that at first he wasn't even in the picture. As everyone recalls, Green caught Dorsett from behind and no one could believe it. Even now after 20 years of Green making plays that may still be the one he is most remembered for.
Bill T, Gainesville, Va.
10. (tie) Nov. 20, 1978 - Miami at Houston (12 letters)
At the very start of the telecast, there was a sea of shaking powder blue pompoms in the Astrodome and Howard Cosell's voice screaming "LUV YA BLUE! LUV YA BLUE!" That was a great start, but later, I remember a spectacular run by Earl Campbell going down the right sideline after an end run and it just electrified the crowd and the crew in the booth.
John Mason, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Earl Campbell running wild. Every time Miami would get close or go ahead, Earl would run over five defenders and score again. Great game between two great teams.
Robert Hughes, Thomasville, Ga.
12. Oct. 10, 1988 -- N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia (11 letters)
Randall Cunningham rolls to his right and with Carl Banks closing hard on him around the Giant 10-yard line, Banks dives and puts his shoulder into Cunningham's waist area. Randall bounces off of Banks and finds Jimmie Giles in the end zone.
Michael Maslin, Atco, N.J.
One of the greatest single performances I've ever seen. Randall Cunningham in his fourth year as the Eagles quarterback was given no chance against the tenacious Giants defense. On his way to making several acrobatic plays in his career, Cunningham started with his first on MNF. Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, the Eagles had the ball at the Giants 5. First and second down runs failed, and the Eagles were left with third-and-goal. Cunningham rolled right, stumbled, and was nailed by Carl Banks. Cunningham somehow used his hand to hold himself up, ran towards the sideline, and threw a strike in the end zone to Jimmie Giles before getting hit by Harry Carson. Everyone was left stunned, and Cunningham had emerged as the Eagles went on to win, 24-13.
Derek Blair, Downingtown, Pa.
13. (tie) Nov. 18, 1985 - N.Y. Giants at Washington (9 letters)
I've been a die-hard Redskin fan all my life, and when I saw Lawrence Taylor break Joe Theismann's leg (and his playing career), I got sick .. literally! And then came the 237 replays. Oy! I honestly believe that was my most disappointing moment in my entire sports viewing history.
Jonathan Shapiro, Charlotte, N.C.
The game LT broke Theismann's leg and Jay Schroeder came back and won the game. Unbelievable drama throughout the game and this was during the Skins and Giants glory years. Also the class LT showed when he quickly called over the trainers, and instead of gloating, he showed concern for Theismann. When people talk of NFL classics, that game is one of the most memorable.
Greg Ponzoli, Rockville, Md.
13. (tie) Sept. 18, 1978 -- Baltimore at New England (9 letters)
I was 11 years old and will never forget the performance little Joe Washington put on when he single-handedly defeated the Patriots. I was a expecting a blowout. The Colts came into the game with an 0-2 record. Dallas crushed them in the MNF opener 38-0. It's one of those you take your opponent lightly kind of game and get humbled. Not so fast said the four-eyed Joe! Game-winning kickoff return. I will always remember the upset in Foxboro.
Dean Saba, Waianae, Hawaii
Didn't think the Colts had a chance without Bert Jones and then Joe Washington came to the rescue. As Howard Cosell said, "What a Game!!!"
Chris Lusby, Prince Frederick, Md.
It was raining like crazy and very windy. One of the worst weather games I ever attended there. That little guy must have rushed for over 100 yards, he ran a punt back for a TD, I think he caught a bunch of passes, including a TD. Then to cap it all off, after the Pats make a big comeback and finally tie it up with about 50 seconds to go in the game, he runs the kickoff back for a TD to win it. As if the weather wasn't miserable enough, he made the entire evening even more miserable for us Pats fans that night. The greatest single game performance by an opposing player I have ever seen. His name was Joe Washington.
Robert Gasparoni, Sarasota, Fla.
15. Sept. 15, 1997 -- Philadelphia at Dallas (8 letters)
Eagles and Cowboys at Dallas, and the Eagles were lining up to win the game on a last second field goal, snap is botched and Chris Boniol tries to run it in and gets tackled and fumbles the football. Dallas wins 21-20. As an Eagles fan, I never felt so sick, and as a football fan, I've never seen anyone choke that bad on a nationally televised game.
Joshua Sandoz, Mount Laurel, N.J.
That was the most exciting game that I remember watching from MNF. I mean, come on, the Cowboys were ahead and then the Eagles drove down the field and were ready to settle the score. But, the placement was "bobbled" and then the placekicker tried to score a touchdown and the defense stopped them. I was shocked and excited at the same time because I was expecting the 'Boys to lose, and they won! That's the game I seriously think should be one of the top 5.
Rolando Alanis, Kingsville, Texas
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