Memorable Moments On NFL Monday Night Football

In the four plus decades of Monday Night Football there have been many memorable games and moments. What started as a dream for then Commissioner Pete Rozelle has turned into something that is almost bigger than the game itself. We find it astounding that one man could have such a vision and that nobody else could see it.

From the days of black and white televisions to the monster big screens of today; Monday Night Football is as American as apple pie and the 4th of July.

ABC TV – Monday Night Football Hits The Airwaves

On September 21, 1971, the first broadcast of Monday Night Football hit the airwaves. That first game pitted the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Jets against the Cleveland Browns.

On that historic night the Browns mauled Jets QB Joe Namath throughout the game, sacked him once and forced three interceptions. The last of Namath’s three INT’s that night was returned for a touchdown by Billy Andrews to seal a 31-21 victory for the Browns. Cleveland’s Homer Jones also had the first kickoff return for a touchdown on MNF when he galloped 94-yards to pay dirt.

The inaugural MNF season also saw the bar placed fairly high for the most points in a game when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Colts 44-24 in Week Two. The all time record for most points in the MNF would be set later at 95 points when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Washington Redskins 48-47 on October 17, 1983, on a late 20-yard field goal by Packers legendary kicker Jan Stenerud.

The Monday Night Football Miracle

One of the greatest games in MNF history took place on Monday October 23, 2000 when the New York Jets hosted the Miami Dolphins at Meadowlands Stadium. Both teams came into the game with identical 5-1 records. Entering the fourth quarter the Jets were trailing 30-7 and Jets play-by-play man Howard Davis announced “And with a whole quarter to go, this game is over.” Oh how wrong he would be.

Behind back-up quarterback Vinney Testaverde the Jets would score 24 unanswered points to tie the game and then fell behind again 37-30. Undaunted Testaverde tied the score again with a 3-yard TD pass to offensive tackle Jumbo Elliot to send the game into overtime. Jets place kicker John Hall kicked a 40-yard field goal with 8:30 left in overtime to seal the win.

Wide receiver Laveranues Coles, tight end Jermaine Wiggins and Elliot would all catch their first NFL touchdown passes during the fourth quarter of the Monday Night Miracle.

NFL Monday Night Football Records

The epic event that is NFL Monday Night Football is stacked with rich history. Here are some of the records from past games:

Most Points – Team

• 55 – Indianapolis Colts, October 31, 1988 (55-23 vs. Denver Broncos)
• 52 – San Francisco 49ers, December 23, 1991 (52-14 vs. Chicago Bears)
• 51 – New Orleans Saints, November 24, 2008 (51-29 vs. Green Bay Packers)

Most Lopsided Loses

• 45 points – Baltimore 48, Green Bay 3 – December 19, 2005
• 42 points – Miami 45, N.Y. Jets 3 – November 24, 1986
• 42 points – Seattle 42, Philadelphia 0 – December 5, 2005

Highest Scoring Games

• 95 points – Green Bay 48, Washington 47 – October 17, 1983
• 87 points – Kansas City 49, Tennessee 38 – December 13, 2004
• 84 points – San Diego 50, Cincinnati 34 – December 20, 1982

Lowest Scoring Games

• 3 points – Pittsburgh 3, Miami 0 – November 26, 2007
• 9 points – Jacksonville 9, Pittsburgh 0 – September 18, 2006
• 10 points – San Francisco 7, N.Y. Giants 3 – December 3, 1990

The legend continues today as NFL Fans flock to the games, bars and basements to enjoy the spectacle that is Monday Night Football.