NFL Game of the Week

By September 22, the Chargers were living up to their reputation of explosive offense, terrible defense. It showed again on September 22, 1985, when San Diego faced the Bengals in Cincinnati. Before temperatures that surpassed 100°, the Chargers had the hottest hands in a 44-41 barn burner.

Sunday night, October 6, put the Cowboys and Giants in a dogfight for control of the NFC East. It appeared Phil Simms would give the Giants the upper hand, but a second-quarter miscue would prove to be the difference in Dallas's 30-29 victory.

The Bucs, now under a new coach, had yet to win a game in 1985. And they had to face yet another powerhouse: the Dolphins. This Miami team was far less talented than the one that went to Super Bowl XIX just nine months before. Thus as sunset passed on October 27, it appeared Tampa Bay had a chance.

Lionel James was San Diego's ""Little Train"" that could. In a season that saw him set the NFL record for all-purpose yards, the diminuitive James saved his best for last: he scored San Diego's winning TD in this 40-34 eye-opener.

Mile High Stadium in Denver had witnessed many odd bounces of the ball favor the hometown Broncos. But perhaps the wildest game in Mile High Stadium history was this gem from November 17, 1985. The surprising Chargers were threatening to become a serious force in the fiercely-competitive AFC West. Not if the mystic force of Broncomania had something to say, and it did.

One of two games in three weeks between archrivals Denver and the Silver And Black. It also was one of the two games that would decide the AFC West Division race. Los Angeles had come to depend on League MVP Marcus Allen, and he would be crucial to the outcome of this game as well as the season.

It was the first time the Browns had faced the Giants since 1977. Both teams were in the hunt for the playoffs. ""Big Blue"" defined itself with defense, but on Dec. 1, it was Cleveland's defense that seemed to shine brighter.

Both the Bengals and Redskins had their backs to the wall December 15, 1985. Whoever lost was out of the playoff picture; whoever won still had a chance. Joe Gibbs knew what Washington needed to win, and that meant not inserting John Riggins.