By Darin Hayes On October 17, 1983, the Green Bay Packers and the defending Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins staged an epic offensive duel at Lambeau Field, resulting in a thrilling 48-47 Packers victory. The game remains the highest-scoring Monday Night Football contest in history, with the two teams combining for an astounding 95 points and 1,025 total yards.
Riggins_Fumble_Oct_17_1983 18 Oct 1983, Tue The Bulletin (Norwich, Connecticut) Newspapers.com
The quarterbacks put on a phenomenal aerial show: Washington’s MVP-to-be, Joe Theismann, threw for 398 yards and two touchdowns, while Green Bay’s Lynn Dickey countered with 387 yards and three scores. Despite the offensive dominance, the scoring began with a defensive score when Packers linebacker Mike Douglass returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown.
The fourth quarter was pure chaos, featuring five lead changes. After the Redskins took a 47-45 lead late in the game, Dickey quickly moved the Packers downfield, setting up a Jan Stenerud field goal for the 48-47 lead with under a minute left. Theismann drove Washington into field goal range, but Mark Moseley’s 39-yard attempt sailed wide right as time expired, sealing the memorable Green Bay upset.
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