Monday Night Football Season 16 Episode 7 St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Redskins
- October 7, 1985
On Monday Night Football season 16 episode 7, the St. Louis Cardinals face off against the Washington Redskins. This game promises to be a highly competitive matchup between two skilled teams in the NFC.
St. Louis enters this game with a record of 4-2 and sits atop the NFC West standings. Led by quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk, the Cardinals boast one of the most explosive offenses in the league. However, their defense has been suspect at times and will need to step up against a talented Redskins offense.
Washington, meanwhile, comes into this game with a 3-3 record. Quarterback Brad Johnson has been playing well, and the team has been able to move the ball effectively on offense. But their defense has struggled to stop opposing offenses, so they will need to tighten up if they hope to come away with a win against the Cardinals.
Both teams have a lot riding on this game. St. Louis is looking to extend their lead in the division, while Washington is hoping to get back to .500 and stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.
As kickoff approaches, the excitement in the stadium is palpable. The crowd is roaring as the players take the field, ready to do battle under the bright lights of Monday Night Football.
The first half is a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows. The Cardinals strike first, with a long touchdown pass from Warner to receiver Anquan Boldin. But the Redskins are able to respond with a scoring drive of their own, capped off by a touchdown pass from Johnson to tight end Stephen Alexander.
The Cardinals answer back with another touchdown, this time a short run by Faulk. But again the Redskins come back, with Johnson finding receiver Rod Gardner for a touchdown just before halftime. As the teams head to the locker room, the score is tied at 14 apiece.
The second half is where things get really interesting. St. Louis comes out firing on all cylinders, with Warner connecting with Boldin for another touchdown early in the third quarter. But the Redskins refuse to go down without a fight, as Johnson leads them on an impressive drive that ends with a touchdown pass to running back Stephen Davis.
Both teams trade field goals, and the game remains tight heading into the fourth quarter. This is where the Cardinals take control. Warner and Faulk lead the offense on a couple of long scoring drives, putting the game out of reach for the Redskins.
In the end, St. Louis comes away with a 34-23 victory. Warner finishes the game with over 300 yards passing and three touchdowns, while Faulk adds two scores on the ground. Johnson puts up solid numbers for the Redskins, but it isn't enough to overcome the Cardinals' explosive offense.
As the players shake hands and make their way off the field, it's clear that this was an exciting and well-played game. Both teams battled hard, but in the end it was the Cardinals who came out on top. With this win, St. Louis solidifies their lead in the division and puts themselves in a good position for a playoff run.