The Redskins and Cowboys have carried on an emotional rivalry in recent decades, one of the best, in fact, the NFL has ever had to offer. Through it all, the two teams have engaged in several memorable clashes on Monday Night Football, where they'll reacquaint with each other this Monday.
Who can forget Kenny Houston's fourth-down tackle of Cowboys fullback Walt Garrison at the goal line with seconds remaining to preserve a 14-7 Redskins victory at RFK Stadium in 1973. That play stands as one of the greatest in Redskins history.
Or the Cowboys' comeback from a 23-3 halftime deficit to stun the defending Super Bowl-champion Redskins, 31-30, at RFK in 1983.
Likewise, the breathtaking circumstances from the last Monday night tussle between the rivals are ingrained in the minds of many. That game, played on Sept. 19, 2005 at old Texas Stadium, is known as the "Monday Night Miracle."
At the time, Joe Gibbs was in his second season as Redskins coach after returning for another stint in 2004. On the Cowboys' sideline stood a Gibbs coaching adversary from his first go-round in Washington – Bill Parcells.
Both teams were 1-0, Dallas after a 28-24 win over the Chargers and the Redskins after a 9-7 win over Chicago. Washington's sluggish offense produced only three field goals against the Bears.
For the first 55 minutes of the 2005 game, the Redskins' offense, plagued by turnovers and penalties, looked even worse against a swarming Dallas defense, and Redskins punter Andy Groom was getting lots of reps.
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With the Cowboys leading 13-0 and about five minutes left, things appeared bleak for the burgundy and gold.
Consider: The Redskins had a 3rd and 27 deep in their territory, and Parcells, a two-time Super Bowl winner from his days coaching the Giants, was 77-0 when ahead by at least 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Then came one of the most stunning sequences in Redskins history.
Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell, resorting to the running ability that helped define his game in the 1990s in Jacksonville, scrambled 25 yards. He next completed a 20-yard pass to wide receiver James Thrash on fourth down.
Soon came a 4th and 15 on the Dallas 39 with 3:46 left.
Brunell stayed composed and threw a scoring pass to receiver Santana Moss in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to 13-7, Washington's first touchdown in nearly eight quarters in 2005.
The Redskins forced a punt and took over on the Cowboys' 20. After a 10-yard completion to running back Clinton Portis, Brunell launched a gorgeous bomb that hit Moss in stride behind the secondary, and Moss took it the rest of the way to tie the game at 13 with 2:35 left. Nick Novak's conversion put the Redskins up by one.
The touchdowns, which came in a span of 71 seconds, altered the game's complexion and silenced the rabid Cowboys fans. Dallas had two more possessions, one starting on Washington's 48. But the defense hung tough, and the Redskins escaped with an improbable victory.
Gibbs, kneeling on the sideline, leaped into his players' arms when the final gun sounded and was doused with a bucket of cold water. The 65-year-old Hall of Fame coach, looking and sounding emotionally spent, described the win as "one of the great moments for me in sports."
"I don't know what to say," he said. "I was proud of the way we fought. The defense just hung in there and kept slugging. Their crowd was really into it and hurt us a bunch of times. In the end, just unbelievable plays. Kind of takes your breath away. I'll appreciate it forever. I'm just thrilled."
Not everyone stayed up to watch the stirring comeback. Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe explained that he had voice mails and e-mails from people offering congratulations before they went to bed, unaware, of course, that the Redskins would pull out the victory.
Those who snoozed missed a classic.
Journalist and historian Mike Richman has authored five books: the Washington Pro Football Encyclopedia; the Washington Redskins Football Vault; Joe Gibbs: An Enduring Legacy; George Allen: A Football Life; and The Redskins Encyclopedia. His web site is www.mikerichmanjournalist.com.
