Raiders one of best NFL teams on MNF
From Jackson to Shell to Allen, lots of fun memories
Bo Jackson was four games into his rookie season in 1987 when he made his Monday Night Football debut against the Seahawks in Seattle.
A legend was born with the nation getting its first primetime look at the phenom.
Jackson’s 235-total yard, three-touchdown performance included a highlight-reel collision with Brian Bosworth and a memorable 91-yard run where he kept going right into the tunnel at the Kingdome.
The images of that night are ingrained in the minds of anybody fortunate enough to be tuned in and are just a few of the many special moments the Raiders have enjoyed on Monday Night Football throughout the years.
According to Pro Football Reference, the Raiders are 40-29-1 in games played on Monday since the concept was launched in 1970.
Here is a look in chronological order at the 20 most memorable games:
Home team in ALL CAPS. Oct. 19, 1970: RAIDERS 34, Redskins 20 —
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The game was supposed to feature a marquee coaching matchup between Vince Lombardi and John Madden, but Lombardi died six weeks before the game.
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Oct. 9, 1972: Raiders 34, OILERS 0 —
The game is best remembered for ABC cameras catching a frustrated Houston fan raising a middle finger, prompting commentator Don Meredith to comment, “We’re number 1 in the nation.”
■ Oct. 22, 1973: Raiders 23, BRONCOS 23 — Jim Turner’s late
field goal for Denver secured the only Monday Night Football tie in Raiders’ history.
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Sept. 16, 1974: BILLS 21, Raiders 20 —
The debut of Alex Karras as a color commentator on the broadcast marked the last time the Raiders would lose on Monday Night until 1981.
■ Sept. 22, 1975: Raiders 31, DOLPHINS 21 — Oakland went on the road and snapped Miami’s 31-game home winning streak on the night ABC cut into the broadcast to update the nation on an assassination attempt against President Gerald Ford.
■ Oct. 3, 1977: Raiders 37, CHIEFS 28 — Clarence Davis ran for two third-quarter touchdowns to help the Raiders rally from a 21-10 deficit as both Davis and Mark van Eeghen eclipsed 100 yards on the ground.
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Dec. 3, 1979: Raiders 42, SAINTS 35 —
Stabler found Cliff Branch for an 8-yard touchdown pass to complete a comeback from a 35-14 deficit as the Raiders scored
the final 28 points of the game. Stabler had three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, two to Branch.
■ Nov. 17, 1980: Raiders 19, SEAHAWKS 17 — Ted Hendricks blocked a punt through the end zone to start a fourth-quarter rally from a 17-7 deficit that was capped off by Chris Bahr’s game-winning 28-yard field goal.
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Dec. 7, 1981: RAIDERS 30, Steelers 27 —
The Raiders get a win in their final Monday Night Football home game before relocating to Los Angeles.
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Dec. 21, 1981: CHARGERS 23, Raiders 10 —
The Raiders have their 14-game Monday Night Football winning streak snapped.
■ Nov. 22, 1982: RAIDERS 28, Chargers 24 — Marcus Allen racked up 124 yards and two touchdowns as the Raiders erased a 24-0 deficit by scoring the game’s final 28 points.
■ Nov. 30, 1987: Raiders 37, SEAHAWKS 14 — The Bo Jackson game.
■ Sept. 26, 1988: Raiders
30, BRONCOS 27 — Bahr’s late field goal forced overtime and his 35-yarder won it in the extra session as the Raiders completed a comeback from 24-0 down at halftime.
■ Oct. 9, 1989: Raiders 14, JETS 7— Art Shell, the first Black head coach in the NFL’S modern era, is victorious in his first game following the firing of Mike Shanahan.
■ Nov. 19, 1990: Raiders 13, DOLPHINS 10 — The Raiders’ defense came up big, holding Marino’s potent offense to just 213 yards, including 14 on the ground.
■ Dec. 10, 1990: Raiders 38, LIONS 31 — Allen’s 129 rushing yards and a touchdown helped overcome a 176-yard, two-touchdown performance by Barry Sanders.
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Dec. 22, 2003: Packers 41, RAIDERS 7 —
Brett Favre threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns a day after his father died of a heart attack in one of the most memorable performances in Monday Night Football history.
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Nov. 21, 2016: Raiders 27, Texans 20 —
Amari Cooper caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr with 4:43 to play to lift the Raiders to the win in the first NFL game in Mexico City and the first Monday Night Football game played outside the United States.
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Dec. 25, 2017: EAGLES 19, Raiders 10 —
The Raiders committed five turnovers, including a fumble on the final play of the game that was returned 23 yards for a score by Derek Barnett that is best remembered in Las Vegas for the Eagles taking a knee on the ensuing extra point that swung the outcome of wagers at the sports books.
■ Sept. 9, 2019: RAIDERS 24, Broncos 16 — Josh Jacobs made his NFL debut with two rushing touchdowns and Tyrell Williams had 105 yards and a score through the air in the final Monday Night Football game in Oakland.