Green Bay Packers v. Washington: Glory and Gory Games

Two storied NFL franchises will meet on Lambeau Field when The Washington Football Team and Green Bay Packers face off for a noon kick.

Despite the Packers being around since 1919 and the WFT being in business since 1932, this will be just the 39th time these franchises face off on the gridiron. The Packers lead the series 21-16-1, with   Green Bay holding a 2-1 playoff edge—with one of those wins for the 1936 NFL Championship.

While there is not a lot of game volume, these two iconic franchises—well, Washington is currently more like one of the NFL’s most controversial franchises—have had some great games. They have also had some games where maybe doing chores would have been a better life choice than wasting three hours watching the game.

Green Bay Packers v. Washington: The Glory Game

October 17, 1983, Green Bay hosted Washington at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football. It was the only time the MNF crew came to Green Bay in the ’80s.

The scoring started just over a minute into the game when Green Bay Packers linebacker Mike Douglass forced a fumble and ran it back for a 22-yard score. The scoring ended with just 1:03 left in the game when Jan Stenerud kicked a go-ahead field goal to hand the Pack a 48-47 victory.

In between, it would be a game of defense being optional with plenty of amazing performances on offense.

It set the record for the most points scored on Monday Night Football—a record that stood for 35 years.

It seemed destined from the start to be high scoring game considering the Packers’ defense was the worst that year in yards allowed, but its offense was second in the league in total yards. Washington’s offense was third in total yards but had a middle-of-the-road defense.

Both teams only punted once and combined to score 11 touchdowns.

They combined for 1,052 yards, with Washington Hall of Famer Joe Theismann throwing for 398 yards and two touchdowns. Lynn Dickey tossed for 387 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick.

Hall of Famers played like Hall of Famers as Washington’s John Riggins scored two touchdowns on 98 yards rushing. Art Monk had five catches for 105 yards. The Packers’ James Lofton had five grabs for 96 yards with a long one of 40 yards.

It was Green Bay’s running back Gerry Ellis and tight end Paul Coffman who stole the show. Ellis had 146 all-purpose yards and a score. Coffman had six receptions for 124 yards and two trips to the end zone.

Still, Dickey thought the game was lost when Washington got into field goal range with three seconds left. One of the NFL’s most accurate kickers, Mark Moseley, had a chance to nail a potential game-winning 39-yard field goal.

Moseley missed, and there was celebration in Green Bay.

The Milwaukee Journal’s Chuck Salituro had trouble even finding the words to accurately capture the greatness of the game.

It turned out to be the biggest win of that 8-8 Green Bay 1983 campaign as Washington would go on to win the NFC Championship.

Green Bay Packers v. Washington: The Gory Game

On September 23, 2018, the Washington Football Team toppled the Packers 31-17. What was bad about it was not just the weather in Maryland—it rained most of the game—but the game was over by halftime as Green Bay trailed 28-10.

Aaron Rodgers played hurt and then sustained another injury in the game. Clay Matthews picked up another shady roughing the passer call and the defense was gashed by Adrian Peterson. It was not in his prime Adrian Peterson either.

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky pointed out the loss left the Green Bay Packers with the same record and feeling as the Cleveland Browns. Ironic he chose that comparison as both teams would fire their head coaches during that season—although the Browns finished with one more win.

It was just one of many miserable games during the Mike McCarthy-Rodgers divorce season.