The Redskins and Raiders' offenses both came to life in this game of wild scoring swings. Washington ground away to a 20-7 third quarter lead and appeared to be on the way to another methodical win. But Jim Plunkett threw two TDs to speedster Calvin Muhammed in quick succession, the Raiders scored another offensive TD, and then returned a punt for a TD. Heads were spinning, and with the fourth quarter half over, the Skins trailed 35-20.

Washington responded with a TD drive sparked by a long screen pass and run to Joe Washington, and a FG following a successful onside kick. The Raiders could not score again, but ran down the clock, and the Skins got the ball in their own territory with less than two minutes left. Theismann completed a series of quick passes to Charlie Brown, then found Joe Washington in the end zone to retake the lead 37-35. The defense iced the victory with an interception of an attempted Plunkett bomb. Observers all around the league called it one of the most thrilling games in years.