Coming into this game, the Redskins knew they had to come away with a win to keep any hopes of a playoff run alive. They did, but few could have predicted the drama that would define the game or the change it would bring to the whole franchise. For most of the first half, it was a close game. Washington scored first on a drive kept alive by a fake punt, and the Giants responded with a long run by Joe Morris.

Early in the second quarter, Gibbs called another trick play, a flea flicker between Riggins and Theismann. The Giants were never fooled and their front seven flooded the backfield as Theismann got the pitch from Riggins. A mass of Giant defenders pounced on Theismann, and as the pile collapsed, New York's players reported hearing a horrific snap. Lawrence Taylor, Jim Burt, and others leaped up and signalled frantically to the Washington sideline for medical staff. The news was as bad as anyone could have imagined. Theismann had a compound fracture of his right leg, and was taken off of the field on a stretcher.

Rarely-used backup Jay Schroeder came into the game, and almost instantly ignited the stunned crowd by firing a perfect long spiral to Monk. Although the Redskins could not get a score before halftime, hopes began to build that the young backup QB could invigorate the struggling Washington offense.

The hopes were justified in the second half. Washington tried an onside kick to open the half and recovered. Schroeder followed that up with another perfect bomb to Monk, putting the Skins deep in Giants territory. Riggins scored a few plays later to give Washington a 14-7 lead. The Giants responded with two more Joe Morris scores, retaking a 21-14 lead.

But Schroeder led a crisp fourth quarter drives, starting with a FG drive that tightened the Giants lead. Gibbs took another special teams gamble, calling the second succesfull onside kick of the game. This put the Skins in position for the go-ahead score, netting a 23-19 final.