The Redskins came into their final game in the unfamiliar position of having their playoff fate in the hands of another team. They had closed the season with a winning streak behind an invigorated Jay Schroeder-led offense, but could still lose tiebreakers to both the Giants and 49ers because of a poor conference record. If both the Giants and San Francisco didn't lose, the Skins would be going home for the playoffs.

Despite the unlikely prospects for a postseason, the Redskins took care of what they could control in this game. St Louis pulled out to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter, but Washington responded with a 13 point second quarter, led by a Clark pass from Schroeder for a TD. The Skins took over the game in the second half behind TD runs from Rogers and Griffin, and a late Cardinals TD only served to make the score look respectable.

Unfortunately, the Giants and 49ers both won their games and wild card spots, leaving the Redskins out of the playoffs. Still, Washington had some satisfcation in closing the season winning five out of six and finding a set of skill players that looked poised to provide new possibilities on offense. Fans just had to start looking towards the next season a little earlier than usual in 1985.