Will this week's MNF game produce epic air and ground performances like their past matchups?
The San Diego Chargers host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Qualcomm Stadium on Monday night. While Philip Rivers and the Chargers hope to get a win in San Diego, the Steelers will be hoping fill-in quarterback Mike Vick can return to his vintage form.
Monday Night Football history lesson
Steelers vs. Chargers on Monday Night Football:
» Total matchups: 2. The Steelers and Chargers have split their two Monday Night Football matchups.
» Notable matchup:Steelers 24, Chargers 22 (Week 5, 2005)
The Steelers won a thriller on a 40-yard field goal with six seconds remaining in the game by kicker Jeff Reed. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger -- who was hurt on the game-winning drive -- threw for a touchdown and ran for another in the win, while the Steelers defense held Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson (18 rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown) and quarterback Drew Brees (219 yards, one touchdown, one interception) in check. The Steelers would go on to win Super Bowl XL, a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
One notable passing performance in series: The Chargers and Steelers combined for 98 points in a late-season showdown in 1985 at Jack Murphy Stadium. Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts, the kingmaker of San Diego's high-flying"Air Coryell" offense, threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns. Steelers quarterback David Woodley, who was known more for his scrambling ability than skills for posting big passing numbers, threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns.
One notable rushing performance in series: En route to victory in a thrilling Super Bowl XLIII matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, the Steelersdefeated the Chargers, 35-24, in the divisional playoff round. In that win, Steelers running back Willie Parker rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, with his second score essentially putting the game away at 35-17 with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
One famous MNF game
Steelers: This game might be more "infamous" than "famous," but fans will recall it with a certain level of levity. The first Monday Night Football game in Jacksonville Jaguars history ended in dramatic fashion, with Chris Hudson returning a blocked field goal by Clyde Simmons for 58 yards for the game-clinching touchdown in a 30-21 win in 1997. The Steelers had lined up for what they'd hoped would be the game-winning field goal, and the shocking turn of events was a bit much for Bill Cowher to handle.
Chargers: The Chargers exacted a small amount of revenge for their defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals in the previous season's AFC Championship Game, a devastating 27-7 setback in a game that would be known as the "Freezer Bowl." The Chargersdump trucked the Bengals, 50-34, on a Monday night at Jack Murphy Stadium during Week 7 of the 1982 season. Chargers receiver Wes Chandler had 260 yards and two touchdowns receiving. Running back James Brooks rushed for 105 yards and three touchdowns. At the time, the 84 combined points made this the highest-scoring Monday Night Football game ever. However, it was toppled just a year later when the Green Bay Packersdefeated the Washington Redskins, 48-47, on a Monday night at Lambeau Field.
Follow Jim Reineking on Twitter @jimreineking.