Monday night magic

Published on June 4, 2011 by Seahawks.Com News (Feed)     

Monday night proved to be all right – and then some – for the Seahawks in 1986.

We examined that uneven path to a 10-6 as part of our series recapping the franchise’s first 35 seasons. But two milestones that happened on “Monday Night Football” deserve a closer look.

In Week 5 – on Oct. 6 – Steve Largent caught a pass in the 128th consecutive game in which he played to break the NFL record that had been held by former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Harold Carmichael.

Largent’s record-breaker came, appropriately enough, on a third-and-2 play in the second quarter of a 33-7 romp over the San Diego Chargers at the Kingdome. Just as appropriately, it came on a quick slant.

But it didn’t come easily, as three of Dave Krieg’s first four throws to Largent were incomplete, and the other was intercepted. But on the fifth try, Largent beat cornerback Wayne Davis to take the throw from Krieg and turned it into a 17-yard gain.

Largent was mobbed by his teammates at midfield.

His consecutive-game reception streak would eventually reach 177. No. 2 on the Seahawks’ all-time list is 71, by Joey Galloway from 1995-99.

The other Monday night effort of note came in Week 14 – on Dec. 8 – also at the Kingdome. In a 37-0 shutout of the Los Angeles Raiders, the Seahawks registered 11 sacks. It remains the club single-game record.

Eight different defenders got to Raiders’ starter Jim Plunkett six times, backup Marc Wilson four time and third-stringer Rusty Hilger once.

Even more boggling, Jacob Green, who led the team with 12 sacks in his first Pro Bowl season, also was shutout. But nose tackle Joe Nash and linebackers Sam Merriman and Greg Gaines each had two; while linemen Randy Edwards and Alonzo Mitz, linebackers Bruce Scholtz and Fredd Young and defensive back Greggory Johnson each had one.

Those were the Seahawks’ only Monday nighters that season, and they prevailed by a combined score of 70-7.

Tags: Dave Krieg, Game Reception, Harold Carmichael, Jacob Green, Jim Plunkett, Joe Nash, Joey Galloway, Kingdome, Marc Wilson, Mitz, Monday Night Football, Monday Night Magic, nfl record, Philadelphia Eagles, Randy Edwards, Rusty Hilger, San Diego Chargers, Steve Largent, Uneven Path, Yard Gain