1997 Week 13: Rowley Defeats Gabrysiak
Dwight came into Monday night looking to avenge the only loss of his career. He had never lost at the SpiceRunners' Cove. He had a cocky attitude, a 10-point lead and a 43 ppg combo in Jeff George and Tim Brown - but Scott had Terrell Fucking Davis. 3 TD's for TD and none for the Raiders gave Scott a 2-point victory. In hindsight it's clear- this was the night Dwight's football career jumped the shark.
1999 Week 7: Mathis-matical Elimination
Robert looked to be ready to end a 6-game losing streak. Netboy, whether out of pity for the rookie or a prescient flair for the dramatic, started a lineup that was 3 players short. As a result, Robert carried a comfortable 98-65 lead into Monday night. With each team fielding a mediocre receiver, the game looked like a walk. Unfortunately, Troy Edwards scored but 1 point while Terance Mathis got 12 catches, 166 yards, a touchdown and a tackle to give Netboy the 100-99 win.
1999 Week 9: Double Vision
It looked like two different games on the TV, and it produced two of the biggest comebacks in TLC history. Ed trailed Wolf and Cory in a double-header by a combined 91 points before he unloaded both barrels on them. In the first half, he got two touchdowns from Emmitt Smith as the Cowboys ran up a 17-point lead. In the second, it was Randy Moss (and his hapless sidekick Deion Sanders) leading the Vikings to 27 unanswered points and Ed to two dramatic victories.
2000 Weeks 7 & 15: One Man Can Make a Difference
Cory wasn't always the Monday night chump. In week 7 he trailed Smack at halftime of the Titans-Jaguars game before Eddie George snapped off 100 yards and a touchdown in the second half to erase a 21-point deficit.
In week 15, though, Cory was wetting the bed at home while Smack faced Big Dave in the playoffs. This time Smack made the Monday night move, as Jason Belser recorded 7 tackles and a sack to give Smack a 3-point victory - the largest single-player comeback in playoff history - and send him to a second straight Earl Campbell Sausage Bowl.
2001 Week 4: Thank God for Brandon
Nor has Dwight always been a victim. After a coach's challenge on a Brian Urlacher fumble recovery TD overturned the original scoring, Smack carried a 37 point lead into the Rams-Lions game. But Dwight had just raped Brandon (as is his wont) for Kurt Warner. Warner and Isaac Bruce racked up 42 points, while Robert Porcher managed only a single tackle in his worst game of the season. Dwight 154, Smack 151.
2001 Weeks 5 & 10: Why Gene Quit
Poor, poor Gene. He used to be so cocky. What is he now but a warped, frustrated young man? And no wonder. In week 5 he led Brandon by 18 points, only to see journeyman LB Kevin Mitchell tackle Emmitt Smith at the 2-minute warning to give Brandon a 1-point victory. Five weeks later, he had an even better position: a 17 point lead over Sam and dueling running backs on Monday night. Unfortunately, Sam started Tiki Barber, while Gene ran out - wait for it... Ron Dayne. Barber only rushed for 55 yards, but that was 58 more than Dayne, and Sam walked off with a 3-point win.
2002 Week 5: Shouldn't Have Hoped
A 41-point lead seems pretty safe. Except it ain't. Sam led Smack by 41 points at kickoff. 5 minutes later, one Brett Favre to Donald Driver pass cut the lead to 5, and Smack never looked back. Sucks to suck, and sucks to lose the game before you can take your seat.
2002 Week 10: Greatest Game Ever
23 points down. Facing the opposing QB. Relying on an ancient reciever and an safety old enough to be his grandfather. First quarter, Broncos are driving- at the 2. Brian Griese drops back to pass, and it's intercepted! Someone's running it back up the sidelines. Is that? IT IS! It's Rod Woodson, he's at the 40, the 20, the 15, the 12, Jesus, they're gonna catch him! The 4- they're on him- he's down- in the end zone! Pandemonium! Screaming! Beer for everyone!
Of course, the game's not over, but Griese is done. He's shellshocked, and he's no Elway. Eric Barton may be tackling everyone in sight, but Jerry Rice knows when to step up, and 2 touchdowns bring it almost to a close. All that's left is for Jason Elam to provide the margin of victory. Sam 178, Dwight 175. Do you think Dwight's starting to hate these Raider-Bronco games on Monday night? It's enough to make a man boo his favorite player.
Bonus coverage:
1998 Weeks 5 and 14: Don't Call it a Comeback
In their first meeting, Dan trailed Sam by 3 points going into Monday Night. But Chris Carter and Ryan Longwell outscored Dwayne Rudd 26-1 to give Dan the victory.
Nine weeks later, in the first round of the playoffs, the two teams were tied going into Sunday night- with the same players left to play. Dan even had another defender, Packers LB Bernardo Harris, so his victory was assured. Or was it? Sunday night Chris Carter pulled up lame in warmups and Dwayne Rudd returned a fumble 94 yards for a touchdown. On Monday, Longwell and Harris combined for 17, leaving Dan 3 points short in his final TLC Football game.