To celebrate the 45th season of "Monday Night Football," a panel of ESPN.com contributors has selected the 45 most memorable moments in MNF history. Follow along as we reveal one per day and count down to this season's MNF debut.
No. 10: Dolphins 38, Bears 24 | Dec. 2, 1985
The 1985 Chicago Bears were one of the most dominant teams in NFL history. Including the playoffs and a 36-point victory in Super Bowl XX, that team won 18 games by an average of 19.6 points.But there was one blemish on the Bears' record that season, and it happened on "Monday Night Football" against a franchise whose name is synonymous with perfection.
Members of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins were in attendance when the 12-0 Bears traveled to Miami in Week 13. On the game's first possession, Miami quarterback Dan Marino hit Nat Moore for a 33-yard touchdown. The Bears hadn't allowed a point in two straight games, or a touchdown in 13 straight quarters, prior to the score.
Marino would lead the Dolphins to 31 points by halftime, a total no other team could amass over a full game against the '85 Bears. The Bears would forget the loss quickly, allowing just 43 points over their final six games, including the Super Bowl.
But on that December night, the '72 Dolphins could rest easy knowing they would remain the only unbeaten team in NFL history.