On Dec. 16, 1984, the former St. Louis Cardinals playoffs arrived early.
Entering the final week of the season, they were 9-6, and in second place in the NFC East. They trailed their next opponents, 10-5 Washington, and were ahead of the 9-7 New York Giants, who had lost the day before.
St. Louis had defeated Washington earlier in the season, meaning that the final game between the two amounted to a division championship.
A win on the road, and the Cardinals would be in the playoffs for the second time in three years. A Cardinals loss would put them behind New York, ending the season.