Tag: 1982 NFL Strike

Remembering historic Washington home win over Giants 40 years ago

We look back, almost 40 years to the day when Washington defeated the Giants to clinch a playoff spot. Remember what happened that postseason?

Almost 40 years to the day, the Giants will again travel to the DMV to play the Commanders on Dec. 18 in a game with heavy playoff implications.

The 1982 Washington team was the first in franchise history to capture the Vince Lombardi Trophy, winning Super Bowl XVII over Miami 27-17.

Six weeks earlier, the Giants (3-3) came to town to battle the Redskins (5-1), Sunday, Dec. 19, 1982 [Due to the strike, NFL teams had only played six games at this point in the 1982 season].

I recall it was a cold day, and I was miserable by halftime because the Giants were unbelievably ahead 14-3. In the third quarter, moving from my right to left, threatening to score against the Giants. The ball was at the 22 yard-line when Joe Theismann turned and handed the ball to Joe Washington.

Washington was running wide right when he slowed up and looked upfield to attempt a half-back pass to Art Monk. Washington then decided to not throw, stopped, turned toward his left and reversed his field, avoided a tackler and headed toward the left pylon at the front of the end zone.

We Washington fans watched in amazement as Theismann sprinted out ahead of (Joe) Washington and threw an amazing block on Giants DB Terry Jackson, knocking him to the ground, and permitting Washington to scoot into the left front of the end zone.

I’m telling you, RFK erupted! You could hear the swell of volume, the excitement in the capacity crowd, reacting to the Theismann block. After being congratulated by several teammates in the end zone, Washington turned toward Theismann who was preparing to hold for the point-after-touchdown attempt. Washington raised his left arm and pointed to Theismann, as if to say, “What a block, you the man, Theismann.”

A couple of other things from that game I have always recalled. It was the first time I had heard some fan blowing a diesel horn when John Riggins would run the ball. I am not saying it was the first game the fan blew the diesel horn when Riggins ran. However, it was the first game I had picked up on it.

Lastly, following the (Joe) Washington touchdown, the momentum moved toward the Burgundy and Gold. After leading 14-3, the Giants did not score again.  Following the (Joe) Washington touchdown, the Redskins scored twice more on Mark Moseley field goals.

The final field goal, I recall it was snowing, and I was nervous about the conditions. Yet, when Moseley came onto the field with only nine seconds remaining,  the crowd cheered, more confident than myself that he would make it. Indeed, Moseley connected from 42 yards to win the game (15-14). This also clinched a playoff spot for Washington, it’s first since the 1976 season.

This field goal was also Moseley’s 21st consecutive field goal, setting a then- NFL record for consecutive field goals made. Fans cheered not only happy for the Washington win clinching a playoff spot, but also for the veteran Moseley in breaking a new NFL record.

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Remembering this week 40 years ago in Washington NFL history

We continue our look back at the 1982 season when Joe Gibbs, Joe Theisman, John Riggins, The Hogs and Dexter Manley ruled Washington.

40 years ago, the 1982 Washington Redskins became the first team in franchise history to win a Super Bowl.

This very week, 40 years ago, NFL fans were so excited to see their teams get back in action.

The 1982 season had begun with the first two weeks of the season having a dark cloud of suspicion over them. Each day of those two weeks, analysts and the press wondered aloud and through the print media whether the NFL would actually see a strike take place during the season.

The prior season, Joe Gibbs’ first in Washington had started horribly, as Gibbs brought in his Air Coryell offense for Joe Theismann to orchestrate. However, Washington lost their first five games, and Gibbs would later say he actually kept thinking if he would be fired before he ever won his first game as an NFL head coach.

But the 1981 team rebounded as Gibbs determined to go more with his personnel, shape more of a ball-control offense using running backs John Riggins and Joe Washington. The team won eight of their last eleven games, finishing 8-8.

Having drafted such players in 1981 as Mark May, Russ Grimm, Dexter Manley, Darryl Grant and Clint Didier and signed Joe Jacoby as an undrafted free agent, the 1982 season was one of promise and hope.

The season had opened Sept. 12 with Washington the underdog traveling to Philadelphia who had been to the Super Bowl in 1980 and the playoffs in 1979 and 1981. Trailing 27-14 entering the final quarter, the Redskins roared back, winning 37-34 in overtime.

Week 2 saw Washington again a road team, this time at Tampa Bay. Joe Gibbs was returning to Tampa for the first time as a head coach. Gibbs had earlier been on the Bucs staff under John McKay.

In a game that saw heavy amounts of rain, Washington slid their way to a 21-13 victory in Tampa. Washington was 2-0, a strike was officially announced the next night and the nation lost the NFL for the next 57 days. NFL games in weeks three through ten were lost.

November 21, Washington would be back in action, but because of the scheduled game being in New York against the Giants, Redskins fans were still unable to see their favorite team play at home in RFK. Washington would not play a game at RFK in the 1982 season until November 28, their second game of the season against the Eagles.

40 years ago this week, Washington was 2-0, coming off of an NFL Strike, about to begin for a second time a season when the franchise would go on to win its first Super Bowl (XVII).