Tag: Joe Theismann

40 years ago: A Washington first-round playoff win

In honor of wild-card weekend, looking back at Washington’s 1982 win over the Detroit Lions 40 years ago.

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

This 2022 season, Commanders Wire has published several stories recalling that great season. Now that the NFL playoffs begin this week, we recall the first round of that 1982 playoff journey for Washington.

The 1982 season, being shortened by a player’s strike, NFL teams played a nine-game schedule. Washington finished 8-1, obtaining the number one seed for the NFC playoffs.

The playoff birth was the first for Washington since the 1976 team coached by George Allen. Having earned the home-field advantage, Washington would host the Detroit Lions in the wildcard round.

Unfortunately, in the final regular season game, Art Monk suffered a stress fracture of his right foot and would miss the playoffs. John Riggins went to offensive line coach Joe Bugel and told him he would take on more of the load; he wanted the ball. Bugel told him to go see the man (Joe Gibbs).

Riggins was now age 33 and had averaged only 3.1 yards per rush. Yet, Joe Washington was beat up, and Art Monk was out injured. So Gibbs called on Riggins to take on more for the team, and he did, with 25 carries for 119 yards.

Detroit threatening to score in the first quarter, corner Jeris White ignited the team and RFK crowd when he picked off an Eric Hipple pass at the 23, returning it 77 yards for a Washington 7-0 lead.

Alvin Garrett might have been a little-used backup to Monk, but Joe Theismann certainly believed in Garrett. Remarkably, Theismann and Garrett connected on six receptions for 110 yards and three touchdowns. Theismann was quite efficient, completing 14 of 19 passing attempts for 210 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions for a passer rating of 149.1.

Washington jumped on the Lions on both sides of the ball and enjoyed a 24-0 halftime lead and a 31-0 third-quarter lead, winning 31-7. Dexter Manley, Monte Coleman, Vernon Dean and Mark Murphy each earned a quarterback sack and White finished with two interceptions.

It was the first playoff victory since the 1972 team had won the NFC Championship against Dallas 26-3 at RFK.

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40 Years ago the NFL MVP resided in Washington

Mark Moseley is the only kicker in NFL history win MVP.

Washington Redskins 1982 History for $300 please.

Answer, “He played 13 seasons for Washington, was a two-time Pro Bowler, once an All-Pro and the 1982 NFL MVP.”

Contestant #1: “Who is Joe Theismann?”

Jeopardy Host: “No”

Contestant #2: “Who is John Riggins?”

Jeopardy Host: “No”

Question: “Who is Art Monk?”

Jeopardy Host: “No, I’m sorry contestants, those are all good responses, but they are not the correct response.”

Theismann was also a two-time Pro Bowler and once All-Pro. He also finished fourth in the Associated Press MVP balloting in this 1982 season. Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts was second, Raiders running back Marcus Allen third and Cowboys quarterback Danny White was fifth.

Riggins was an All-Pro once and Pro Bowler once (hard to believe only once with several very good seasons). He was also the Super Bowl XVII MVP and the following season set a then NFL record rushing for 24 touchdowns.

Monk was a three-time Super Bowl champ and three-time Pro-Bowler. He set an NFL single-season record of 106 receptions in 1984 and led the NFL in 1985 with 81.7 receiving yards per game. He retired the all-time receptions leader in NFL history.

The correct response we are looking for is kicker Mark Moseley. Yes, a kicker was voted NFL MVP.

How is that AP writers voted the Washington kicker the NFL MVP for the 1982 season?

For starters, Washington was the No. 1 seed in the NFC finishing 8-1 in the regular season shortened by strike. In addition, it was also the manner in which they won games.

In the opener at Philadelphia, Moseley connected from 48 yards, sending the game into overtime and then his field goal won the game.

In the December cold at St Louis, Washington couldn’t get the ball in the end zone, but Moseley came through on all four field goal attempts for a 12-7 victory over the Cardinals.

The following week at RFK Moseley was accurate on all three field goal attempts in a 15-14 win over the Giants. His last field goal came with only four seconds remaining as snow was falling on the muddy grass field. It also broke the then NFL record of 20 consecutive field goals made, giving Moseley 21 for the new record.

Moseley would make his next two attempts in New Orleans the following week, extending his consecutive streak to 23 (dating back to the end of the ’81 season) before missing in the season home finale against the Cardinals. Moseley would finish the ’82 season making 20 of 21 field goals for a 95.2% conversion rate.

40 years ago the 1982 Washington Redskins provided us the launching of the “Hogs,” Riggins SB XVII MVP, Washington finishing 12-1 in the strike-shortened season, Washington Super Bowl XVII champs, defeating Miami 27-17 and yes, their kicker, Mark Moseley was voted NFL MVP.

Remembering Washington football at RFK Stadium in the 1980s

The greatest decade in franchise history. We share some of the most incredible memories from RFK Stadium in the 1980s.

Joe Gibbs (1981-1992) and his teams were 124-60 (.673) which is slightly less successful than George Allen’s tenure in Washington. However, in the 1980s, Gibbs produced four NFC Championship games, three NFC Championships, three Super Bowls and two Super Bowl victories. Joe Gibbs was an astonishing 11-3 in the playoffs in the ’80s.

Gibbs in 1981, lost his first five games and not one was a single-score game. Gibbs later said he feared he may not win an NFL game before he was fired.

I recall little Joe Washington having big games in RFK wins over the Patriots and Lions. In that Lions game, the lead changed hands six times when Mark Moseley won it with a field goal 33-31. Some may recall Mike Nelms with a 75-yard punt return touchdown in that Patriots win as well.

Washington turned it around in that ’81 season winning their final five games in RFK, finishing the season 8-8. RFK was buzzing as fans excitedly anticipated 1982.

From 1982 I’ll always recall Joe Theismann going deep to Charley Brown in the 13-9 win over the Eagles. I was present at RFK when Joe Theismann executed a great block, allowing Joe Washington to score. RFK went crazy on that play! Moseley kicked the game-winner in the snow in the 15-14 win over the Giants.

The ’82 playoffs at RFK were magical. Art Monk was injured, but Alvin Garrett was awesome, hauling in three Joe Theismann touchdown passes in the 31-7 victory over the Lions.

The next week, John Riggins rushed for 185 yards and bowed to the RFK crowd; Washington defeated the Vikings 21-7, and late, fans started chanting, “We want Dallas.”

The NFC Championship game against Dallas was so intense as RFK fans during warmups chanted, “we want Dallas.” Defensive end Dexter Manley knocked quarterback Danny White out of the game (literally), then rushed Gary Hogeboom, and tipped his screen pass, which Darryl Grant intercepted for a touchdown. To this day, I still believe that play and moment was the greatest experienced at RFK, as Washington defeated Dallas 31-17 to go to Super Bowl XVII.

The ’83 season saw Washington down 35-20, comeback to beat the Raiders 37-35 when Theismann found Washington in the end zone. The season finale at RFK was ugly when fans booed the Redskins, trailing the Giants 19-7. But the team recovered to win 31-22.

The Rams came to town for the playoffs and were crushed 51-7, and the 49ers were down 21-0. Washington held on to win 24-21 earning a trip to Super Bowl XVIII.

In 1984 at RFK, Washington crushed Dallas 34-14; Art Monk broke the single-season reception record (106) in one of the most exciting season finales, I recall, a 29-27 win over the Cardinals.

Joe Theismann on a 1985 Monday Night Football game brought RFK to a stilled silence when he suffered a career-ending compound fracture of the lower leg. Jay Schroeder’s first pass was a bomb to Art Monk as Washington came from behind to defeat the Giants 23-21.

The most exciting 1986 win at RFK came when Washington trailed the Vikings 38-26, rallied to tie at 38-38, and then Gary Clark caught a short pass and ran down the left sideline for a thrilling 44-38 win. The most anticipated RFK game was the Giants game with both teams at 11-2, but the Giants won 24-14 and went on to win Super Bowl XXI.

In the 1987 NFC Championship game, Doug Williams had his worst day as a Washington quarterback. But Williams did find Gary Clark in the end zone for a 17-10 lead. The Redskins defensive stand inside the ten to end the game was epic as Joe Gibbs, knees on a towel, actually turned pale, later saying he thought he was going to pass out.

In 1988, Washington trailed Pittsburgh 29-20 late, but then Williams rallied the team with two scores for a 30-29 win as Williams passed for 430 yards. Later in the season, the Saints led at RFK 24-17, but Williams again led and Washington won 27-24.

What I have always remembered about RFK games in 1989 is the heart-breaking losses in the season’s first two games. Raul Allegre kicked a 52-yard field goal as the Giants won 27-24. The next week Washington led the Eagles 20-0. Gerald Riggs rushed for 221 yards, yet the Eagles rallied for a 42-37 win.

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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).

Twitter reacts to Braden Lenzy’s incredible touchdown catch

Did you see this?!

Just when [autotag]Braden Lenzy[/autotag] seemed forgotten this season, he emerged as a key figure in the first quarter of Notre Dame’s game against Navy. Through two offensive possessions for the Irish, Lenzy was leading all receivers with four catches for 67 yards. One reception came on the first drive for 21 yards. Another was made possible by a 38-yard pass from [autotag]Drew Pyne[/autotag], and it was, well, just look at it:

This catch that you only see a few times a season at most throughout college football gave the Irish a 14-0 lead. Even a few of the sailors in attendance had to look at each other in disbelief. You know you’ve done something special when the opposing fans have no choice but to give you credit for what they just saw. Twitter couldn’t believe what had happened either, and you’ll see it from these folks, many of whom undoubtedly still haven’t picked their jaws off the floor:

Former Washington QB Joe Theismann to be featured by NFL Network

Joe Theismann will be featured on “A Football Life.”

Former Washington Redskins quarterback and Super Bowl champion Joe Theismann will be featured Friday, Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on the NFL Network, “Joe Theismann: A Football Life.”

Theismann quarterbacked every game of Washington’s three consecutive seasons winning the NFC East (1982-1984). Under his leadership, Washington defeated Miami 27-17 in Super Bowl XVII becoming the NFL champions for the 1982 season.

Theismann had his best NFL season in 1983 leading Washington to another NFC championship before they lost to the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII. In that 1983 season, Theismann was voted the AP Offensive Player of the Year and MVP.

Washington went 11-5 in 1984, again winning the NFC East as Theismann quarterbacked receiver Art Monk to a then all-time NFL record 106 receptions for 1,372 receiving yards.

Theismann was with Washington from 1974-1985. He started games in 1976 and 1977, became the full-time starter in 1978 then never missed a game until his career ended in 1985.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Theismann. It’s as flattering as anything I’ve ever had happen to me in the world of sports,” Theismann told J.P. Finlay and Brian Mitchell on 106.7 the Fan, Tuesday.

Theismann revealed that during the episode, he traveled back to his hometown in South River, New Jersey, to his old family home, and to RFK Stadium, where he won so many games with Washington and where his career suddenly was ended during a MNF game against the New York Giants in 1985.

“This stirred up memories that I guess had been filed away in my life, going back to my hometown. Seeing some of the guys I played high school football with and going into the stadium… And going back to RFK and seeing the old clock that was in the stadium, and I still remember laying on the field and looking up at the clock, and it was like 10:06 pm.”

As a starter at Notre Dame, the Irish were 20-3-2 in games started by Joe, as he passed for 4,411 yards and 31 touchdowns. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Notre Dame sports information director Roger Valdiserri informed Theismann (then pronounced (Thees mun) they were going to launch a campaign thus altering the pronunciation to Theismann (rhyming with Heisman). He would finish second to Stanford’s Jim Plunkett in the 1970 voting. The damage being done to his name and the nation thinking it was Theismann, he has remained Theismann to this day.

Theismann was a fourth-round draft choice in 1971 by the Miami Dolphins. After playing in the Canadian Football League, he was then traded from Miami to Washington on January 25, 1974, for Washington’s first-round choice in 1976 (#17 Larry Gordon).

 

 

Notre Dame all-time single game passing leaders

Passing for a lot of yards doesn’t always mean good things.

Notre Dame has had countless memorable performances by quarterbacks over the years, but which quarterbacks had the best single days in Fighting Irish football history?

That answer is debatable because some of the very best statistical performances came in games Notre Dame lost and was trailing the majority of so required throwing to try and mount a comeback. Does that make them the best?

Related: Notre Dame’s long history of struggles in Fiesta Bowl

We’ll leave that debate for you to have as we look back below on the 10 best single-game passing yards performances in the long history of Notre Dame football.

Joe Theismann offers sound advice to Tom Brady for broadcasting career

Tom Brady’s transition to the lead analyst for FOX Sports may be a little more difficult than he anticipates.

Tom Brady is really good at what he does.

The 44-year-old is the best quarterback in NFL history and he’s the most accomplished player of all time. Brady’s been to 10 Super Bowls and he currently has seven rings, while striving to collect more. There isn’t anything he can’t do on a football field and that’s likely the reason for him to come out of a 40-day retirement.

One thing that Brady hasn’t done in his career — spend time in the booth calling NFL games. Regardless, he will be the lead FOX Sports analyst following his retirement and it will be a huge transition for many reasons.

Joe Theismann played quarterback in the NFL, won a Super Bowl and later transitioned to a broadcasting career. While joining The DA Show on Friday, he offered some advice while discussing Brady’s next move.

“First of all, I’d say keep playing, Tom. Just keep playing. Because, whatever you faced on the field, it’ll be different once you go in the booth,” Theismann said. “You have three hours, roughly, to communicate the game to people. I don’t think he’s ever really worked in that environment. Like everything else, there’s a transition period. Let’s say he leaves the game at 45. Do we expect Tom at 55, or 50, to still be in the booth? I don’t know.

“I wish him a lot of luck. He’s extremely intelligent about the game, and has terrific communication skills. And now, you walk into the booth and it’s a bit different. Things are done there in soundbites because you have to give the play-by-play guys a chance to their job. So, there’s a bit of a routine that has to be developed, a chemistry that needs to be developed… And I want it to be a good listen… I’m as interested as anybody.”

Brady’s a student of the game and his preparation has always been incredible — so, it is possible he can find his groove with enough time and intentionality.

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Notre Dame football’s top quarterback recruits since 2000

Which Notre Dame quarterback were you most excited for before they ever played a down for the Irish?

Over the years Notre Dame has had more than a couple great quarterbacks.

[autotag]Joe Theismann[/autotag], [autotag]John Huarte[/autotag], [autotag]Tom Clements[/autotag], [autotag]Joe Montana[/autotag], [autotag]Rick Mirer[/autotag], and [autotag]Ron Powlus[/autotag] are just a few of the all-time signal callers the university has had.  All of those men came to Notre Dame during much different times however, as recruiting and the available information around it has changed significantly over the years.

[autotag]Brady Quinn[/autotag], [autotag]Jimmy Clausen[/autotag], and [autotag]Ian Book[/autotag] are a few of the best Notre Dame has had at the position since the year 2000, but how were each rated as recruits?  And just how high might the next quarterback commitment check in in these rankings?

247Sports has compiled a list of Notre Dame’s quarterback recruits since 2000 and included each of their final recruiting rankings.  Here is how the top 20 turned out.

Must see throwback: Joe Theismann with Andre the Giant

Can we please get the story behind this picture, @Theismann7… #wwe @washington_wire

Joe Theismann nearly won a Heisman Trophy and national championship at Notre Dame before turning into a Super Bowl winning starting quarterback and NFL MVP with Washington.  He wasn’t the biggest of NFL players but by no means is Theismann a small man as he was listed at 6-0, 192-pounds.

However, when you put him in the arms of a giant then that six feet and just under 200-pounds looks like nothing.  Thanks to one of the most entertaining Twitter accounts out there we now know how small Theismann looks when being held by professional wrestling legend Andre the Giant, who stood 7-4 and weighed over 500 pounds.

If nothing else I really want to know the story behind this gem.

In case you’re wondering, the biggest current college football player that I’m aware of is Minnesota offensive lineman Daniel Faalele who stands 6-8 and weighs 380-pounds.

Or more accurately, eight inches shorter and 140-pounds lighter than Andre the Giant was.

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