Tag: Mark Moseley NFL record

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 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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