Tag: Remembering RFK

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 RFK Stadium in the 1970s

Remembering some wonderful moments from RFK Stadium in the 1970s.

Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Stadium (RFK) holds lasting memories for so many of us.

The stadium is going to be the object of demolition, and then a renovation on the 190-acre property will result in an indoor sports complex as well as housing, pedestrian and bicycle bridges across the Anacostia River to connect residents to River Terrace, the RFK Campus, Hill East, and Kingman and Heritage Islands.

My first memories of RFK are the 1969 Redskin season

I was instantly hooked for life. Sonny Jurgensen, Larry Brown, Charley Taylor, Sam Huff, Chris Hanburger. All coached by then-legendary coach Vince Lombardi. I still recall those helmets with the spear.

1970 brought new uniforms with the R on the helmet, and George Allen stirred up the DMV during his years 1971-77. RFK became a real home-field advantage.

How will I ever forget the 1972 comeback to Dallas in RFK after being down 13-0 and 20-7 to win 24-20? The two playoff games at RFK that season brought two Washington victories including a 26-3 whooping of Dallas in the NFC Championship game.

The very next season (‘73) Brig Owens in the 4th quarter with his pick-six against Dallas on MNF, and Dallas still driving late only to be stopped at the 1-yard line by Ken Houston’s tackle of Walt Garrison.

Jurgensen led a late drive to defeat Miami 20-17 in 1974, and RFK was really rocking when the Burgundy and Gold were destroying Dallas 28-0, but then had to hold on to win only 28-21.

Overtime came to the NFL in 1975, and it was Washington who had three overtime games that first year, and two at RFK, beating Dallas 30-24 and losing to the Raiders 26-23.

The worst field conditions I ever saw at RFK were a 1976 MNF game in the rain against the Cardinals (an NFC divisional rival in those days). Eddie Brown’s 71-yard punt return touchdown will always be one of the greatest scoring plays in RFK history.

Interestingly, I recall George Allen’s last game as Washington’s coach. At RFK, it was a 17-14 victory over the LA Rams in the 1977 season finale, a Saturday afternoon contest. Allen finished his Washington coaching career (67-30-1 .691).

Jack Pardee coached Washington the 1978-1980 seasons. The ‘78 team started out 6-0 including a MNF win over Dallas at RFK 9-5, with President Jimmy Carter in attendance.

Earl Campbell and the Houston Oilers opened the season at RFK in 1979. Washington came up short 29-27. Also of note that season was the RFK game against the Cowboys when Pardee elected to have Mark Moseley kick a late field goal to give Washington a 34-20 victory. Dallas talked of Pardee running up the score.