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Super Bowl LIV (54) is just days away between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers and fans across the country are remembering their favorite moments and players from the ‘big game’ as the years have gone by.
Over the past three decades, the Washington Redskins have fallen from grace as one of the NFL’s premier franchises. Historically, the Redskins were revered for their supportive fanbase that sold out stadiums for nearly 50 years.
The franchise recently hired coach Ron Rivera to bring the organization back to the heights it sustained during the 1980s and early ’90s.
Fans who are old enough can remember Washington competing in five Super Bowls ranging from 1972 through 1991. The Redskins played in four Super Bowls over a 10-year window (1982 – 1991) winning three (1982 SB XVII, 1987 SB XXII, and 1991 SB XXVII). The lone loss over that span was in 1983 when they had a chance to repeat. Unfortunately for Redskins fan who can remember, they were crushed by the Marcus Allen led Los Angeles Raiders in SB XVIII.
The Redskins have turned in some magical moments during their Super Bowl appearances and also produced some individual record-breaking performances.
Here are the five greatest individual performances in Redskins Super Bowl history.
5. WR Ricky Sanders – SB XXII
Sanders was one-third of the wide receiver trio known around the beltway as the ‘Posse.’ Hall of Fame wide receiver Art Monk and Pro-Bowl receiver Gary Clark were the more notable of the trio but against the Denver Broncos in SB XXII, Sanders etched his name in the history books.
The Redskins offense had two other players who make up the top five All-Time great SB performances in team history, but Sanders’ nine catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns takes a backseat to no one.
The Texas State and former USFL stars career day came at the right time as he shredded the Broncos secondary. His day was so dominant and magical he caught four passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the second quarter alone.
4. QB Mark Rypien – SB XXVI
Rypien would become the third different quarterback to win a Super Bowl under Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs with his MVP performance against the Buffalo Bills.
The Redskins high octane offense led the NFL in scoring with 485 points during the 1991 regular season and did little in the Super Bowl to disappoint.
On the day, Rypien completed 18 of 33 passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He made the big plays that needed to be made all game long.
3. RB Timmy Smith – SB XXII
Smith had a still standing Super Bowl record 204 rushing yards against the Broncos in one of the most explosive offensive displays in NFL history.
He scored two touchdowns in the Redskins 42-10 win which happened to be his first career start. Smith had a touchdown run of 58 yards in the second quarter. He rushed five times for 122 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter alone.
Smith had only played in four games during the regular season which made the record-setting rushing performance even more miraculous.
2. RB John Riggins – SB XVII
Riggins ran wild against the Miami Dolphins in SB XVII and had one of the iconic championship plays in NFL history.
The Redskins entered the game with an 8-1 record after a strike-shortened season and still had their doubters. Their physical approach was able to wear down the Dolphins vaunted ‘Killer B’s’ defense and on a fourth down and one play and trailing Miami 17-13 in the 4th quarter, Riggins broke a would-be tackler and ran down the sidelines for a 43-yard score.
Washington scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and produced a Super Bowl record 276 yards rushing in the 27-17 win.
Riggins rushed for a then Super Bowl record 166 yards on a record 38 attempts and was named game MVP.
1. QB Doug Williams – SB XXII
Williams gets the nod for the greatest performance in Redskins Super Bowl history for many reasons.
The former Grambling State star endured many things over his career to produce a performance for the ages in SB XXII against the Broncos.
Williams was injured late in the first quarter and entered the second quarter with the Redskins trailing the Broncos 10-0. Going forward, Williams played hobbled in the game but guided the Redskins offense to 42 straight points to defeat the Broncos 42-10. Washington’s offense produced a Super Bowl record of scoring 35 points in a quarter.
On the Day, Williams threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns. Williams threw for other SB records of four TD passes in a quarter and a half.
Williams became the first African American quarterback to win a Super Bowl and also was named the games MVP.
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