Washington Redskins Super Bowl: Top 5 offensive performances

By Andrew Long | Feb 1, 2015

We are just hours away from the kickoff of Super Bowl XLIX. The two best teams in the NFL are getting ready to compete while the other 30 teams, including the Redskins, are at home watching. This is nothing new for Washington and their fan base. With that being said, the franchise has appeared in the big game a handful of times and has walked away with the Lombardi Trophy on 3 occasions. The last Washington Redskins Super Bowl victory came in 1992 against the Buffalo Bills, a game in which quarterback Mark Rypien was named the MVP.

Rypien played very well in Super Bowl XXVI and earned the MVP award, but where does his Super Bowl performance rank in team history? Below I have ranked the Top 5 offensive performances in Washington Redskins Super Bowl history.

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Honorable mention: Art Monk & Gary Clark | WR | Super Bowl XXVI

Gary Clark and Art Monk, Washington’s wide receiver tandem at the time, completely wrecked the Buffalo secondary in Super Bowl XXVI. Monk grabbed 7 catches for 113 yards on the day. Clark’s stats were nearly identical, as he hauled in 7 catches for 114 yards and 1 touchdown. The touchdown gives Clark a slight edge, but both receivers played a key role in Washington’s 37-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

5. Mark Rypien | QB | Super Bowl XXVI

As I mentioned earlier in the article, Mark Rypien was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXVI. Rypien completed 18 out of 33 passes for 292 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Big performances by Monk and Clark certainly helped, but those performances wouldn’t be possible without Rypien under center and that’s why he comes in at number 5.

4. John Riggins | RB | Super Bowl XVII

It should come as no surprise that John Riggins finds himself on this list. In Super Bowl XVII, Riggins’ ability to dominate the run-game was on full display as he carried the ball 38 times for 166 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass on the day. His impressive offensive performance earned him Super Bowl XVII MVP honors.

3. Ricky Sanders | WR | Super Bowl XXII

Ricky “Slick Rick” Sanders comes in at number 3 on the list for his performance in Super Bowl XXII. Sanders heavily contributed to an offensive assault on Denver’s defensive unit. The Redskins racked up 620-yards of total offense on the day and Sanders was accountable for nearly 1/3 of that production. Sanders notched 9 receptions for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns, one of which was an 80-yard bomb.

2. Timmy Smith | RB | Super Bowl XXII

Much like Ricky Sanders, Timmy Smith was an integral part of Washington’s success in Super Bowl XXII. He carried the ball 22 times for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Smith managed to break a 58-yard touchdown run and averaged over 9 yards per carry against the Denver defense. His performance didn’t earn him Super Bowl MVP honors, but he stilled played extremely well and deserves recognition.

1. Doug Williams | QB | Super Bowl XXII

In a game that featured monster performances by Ricky Sanders and Timmy Smith, one player was able to outshine both of them and earn the Super Bowl XXII MVP award; that player was quarterback Doug Williams. Williams completed 18 out of 29 passes for 340 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. All 4 touchdown passes came in the 2nd quarter, a quarter in which the Washington offense scored 35 out of their 42 points.

Next: Where do the Redskins rank among the best franchises in NFL history??

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