Each NFL team’s out of nowhere season

Washington Football Team: 1982 Super Bowl win

The player’s strike in 1982 shortened the season to just nine games and the Washington Football Team were able to reel off an 8-1 campaign that year. It was a bit of a shocking record considering they were 8-8 the season prior and had an even worse mark of 6-10 in 1980.

After making easy work of the regular season, the Washington Football Team then went into the playoffs led by quarterback Joe Theismann and running back John Riggins on offense. On defense, they were led by Dexter Manley and Tony McGee, who again made it look simple.

They rolled past the Detroit Lions by the score of 31-7, took down the Minnesota Vikings to the tune of 21-7, and then beat up a huge rival, as they disposed of the Dallas Cowboys, 31-17.

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Then, Washington faced the same club that they lost to in the Super Bowl 10 seasons prior to this one.

That happened to be their first-ever appearance in the big game, but this time they got their revenge — and they did so on an epic play.

Trailing 17-13 and facing a fourth-and-1 from the Miami Dolphins’ 43-yard line, Washington head coach Joe Gibbs decided to go for it and chose a play called ’70 Chip’.

The ball went to Riggins and he ended up bowling over cornerback Don Riggins en route to a 43-yard go-ahead score.

From there, Washington was able to put the game out of reach and ended up winning by a score of 27-17.

Riggins ended up with the Super Bowl MVP for his efforts as Washington hoisted their first-ever Lombardi Trophy.