1991 Washington Redskins: Dominant from Start to Finish
When listing the greatest NFL teams of all time, one team that will surely appear near the top is the 1991 Washington Redskins. Joe Gibbs’s Super Bowl-winning team was a well-balanced machine that dominated both sides of the ball. They scored 485 points, averaging an astounding 30.3 points per game. Their defense allowed only 14 points per game while recording 50 sacks. They defeated teams convincingly by an average of 16.3 points per game. Their dominance extended to the playoffs, where they cruised past opponents on their way to the franchise’s third Super Bowl title.
From Also-Rans to NFC East Champions
The year before the Redskins made their tremendous run, they finished third in the NFC East with a record of 10-6. They won a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the following round. After finishing 10-6 in 1989 and 1990, the Redskins improved to 14-2 in 1991. They scored a full touchdown more per game in 1991, and their defense allowed four fewer points per game.
Star Power on Both Sides of the Ball
An Explosive Offense
Their improvement on offense can be attributed to the exceptional play of Mark Rypien, who threw 28 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. Rypien’s second Pro Bowl season was highlighted by a six-touchdown performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11. He gained 8.5 yards per attempt, thanks in part to his excellent wide receivers, Gary Clark and Art Monk. Clark led the receiving corps with 1,340 yards and 10 touchdowns. Monk was no slouch, as he too exceeded 1,000 yards receiving, with 1,049, and added eight touchdowns. The Redskins’ rushing attack was led by Pro Bowl running back Earnest Byner. His 1,048 rushing yards were the most on the team, but Gerald Riggs led the team in rushing touchdowns with 11 to Byner’s 5.
A Stingy Defense
Defensive end Charles Mann recorded 11.5 sacks, while Wilbur Marshall and Darrell Green tied for the team lead in interceptions with five each.
The Road to Super Bowl XXVI
An 11-Game Winning Streak
The Redskins started the 1991 season on fire with 11 straight victories. In the first six games of the season, they outscored their opponents 231-82. Their early victories included shutouts against the Detroit Lions, the Phoenix Cardinals, and the Philadelphia Eagles. They also swept the season series against their division rival and defending Super Bowl champion, the New York Giants. The Redskins’ only two losses came against the up-and-coming Dallas Cowboys, led by Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, and a meaningless Week 17 game on the road against the Eagles.
Cruising Through the Playoffs
The loss in Week 17 was a mere hiccup, as the Redskins continued their winning ways in the playoffs by defeating the Atlanta Falcons 24-7 and dismantling the Detroit Lions 41-10 in the NFC championship game. With their dominant play, the Redskins grabbed hold of their opportunity to meet the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI.
Meeting the Opponent: The Buffalo Bills
The Bills were making their second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl after being defeated by the New York Giants the year before. They rebounded from their loss in the Super Bowl to post an AFC-best 13-3 record. Future Hall of Famers Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas led the second-best offense in the NFL that year. They were second only to the Redskins.
Super Bowl XXVI: A Championship Sealed
The Bills’ “No Huddle” offense couldn’t find the end zone until the third quarter, when Thurman Thomas scored on a one-yard touchdown run. Even with that touchdown, the Redskins were ahead by fourteen points. Mark Rypien answered with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Gary Clark, pushing the lead to 31-10. Rypien threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns on his way to being named Super Bowl MVP. His counterpart, Jim Kelly, added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. The Redskins beat the Bills 37-24.
From start to finish, the 1991 Washington Redskins looked like they were two steps ahead of the other NFL teams. They dominated opponents and deserve to be considered one of the best teams ever.
