This 2021 NFL season reminds us that 30 years ago Washington assembled its greatest team in franchise history, going 14-2 and racing through the playoffs to the Super Bowl XXVI championship and Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Super Bowl XXVI—Washington 37, Buffalo 24— January 26, 1992
After all of the pregame hype, this game was never in doubt, as Washington led by 27 points before calling off the dogs on its way to a 37-24 Super Bowl triumph in the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome, in Minneapolis.
Future Hall of Fame receiver Art Monk caught four passes in an early drive for 79 yards. When he caught his fifth pass of the drive his second foot came down out of bounds, denying him a touchdown. Washington holder Jeff Rutledge then fumbled the snap, meaning Washington did not even score on the nearly perfect drive. Yet Washington radio commentator Sonny Jurgensen declared, Washington had too many weapons for Buffalo.
Washington again had the ball at the Buffalo 11, when Mark Rypien’s pass was batted up into the air and intercepted by Kirby Jackson. Buffalo had avoided two easy Redskins scoring opportunities.
Yet Washington completely owned Bills in the second quarter. They drove 64 yards for a Chip Lohmiller 34-yard field goal, 51 yards as Earnest Byner scored on a 10-yard pass from Rypien and 55 yards after a Darrell Green interception, when Gerald Riggs scored from one yard.
Buffalo then had three dropped passes, Kelly was sacked and Andre Reed was hit early by Brad Edwards. When no penalty was called, down 17-0, Reed lost his mind, took off his helmet slamming it to the turf, costing the Bills 15 yards and forcing a punt. Washington led 17-0 at the half.
On the first play of the third quarter, Washington called a blitz by Andre Collins that coach Larry Peccatiello had designed that very day. Defensive tackle Eric Williams moved to his right at the snap, Collins standing behind Williams, darted straight in toward Kelly, who threw directly to Kurt Gouveia just as Peccatiello had told him Kelly would. Gouveia intercepted the pass at the 25 and was pushed out of bounds at the 2. Gerald Riggs scored in one play. In two offensive snaps Washington had increased its lead to 24-0.
Finally Kelly hit Don Beebe for 43 yards, leading to a field goal and Thurman Thomas scored from one yard, culminating a 56-yard drive narrowing the Redskins lead to 24-10.
Before Buffalo could think they might be back in the game, Rypien led a 79-yard 11-play drive, completing four passes to Gary Clark for 60 yards, the last a 30-yard touchdown for a 31-10 lead.
Two Lohmiller field goals and Washington was up 37-10, it was over. Washington went into a prevent defense allowing Buffalo to throw underneath, Buffalo scored twice in the closing minutes resulting in a misleading final score of 37-24.
Brad Edwards had two interceptions, finishing second in the MVP voting to Rypien (18 completions, 292 yards, 2 touchdowns). Wilber Marshall, Jumpy Geathers, Jason Buck, Fred Stokes and Alvoid Mays all collected a QB sack of Kelly.
Ricky Ervins rushed for 72 yards, followed by Byner’s 49. Clark and Monk both had 7 receptions for 114 and 113 yards respectively.
*This concludes our series of the 1991 Washington Redskins.