Pro Football Championship 17 - Redskins - Dolphins

Welcome to our podcast on Super Bowl 17, a game that marked a significant moment in NFL history and showcased the triumph of one of the league's most storied franchises. This matchup between the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins took place on January 30, 1983, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. As we delve into the details of this historic game, we'll explore the lead-up, the key players, the dramatic moments, and the lasting impact of what would become the Redskins' first Super Bowl victory. The 1982 NFL season was unlike any other in league history. A 57-day player strike reduced the regular season from 16 games to just 9, creating a unique and compressed schedule. Despite this unusual circumstance, both the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins managed to navigate the shortened season and make their way to the Super Bowl. The Washington Redskins, led by head coach Joe Gibbs, had finished the regular season with an 8 and 1 record, the best in the NFC. Gibbs, in just his second year as head coach, had quickly turned the Redskins into a powerhouse. The team's success was built on a powerful running game and a stout defense, a formula that would become Gibbs' trademark in the years to come. At the heart of the Redskins' offense was "The Hogs," their nickname for their dominant offensive line. This group, featuring tackles Joe Jacoby and George Starke, guards Russ Grimm and Mark May, and center Jeff Bostic, was one of the best in the league. They paved the way for the Redskins' potent rushing attack, led by John Riggins. Riggins, at 33 years old, was having a career renaissance. Known as "The Diesel," Riggins was a bruising fullback who wore down defenses with his punishing running style. In the shortened season, he rushed for five hundred fifty three yards and 3 touchdowns, but it was in the playoffs where he truly shined, rushing for over 100 yards in each of Washington's three playoff games leading up to the Super Bowl. The Redskins' passing game was led by quarterback Joe Theismann, who had thrown for two thousand thirty three yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season. His primary targets were wide receivers Charlie Brown and Art Monk, along with tight end Don Warren. On defense, the Redskins were anchored by their defensive line, nicknamed The Pearl Harbor Crew, because they were infamous and a day that will live in infamy,  for opposing offenses. This unit was led by defensive tackle Dave Butz and defensive ends Dexter Manley and Tony McGee. The secondary was headlined by safety Mark Murphy, who led the team with 6 interceptions. The Miami Dolphins, coached by the legendary Don Shula, had also finished the regular season with an 8 and 1 record. The Dolphins were looking to recapture the glory of their early nineteen seventies dynasty and win their first Super Bowl since 1974. The Dolphins' offense was led by young quarterback David Woodley, who had thrown for one thousand eighty yards and 5 touchdowns during the regular season. However, the real strength of Miami's offense was their running game, featuring the Bruise Brothers backfield of Andra Franklin and Tony Nathan. Franklin had rushed for 700 and 1 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Nathan contributed both as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. Miami’s defense, nicknamed the Killer Bees because many of the players' names began with the letter B, was one of the best in the league. This unit was led by nose tackle Bob Baumhower, defensive end Doug Betters, and linebacker A J Duhe. The secondary featured Glenn and Lyle Blackwood, known as the Bruise Brothers, not to be confused with the offensive backfield duo. As game day approached, there was a sense of anticipation and excitement. The Redskins were slight favorites, but many expected a close, competitive game between two well coached teams. The game began with both teams feeling each other out. The Dolphins received the opening kickoff but were forced to punt after a quick three and out. The Redskins' first possession showed promise, with Theismann completing a couple of passes to move the chains. However, the drive stalled, and Washington was forced to punt as well. The first score of the game came midway through the first quarter when Dolphins kicker Uwe von Schamann connected on a 20-yard field goal, giving Miami a 3to zero lead. This score was set up by a 42 yard pass from Woodley to Jimmy Cefalo, showcasing the Dolphins' big-play ability. The Redskins responded quickly, putting together a drive that culminated in a 4 yard touchdown run by Riggins. This gave Washington a 7 to 3 lead and sent a message that their powerful running game was ready to dominate. As the second quarter began, the Dolphins started to assert themselves. Woodley led an impressive drive down the field, mixing short passes with runs from Franklin and Nathan. The drive culminated in a 76 yard touchdown pass from Woodley to Cefalo, giving Miami a 10 to 7 lead. The Redskins, feeling the pressu

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to our podcast on Super Bowl seventeen, a game
that marked a significant moment in NFL history and showcased
the triumph of one of the league's most storied franchises.
This matchup between the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins
took place on January thirtieth, nineteen eighty three, at the
Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. As we delve into the

(00:22):
details of this historic game, we'll explore the lead up,
the key players, the dramatic moments, and the lasting impact
of what would become the Redskins first Super Bowl victory.
The nineteen eighty two NFL season was unlike any other
in league history. A fifty seven day player strike reduced
the regular season from sixteen games to just nine, creating

(00:45):
a unique and compressed schedule. Despite this unusual circumstance, both
the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins managed to navigate
the shortened season and make their way to the Super Bowl.
The Washington Redskins, led by head coach Joe Gibbs, had
finished the regular season with an eight to one record,
the best in the NFC. Gibbs, in just his second

(01:08):
year as head coach, had quickly turned the Redskins into
a powerhouse. The team's success was built on a powerful
running game and a stout defense, a formula that would
become Gibbs's trademark in the years to come. At the
heart of the Redskins offense was the Hogs, their nickname
for their dominant offensive line. This group, featuring tackles Joe
Jacobi and George Stark, guards Russ Grimm and Mark May,

(01:32):
and center Jeff Bostick, was one of the best in
the league. They paved the way for the redskins potent
rushing attack, led by John Riggins. Riggins, at thirty three
years old, was having a career renaissance known as the Diesel.
Riggins was a bruising fullback who wore down defenses with
his punishing running style. In the shortened season, he rushed

(01:53):
for five hundred and fifty three yards and three touchdowns,
but it was in the playoffs where he truly shined.
Rushed for over one hundred yards in each of Washington's
three playoff games leading up to the Super Bowl. The
Redskins passing game was led by quarterback Joe Thisman, who
had thrown for two thousan thirty three yards and thirteen
touchdowns during the regular season. His primary targets were wide

(02:16):
receivers Charlie Brown and Artmunk, along with tight end Don Warren.
On defense, the Redskins were anchored by their defensive line,
nicknamed the Pearl Harbor Crew because they were infamous and
a day that will live in infamy for opposing offenses.
This unit was led by defensive tackle Dave Butts and
defensive ends Dexter Manley and Tony McGee. The secondary was

(02:38):
headlined by safety Mark Murphy, who led the team with
six interceptions. The Miami Dolphins, coached by the legendary Don Shula,
had also finished the regular season with an eight to
one record. The Dolphins were looking to recapture the glory
of their early nineteen seventies dynasty and win their first
Super Bowl since nineteen seventy four. The Dolphins offense was
led by young quarterback David Woodley, who had thrown for

(03:01):
one thousand eighty yards and five touchdowns during the regular season. However,
the real strength of Miami's offense was their running game,
featuring the Bruce Brothers backfield of Andrew Franklin and Tony
Nathan Franklin had rushed for seven hundred and one yards
and seven touchdowns, while Nathan contributed both as a runner
and a receiver out of the backfield. Miami's defense, nicknamed

(03:22):
the Killer Bees because many of the players' names began
with the letter B, was one of the best in
the league. This unit was led by nose tackle Bob Baumhouer,
defensive end Doug Betters, and linebacker A. J. Dewhey. The
secondary featured Glen and Lyle Blackwood, known as the Bruce Brothers,
not to be confused with the offensive backfield duo. As

(03:44):
game day approached, there was a sense of anticipation and excitement.
The Redskins were slight favorites, but many expected a close,
competitive game between two well coached teams. The game began
with both teams feeling each other out. The Dolphins received
the opening kickoff, but were forced to punt After a
quick three and out, The Redskins first possession showed promise. However,

(04:07):
the drive stalled and Washington was forced to punt as well.
The first score of the game came midway through the
first quarter when Dolphins kicker Uavon Shamann connected on a
twenty yard field goal, giving Miami a three to zero lead.
This score was set up by a forty two yard
pass from Woodley to Jimmy Cephalo, showcasing the Dolphin's big playability.

(04:28):
The Redskins responded quickly, putting together a drive that culminated
in a four yard touchdown run by Riggins. This gave
Washington a seven to three lead and sent a message
that their powerful running game was ready to dominate. As
the second quarter began, the Dolphins started to assert themselves.
Woodley led an impressive drive down the field, mixing short

(04:50):
passes with runs from Franklin and Nathan. The drive culminated
in a seventy six yard touchdown pass from Woodley to Cephalo,
giving Miami a ten to seven lead. The Redskins, feeling
the pressure, tried to respond quickly. However, disaster struck when
thisman's pass was intercepted by Dolphins linebacker A. J. Douhey,
giving Miami excellent field position. The Dolphins capitalized on this

(05:13):
turnover with another field goal from Von Schauman, extending their
lead to thirteen to seven. Just before halftime, the Redskins
managed to put together a drive that resulted in a
thirty one yard field goal by Mark Moseley, cutting the
Dolphins lead to thirteen to ten at the break. As
the teams headed to the locker rooms, the game was
living up to its billing as a close, competitive contest.
The third quarter saw the momentum begin to shift in

(05:35):
Washington's favor. Their defense stiffened, repeatedly stopping the Dolphins offense
and giving thisman and the offense good field position. However,
the Redskins couldn't fully capitalize, managing only another Moseley field
goal to tie the game at thirteen to thirteen. As
the fourth quarter began, the tension in the Rose Bowl
was palpable. Both teams knew that the next score could

(05:58):
be crucial in determining the outcome of the game. It
was at this moment that one of the most famous
plays in Super Bowl history occurred. With just over ten
minutes left in the game, the Redskins faced a fourth
and one at the Miami forty three yard line. Instead
of punting, Gibbs decided to go for it. The call
was seventy Chip, a play designed for Riggins to run

(06:21):
off the left tackle. As Riggins took the handoff, he
burst through a hole created by the Hogs, broke a
tackle attempt by Dolphins cornerback Don McNeil, and rumbled forty
three yards for a touchdown. This play, which would become
known simply as the run, gave the Redskins a twenty
to thirteen lead and completely changed the complexion of the game.

(06:42):
The Dolphins, who had been so effective in containing Riggins
for most of the game, suddenly looked vulnerable. Miami tried
to respond, but their offense, which had been efficient in
the first half, couldn't find its rhythm against Washington's rejuvenated defense.
The Redskins added another touchdown late in the fourth quarter,
a six yard pass from Thismands to Charlie Brown to

(07:03):
seal the victory. As the final seconds ticked away, the
Washington Redskins had secured a twenty seven to seventeen victory
and their first Super Bowl championship. The team that had
started the season in the shadow of the players strike
had ended it on top of the football world. John
Riggins was named the game's most valuable player. He finished

(07:24):
with the then Super Bowl record one hundred and sixty
six rushing yards on thirty eight carries, including the game
changing forty three yard touchdown run. His performance was a
testament to his toughness in the dominance of the Hogs
offensive line. For the Redskins, this victory was the culmination
of a remarkable turnaround under Joe Gibbs. Just two years earlier,
the team had finished six to ten. Now they were

(07:46):
world champions. For the Dolphins, the loss was a disappointment,
but it didn't diminish their impressive season. They had overcome
the challenges of the strike shortened year and made it
to the Super Bowl, showcasing the coaching acumen of Don
Shah and the talent of players like David Woodley and
the Killer Bees defense. Super Bowl seventeen is remembered for
several reasons beyond the final score. It marked the emergence

(08:09):
of the Washington Redskins as one of the dominant teams
of the nineteen eighties. Under Joe Gibbs. They would go
on to win two more Super Bowls in the decade,
establishing themselves as one of the great dynasties in NFL history.
The game also highlighted the importance of a strong running
game and offensive line play in championship football. The Redskins

(08:30):
ability to control the clock and wear down the Dolphins
defense with their power running game proved to be the
difference in the end. As we look back on Super
Bowl seventeen from our vantage point today, its significance in
the history a professional football is clear. It was a
showcase for one of the great coaching minds in NFL
history and Joe Gibbs, a demonstration of the power of

(08:53):
a dominant offensive line, and a reminder of the importance
of clutch performances in big moments. The game served as
a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports. Despite all
the analysis and predictions, once the players take the field,
anything can happen. The Redskins' ability to overcome a halftime deficit,
coupled with Riggins's historic run, created a contest that would

(09:15):
be remembered for generations. In conclusion, Super Bowl seventeen stands
as a pivotal moment in NFL history. It was a
game that showcased the talents of future Hall of famers
like John Riggins and Artmunk. It demonstrated the importance of
team building and coaching, with Joe Gibbs's strategies proving superior
on the day, and it set the stage for the

(09:36):
Redskins to become one of the most successful franchises of
the nineteen eighties. Super Bowl seventeen provided moments that would
be remembered and discussed for decades to come. Thank you
for joining us on this journey back to Super Bowl seventeen,
a game that proved that sometimes the most memorable contests

(09:57):
are the ones where team imposes its will through sheer
physical dominance, creating a spectacle that transcends the sport and
becomes a part of our collective cultural memory.