SmootSmack
09-04-2006, 12:16 PM
http://www.thewarpath.net/rewind.gif
SUPER BOWL XXVI ANNIVERSARY EDITION: WEEK 1
Welcome to season 2 of Redskins Rewind, a TheWarpath.net exclusive. This season the format will be slightly different from last year. This year we’ll revisit the 1991 Super Bowl season week by week. Here’s a look back at week one. Enjoy!
The Washington Redskins wrapped up the 1991 preseason with another listless performance, losing to the New York Jets 13-9 in the finale. August was not a pleasant month for the Redskins-injuries, poor play, questions about whether expectations for the team were too high. Joe Gibbs was disillusioned and frustrated, but he had been in the league long enough (and successful enough) to know that all the focus had to be on the season opener, a primetime game against an NFC foe.
The Detroit Lions came into town Sunday September 1, 1991 featuring the hot offense of the day-the run and shoot-led by the phenomenal Barry Sanders. Luck was on the Redskins side that night though, even before the game started. Sanders aggravated a rib injury during pre-game warm-ups and would have to sit out the game. History was also on the Redskins side; the Detroit Lions had not beaten the Redskins in 26 years and were 0-14 against them in Washington.
The Redskins put on a clinic in how to play football right from the start. On their first possession from scrimmage Washington embarked on a textbook 12-play, 62 yard drive, including converting three third-downs. Mark Rypien, the biggest question mark on the team going into the game, was a perfect 3-3 on the drive and he scrambled for an 11-yard gain on 3rd and 6. Gerald Riggs capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The Redskins had taken seven minutes off the clock and were up 7-0.
The defense wasted no time in giving the Redskins the ball back. On the very first play of the Lions next possession, Darrell Green did something he had already done 24 times in his career, intercept a pass. Green’s interception set the Redskins up with a short field and led to a 4-yard TD pass from Mark Rypien to TE Jimmy Johnson. Now that the offense and defense had their fun, it was time for special teams to get in on the act. Brian Mitchell closed out a dominant first half with a 69-yard punt return for a TD. It was 21-0 Redskins after one quarter.
The second quarter was more of the same. Another Darrell Green interception set up some offensive trickery as Earnest Byner threw to Ricky Sanders for an 18-yard touchdown. Byner next scored the conventional way, on a TD run, as the Redskins went into the locker room up 35-0 after one half of play.
Washington would go on to win 45-0, the largest margin of victory in team history. The Redskins could have scored again after their backups marched down to the Lions one-yard line late in the 4th quarter. But Joe Gibbs ordered QB Jeff Rutledge to take a knee four times and give the ball back to the Lions.
The Redskins were nearly perfect in every facet of the game. Richie Petitbon’s defense, which had shown nothing in the preseason, threw all sorts of defensive formations at the Lions, confusing QB Rodney Peete. Earnest Byner showed his versatility rushing for 83 yards, receiving for 25, and throwing a touchdown pass as well. The diminutive Gary Clark solidified himself as the playmaker at WR with six receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. The offense converted 10 of 11 third downs, their one miss resulting in a Chip Lohmiller field goal. Most importantly perhaps, QB Mark Rypien erased any doubts about his ability to lead a Super Bowl caliber team. Behind a dominant offensive line, Rypien completed 15 of 19 passes for 183 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
The Detroit Lions would go on to win their next five games in a row. The Redskins had a slightly longer win streak. The two teams would meet again in January, but first Washington had to focus on their week 2 match-up, another primetime game; this time at Dallas.
Redskins Rewind- Those who embrace past success are destined to repeat it.
SUPER BOWL XXVI ANNIVERSARY EDITION: WEEK 1
Welcome to season 2 of Redskins Rewind, a TheWarpath.net exclusive. This season the format will be slightly different from last year. This year we’ll revisit the 1991 Super Bowl season week by week. Here’s a look back at week one. Enjoy!
The Washington Redskins wrapped up the 1991 preseason with another listless performance, losing to the New York Jets 13-9 in the finale. August was not a pleasant month for the Redskins-injuries, poor play, questions about whether expectations for the team were too high. Joe Gibbs was disillusioned and frustrated, but he had been in the league long enough (and successful enough) to know that all the focus had to be on the season opener, a primetime game against an NFC foe.
The Detroit Lions came into town Sunday September 1, 1991 featuring the hot offense of the day-the run and shoot-led by the phenomenal Barry Sanders. Luck was on the Redskins side that night though, even before the game started. Sanders aggravated a rib injury during pre-game warm-ups and would have to sit out the game. History was also on the Redskins side; the Detroit Lions had not beaten the Redskins in 26 years and were 0-14 against them in Washington.
The Redskins put on a clinic in how to play football right from the start. On their first possession from scrimmage Washington embarked on a textbook 12-play, 62 yard drive, including converting three third-downs. Mark Rypien, the biggest question mark on the team going into the game, was a perfect 3-3 on the drive and he scrambled for an 11-yard gain on 3rd and 6. Gerald Riggs capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The Redskins had taken seven minutes off the clock and were up 7-0.
The defense wasted no time in giving the Redskins the ball back. On the very first play of the Lions next possession, Darrell Green did something he had already done 24 times in his career, intercept a pass. Green’s interception set the Redskins up with a short field and led to a 4-yard TD pass from Mark Rypien to TE Jimmy Johnson. Now that the offense and defense had their fun, it was time for special teams to get in on the act. Brian Mitchell closed out a dominant first half with a 69-yard punt return for a TD. It was 21-0 Redskins after one quarter.
The second quarter was more of the same. Another Darrell Green interception set up some offensive trickery as Earnest Byner threw to Ricky Sanders for an 18-yard touchdown. Byner next scored the conventional way, on a TD run, as the Redskins went into the locker room up 35-0 after one half of play.
Washington would go on to win 45-0, the largest margin of victory in team history. The Redskins could have scored again after their backups marched down to the Lions one-yard line late in the 4th quarter. But Joe Gibbs ordered QB Jeff Rutledge to take a knee four times and give the ball back to the Lions.
The Redskins were nearly perfect in every facet of the game. Richie Petitbon’s defense, which had shown nothing in the preseason, threw all sorts of defensive formations at the Lions, confusing QB Rodney Peete. Earnest Byner showed his versatility rushing for 83 yards, receiving for 25, and throwing a touchdown pass as well. The diminutive Gary Clark solidified himself as the playmaker at WR with six receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. The offense converted 10 of 11 third downs, their one miss resulting in a Chip Lohmiller field goal. Most importantly perhaps, QB Mark Rypien erased any doubts about his ability to lead a Super Bowl caliber team. Behind a dominant offensive line, Rypien completed 15 of 19 passes for 183 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
The Detroit Lions would go on to win their next five games in a row. The Redskins had a slightly longer win streak. The two teams would meet again in January, but first Washington had to focus on their week 2 match-up, another primetime game; this time at Dallas.
Redskins Rewind- Those who embrace past success are destined to repeat it.