# 1983 Washington Redskins season

The 1983 Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 47th in Washington, D.C. The season began with the team trying to win consecutive Super Bowls, following their victory in Super Bowl XVII against the Miami Dolphins. Washington's 14–2 record was a franchise record and the best in the NFL. Their two losses were by a combined 2 points. Though the Redskins won the NFC Championship and advanced to a second consecutive Super Bowl, they were blown out by the Los Angeles Raiders 38–9 despite being 3-point favorites. They were the first defending Super Bowl champions to qualify for the playoffs since the 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Redskins' 541 points scored and +209 point differential was the best in the league, with the 541 points setting an NFL record at the time. The 1983 Redskins also had a turnover margin of +43, an NFL record. Washington was the first team since the merger to record more than 60 takeaways (61).
This season was cornerback Darrell Green's first in the league. He would spend 20 seasons with the team until his retirement in 2002.
The 27–12 victory on September 18 against the Kansas City Chiefs is the only win in franchise history against them as of 2023.

## Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Game recap |
| 1 | September 5 | Dallas Cowboys | L 30–31 | 0–1 | RFK Stadium | 55,045 | Recap |
| 2 | September 11 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 23–13 | 1–1 | Veterans Stadium | 69,542 | Recap |
| 3 | September 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 27–12 | 2–1 | RFK Stadium | 52,610 | Recap |
| 4 | September 25 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 27–17 | 3–1 | Kingdome | 60,718 | Recap |
| 5 | October 2 | Los Angeles Raiders | W 37–35 | 4–1 | RFK Stadium | 54,106 | Recap |
| 6 | October 9 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 38–14 | 5–1 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 42,698 | Recap |
| 7 | October 17 | at Green Bay Packers | L 47–48 | 5–2 | Lambeau Field | 55,255 | Recap |
| 8 | October 23 | Detroit Lions | W 38–17 | 6–2 | RFK Stadium | 43,189 | Recap |
| 9 | October 31 | at San Diego Chargers | W 27–24 | 7–2 | Jack Murphy Stadium | 46,114 | Recap |
| 10 | November 6 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 45–7 | 8–2 | RFK Stadium | 51,380 | Recap |
| 11 | November 13 | at New York Giants | W 33–17 | 9–2 | Giants Stadium | 71,482 | Recap |
| 12 | November 20 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 42–20 | 10–2 | Anaheim Stadium | 63,031 | Recap |
| 13 | November 27 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 28–24 | 11–2 | RFK Stadium | 54,324 | Recap |
| 14 | December 4 | Atlanta Falcons | W 37–21 | 12–2 | RFK Stadium | 52,074 | Recap |
| 15 | December 11 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 31–10 | 13–2 | Texas Stadium | 65,074 | Recap |
| 16 | December 17 | New York Giants | W 31–22 | 14–2 | RFK Stadium | 53,874 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys (1–0) | 0 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 31 |
| Redskins (0–1) | 10 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
* Date: Monday, September 5
* Game time: 9:00 p.m.(et)
* Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C), relative humidity 66, round(wind) 6.5 mph (10.5 km/h)
* Referee: Gene Barth
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell and Don Meredith
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
First quarter
Redskins - Mark Moseley 23 yard field goal - Redskins 3–0
Redskins - John Riggins 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) - Redskins 10–0
Second quarter
Cowboys - Rafael Septién 26 yard field goal - Redskins 10–3
Redskins - Mark Moseley 30 yard field goal - Redskins 13–3
Redskins - Mark Moseley 39 yard field goal - Redskins 16–3
Redskins - Charlie Brown 41 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) - Redskins 23–3
Third quarter
Cowboys - Tony Hill 75 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick) - Redskins 23–10
Cowboys - Tony Hill 51 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick) - Redskins 23–17
Fourth quarter
Cowboys - Danny White 1 yard rush (Rafael Septién kick) - Cowboys 24–23
Cowboys - Doug Cosbie 1 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick) - Cowboys 31–23
Redskins - Don Warren 1 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) - Cowboys 31–30
Passing
Cowboys – Danny White – 9/20, 193 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int, 75 Lng
Redskins – Joe Theismann – 28/38, 325 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int, 41 Lng
Rushing
Cowboys – Tony Dorsett – 14 att/151 yds, 0 TD, 77 Lng
Cowboys – Ron Springs – 9 att/32 yds, 0 TD, 8 Lng
Redskins – John Riggins – 27 att/89 yds, 1 TD, 18 Lng
Redskins – Joe Washington – 5 att/9 yds, 0 TD, 5 Lng
Receiving
Cowboys – Tony Hill – 3 Rec, 133 yds, 2 TD, 75 Lng
Cowboys – Doug Cosbie – 3 Rec, 36 yds, 1 TD, 18 Lng
Cowboys – Ron Springs – 2 Rec, 17 yds, 0 TD, 10 Lng
Cowboys – Drew Pearson – 1 Rec, 7 yds, 0 TD, 7 Lng
Redskins – Alvin Garret – 10 Rec, 101 yds, 0 TD, 21 Lng
Redskins – Charlie Brown – 6 Rec, 97 yds, 1 TD, 41 Lng
Redskins – Rick Walker – 4 Rec, 45 yds, 0 TD, 21 Lng
Redskins – Don Warren – 2 Rec, 9 yds, 1 TD, 8 Lng
Redskins – Joe Washington – 2 Rec, 28 yds, 0 TD, 15 Lng
Vegas Spread
Vegas Line= Dal -1.5
Over/Under= 41 (Over) :

#### Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins (1–1) | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 23 |
| Eagles (1–1) | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
at Veterans Stadium
* Date: Sunday, September 11, 1983
* Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C), relative humidity 57%, wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
* Referee: Chuck Heberling
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs (1–2) | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Redskins (2–1) | 0 | 0 | 17 | 10 | 27 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
* Date: Sunday, September 18, 1983
* Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 58%, wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
* Referee: Bob Frederic
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins (3–1) | 7 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
| Seahawks (2–2) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Seattle Kingdome
* Date: Sunday, September 25, 1983
* Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C)
* Referee: Fred Wyant
* TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Hank Stram
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Raiders (4–1) | 0 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 35 |
| • Redskins (4–1) | 7 | 10 | 3 | 17 | 37 |

#### Week 6: at St. Louis Cardinals

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins (5–1) | 7 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
| Cardinals (1–5) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Busch Stadium
* Date: Sunday, October 9, 1983
* Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C), relative humidity 76%, wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
* Referee: Red Cashion
* TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Hank Stram
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 7: at Green Bay Packers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins (5–2) | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 47 |
| Packers (4–3) | 10 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 48 |
at Lambeau Field
* Date: Monday, October 17, 1983
* Game time: 9:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C), relative humidity 67%, wind 10.5 mph (16.9 km/h)
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and O. J. Simpson
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
First quarter
Packers - Mike Douglass 22 yard fumble return (Jan Stenerud kick) - WAS 0, GNB 7
Redskins - Clint Didier 0 yard fumble return (Mark Moseley kick) - WAS 7, GNB 7
Packers - Jan Stenerud 47 yard field goal - WAS 7, GNB 10
Redskins - Mark Moseley 42 yard field goal - WAS 10, GNB 10
Second quarter
Packers - Paul Coffman 36 yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick) - WAS 10, GNB 17
Redskins -John Riggins 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) - WAS 17, GNB 17
Packers - Paul Coffman 9 yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick) - WAS 17, GNB 24
Redskins - Mark Moseley 28 yard field goal - WAS 20, GNB 24
Third quarter
Packers - Gerry Ellis 24 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) - WAS 20, GNB 31
Redskins - Mark Moseley 31 yard field goal - WAS 23, GNB 31
Redskins -Joe Washington 6 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) - WAS 30, GNB 31
Redskins - Mark Moseley 28 yard field goal - WAS 33, GNB 31
Fourth quarter
Packers - Gary Lewis 2 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) - WAS 33, GNB 38
Redskins - John Riggins 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) - WAS 40, GNB 38
Packers - Mike Meade 31 yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick) - WAS 40, GNB 45
Redskins - Joe Washington 5 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) - WAS 47, GNB 45
Packers - Jan Stenerud 20 yard field goal - WAS 47, GNB 48
Redskins
Passing
Joe Theismann - 27/39, 398 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int, 35 Lng
Rushing
John Riggins - 25 Att, 98 Yds, 2 TD, 36 Lng
Joe Washington - 16 Att, 80 Yds, 0 TD, 19 Lng
Joe Theismann - 1 Att, 14 Yds, 0 TD, 14 Lng
Receiving
Art Monk - 5 Rec, 105 Yds, 0 TD, 56 Lng
Charlie Brown - 6 Rec, 91 Yds, 0 TD, 20 Lng
Don Warren - 4 Rec, 70 Yds, 0 TD, 29 Lng
Joe Washington - 9 Rec, 57 Yds, 2 TD, 13 Lng
Nick Giaquinto - 2 Rec, 66 Yds, 0 TD, 35 Lng
Packers
Passing
Lynn Dickey - 22/31, 387 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int, 56 Lng
Rushing
Gerry Ellis - 3 Att, 41 Yds, 1 TD, 24 Lng
Mike Meade - 2 Att, 6 Yds, 0 TD, 9 Lng
James Lofton - 1 Att, 6 Yds, 0 TD, 6 Lng
Receiving
James Lofton - 5 Rec, 96 Yds, 0 TD, 40 Lng
John Jefferson - 4 Rec, 50 Yds, 0 TD, 19 Lng
Paul Coffman - 6 Rec, 124 Yds, 2 TD, 36 Lng
Gerry Ellis - 4 Rec, 105 Yds, 0 TD, 56 Lng
Mike Meade - 2 Rec, 35 Yds, 1 TD, 31 Lng
Vegas Spread
Vegas Line= Washington -3.0
Over/Under= 52.0(over)
Packers Defeat Redskins in 48–47 Monday Night Thriller
The Green Bay Packers were facing a major challenge as they hosted the Washington Redskins on October 17, 1983. At 3–3, Head Coach Bart Starr’s Packers were a team that could put points on the board, especially with QB Lynn Dickey (pictured above) passing to wide receivers James Lofton and John Jefferson and TE Paul Coffman. But they also gave up points and came into the game with the 28th-ranked defense in the NFL. They also had to make adjustments on the offensive line, with G Tim Huffman out with an ankle injury that necessitated moving Greg Koch over from his OT position and starting Charlie Getty at tackle.
Having a poor defense was not a good situation to be in when facing the Redskins. Coached by Joe Gibbs, they were coming off a Super Bowl-winning season and, if anything, were even stronger in ‘83. Behind the best offensive line in the league, QB Joe Theismann was a proficient passer and RB John Riggins a powerful force running the ball. If there was a weak point, it was the defensive backfield, but Washington was cruising at 5–1, with a close opening-game loss to the Cowboys the only blemish.
There were 55,255 fans in attendance for the Monday night game at Lambeau Field. Just over a minute into the first quarter, they had reason to get excited when Green Bay LB Mike Douglass forced RB Joe Washington to fumble and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown and, with Jan Stenerud’s extra point added, the early 7–0 lead.
DB Mike Nelms returned the kickoff 41 yards and the Redskins drove 55 yards in six plays, highlighted by Theismann’s pass to WR Art Monk for a 34-yard gain. The series ended with John Riggins fumbling into the end zone and TE Clint Didier recovering for a TD. Mark Moseley tied the score with his PAT.
Green Bay responded with a 10-play, 40-yard drive. Lynn Dickey threw to Paul Coffman for 17 yards and John Jefferson for 13 along the way and Stenerud kicked a 47-yard field goal that put the Packers back in front by three.
Washington moved the ball quickly downfield with Theismann connecting with Monk for a 22-yard gain and with RB Nick Giaquinto for 31 more yards. But the Green Bay defense came through with back-to-back sacks of Theismann and the Redskins had to settle for a 42-yard Moseley field goal. The eventful first quarter ended with the score tied at 10–10.
Things did not slow down as the game approached the second quarter. Dickey threw to James Lofton for 21 yards and the Packers picked up 15 more on a penalty when CB Darrell Green hit the receiver out of bounds. Dickey then tossed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Coffman. Stenerud added the extra point and the home team was back in front by 17–10.
Back came the Redskins, moving 67 yards in seven plays and highlighted by a 36-yard carry by Riggins. Riggins scored from a yard out and Moseley again knotted the score with the successful PAT.
The Packers reached the Washington 33 on the next series before a Dickey pass was intercepted by CB Anthony Washington. After getting a first down, the Redskins were finally forced to punt and Green Bay came back with a 73-yard, seven-play possession. RB Eddie Lee Ivery tossed an option pass to Coffman for 15 yards and a first down at the Washington 9 from where Coffman caught a scoring pass, this time from Dickey. Stenerud added the extra point and once again the Packers were in front by a touchdown.
With less than two minutes remaining in the half, the Redskins came out throwing. Theismann completed five passes to reach the Green Bay 11 and Moseley booted a 28-yard field goal as the clock reached five seconds. The Packers carried a 24–20 lead into the intermission.
Starting off the third quarter, the Packers struck quickly as they advanced 80 yards in just 42 seconds. Dickey threw to Coffman for 40 yards and then RB Gerry Ellis, taking advantage of a big hole, ran 24 yards for a touchdown. The home team had its biggest lead of the day at 31-20.
Washington seemed on the verge of responding with a touchdown, reaching the Green Bay four, but an offensive pass interference penalty nullified an apparent scoring catch and once again the Redskins settled for a Moseley field goal, this time from 31 yards.
Starting off the third quarter, the Packers struck quickly as they advanced 80 yards in just 42 seconds. Dickey threw to Coffman for 40 yards and then RB Gerry Ellis, taking advantage of a big hole, ran 24 yards for a touchdown. The home team had its biggest lead of the day at 31-20.
Washington seemed on the verge of responding with a touchdown, reaching the Green Bay four, but an offensive pass interference penalty nullified an apparent scoring catch and once again the Redskins settled for a Moseley field goal, this time from 31 yards.
Up by eight points, the Packers were forced to punt on their next series and Bucky Scribner’s kick was blocked to give the Redskins the ball at the Green Bay 19. Five plays later, Theismann threw to Joe Washington for a six-yard TD and, with Moseley’s PAT, the Green Bay lead was down to 31–30.
Washington’s defense again asserted itself as Dickey was sacked twice by DT Dave Butz. Nelms made a good return of the ensuing punt by Scribner to give the visitors possession at their 46. From there, the Redskins again moved deep into Green Bay territory, but after reaching the nine yard line, Douglass tackled Joe Washington for a loss and once again Washington was held to a field goal. Still, Moseley connected from 28 yards and put the visitors ahead by 33–31 with ten seconds left in the period.
RB Harlan Huckleby returned the ensuing kickoff for 54 yards to the Washington 39 and the fourth quarter started with Dickey throwing to Ellis for 32 yards. Shortly thereafter, TE Gary Lewis scored a touchdown from two yards out on an end-around that put the Packers back in front.
The Redskins came right back again as Theismann threw to Monk for 25 yards and WR Charlie Brown for another 15. Riggins blasted into the end zone from a yard out and Washington was again in the lead of the wildly back-and-forth contest.
The Packers responded with another score of their own, with Dickey completing passes covering 19 yards to Jefferson and 17 yards to Lofton. An 11-yard touchdown pass to FB Mike Meade, followed by Stenerud’s extra point, again put Green Bay in front at 45–40.
Now it was Washington’s turn again. Theismann (pictured at right) threw to Monk for 21 yards and Joe Washington ran for two first downs. A sack of Theismann by DE Byron Braggs momentarily derailed the Redskins, but a pass to Giaquinto picked up 35 yards and set up a five-yard scoring toss to Washington. Moseley added the point and, with 2:50 left on the clock, the visitors were back on top at 47-45.
It looked bleak for the Packers when, following the kickoff, Dickey tossed two incomplete passes. But then he found Ellis on a short pass over the middle that turned into a 56-yard gain to the Washington eight and, after conservatively running the ball into the line three times, the dependable Stenerud came on to kick a 20-yard field goal. It was the fifth lead change of the final period and put the Packers ahead by a point.
There were still 54 seconds remaining in the contest, however, and while the Redskins had no timeouts remaining, they quickly moved the ball down the field. Theismann completed three passes to Joe Washington, gaining a total of 33 yards, and the running back made it out of bounds after each. Theismann then threw to Brown for 22 yards, but the clock was still running and the quarterback had to hurriedly toss a pass out of bounds with three seconds to go. On the last play of the game, Moseley missed a 39-yard field goal attempt, the fans erupted, and the Packers came away with the 48–47 win.
The combined 95 points was a new high for Monday Night Football until it was broken on November 19, 2018 when the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams combined to score 105 points. The teams also combined for 1025 yards of offense, with the Redskins topping Green Bay by 552 to 473. They had more first downs (33 to 23). Each team turned the ball over once, and there were just three punts in all (one by Washington, two for Green Bay, one of which was blocked by the Redskins).
“It was about the wildest thing I’ve ever been in,” said Lynn Dickey. “I wish I had been in the stands or at home watching on tv, it was that good.”
“It was a tremendously inspirational win because you could see the sort of enthusiasm and intensity that was on display tonight,” said Bart Starr. “You have to salute both teams because Washington, for the reasons demonstrated on the field, is a world-championship team. They are magnificent.” :

#### Week 8: vs. Detroit Lions

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions (3–5) | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Redskins (6–2) | 14 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 38 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
* Date: Sunday, October 23, 1983
* Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C), relative humidity 85%, wind 8 mph (13 km/h)
* Referee: Jerry Markbreit
* TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 9: at San Diego Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins (7–2) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Chargers (3–6) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
at Jack Murphy Stadium
* Date: Monday, October 31, 1983
* Game time: 9:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 73%, wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 10: vs. St. Louis Cardinals

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals (3–6–1) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Redskins (8–2) | 7 | 10 | 21 | 7 | 45 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
* Date: Sunday, November 6, 1983
* Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C), relative humidity 72%, wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
* Referee: Gordon McCarter
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 11: at New York Giants

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins (9–2) | 13 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 33 |
| Giants (2–8–1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
at The Meadowlands
* Date: Sunday, November 13, 1983
* Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C), relative humidity 55%, wind 19 mph (31 km/h), wind chill 27 °F (−3 °C)
* Referee: Chuck Heberling
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 12: at Los Angeles Rams

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins (10–2) | 10 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 42 |
| Rams (7–5) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
at Anaheim Stadium
* Date: Sunday, November 20, 1983
* Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), relative humidity 68%, wind 15 mph (24 km/h)
* Referee: Fred Wyant
* TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles (4–9) | 0 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Redskins (11–2) | 7 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
* Date: Sunday, November 27, 1983
* Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), relative humidity 59%, wind 5 mph (8.0 km/h)
* Referee: Jerry Seeman
* TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Hank Stram
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons (6–8) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
| Redskins (12–2) | 7 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 37 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
* Date: Sunday, December 4, 1983
* Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
* Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C), relative humidity 76%, wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
* Referee: Tom Dooley
* TV announcers (CBS): Jim Hill and Tom Brookshier
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

#### Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Redskins (13–2) | 14 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| Cowboys (12–3) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |

#### Week 16: vs. New York Giants

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants (3–12–1) | 3 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 22 |
| Redskins (14–2) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 31 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
* Date: Saturday, December 17, 1983
* Game time: 12:30pm(ET)
* Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C), relative humidity 50%, wind 8.2 mph (13.2 km/h)
* Referee: Gordon McCarter
* TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
First quarter
Giants - Ali Haji-Sheikh 20 yard field goal - NYG 3, Wash 0
Second quarter
Redskins - Charlie Brown 17 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) - NYG 3, Wash 7
Giants - Ali Haji-Sheikh 39 yard field goal - NYG 6, Wash 7
Giants - Ali Haji-Sheikh 19 yard field goal - NYG 9, Wash 7
Giants - Ali Haji-Sheikh 45 yard field goal - NYG 12, Wash 7
Third quarter
Giants - Joe Morris 6 yard pass from Jeff Rutledge (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick) - NYG 19, Wash 7
Redskins - Joe Theismann 3 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) - NYG 19, Wash 14
Fourth quarter
Redskins - Mark Moseley 46 yard field goal - NYG 19, Wash 17
Giants - Ali Haji-Sheikh 28 yard field goal - NYG 22, Wash 17
Redskins - Clint Didier 7 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) - NYG 22, Wash 24
Redskins - John Riggins 2 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) - NYG 22, Wash 31
Vegas Spread
Vegas Line= Wash -15.5
Over/Under= 44.5(Over) :

## Playoffs

| Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Venue | Attendance | Game recap |
| Divisional | January 1, 1984 | Los Angeles Rams (5) | W 51–7 | RFK Stadium | 55,363 | Recap |
| Conference Championship | January 8, 1984 | San Francisco 49ers (2) | W 24–21 | RFK Stadium | 55,363 | Recap |
| Super Bowl XVIII | January 22, 1984 | Los Angeles Raiders (A1) | L 9–38 | Tampa Stadium | 72,920 | Recap |

### January 1, 1984
#### NFC: Washington Redskins 51, Los Angeles Rams 7

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Redskins | 17 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 51 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.
* Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C), mostly cloudy
* Game attendance: 54,440
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden

### January 8, 1984
#### NFC Championship: Washington Redskins 24, San Francisco 49ers 21

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
| Redskins | 0 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.
* Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C), mostly cloudy
* Game attendance: 55,363
* Referee: Jerry Markbreit
* TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden

## Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins (NFC) | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| Raiders (AFC) | 7 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 38 |
at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
* Date: January 22, 1984
* Game attendance: 72,920
* Referee: Gene Barth
* TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden

## Standings

NFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Washington Redskins$^{(1)}$ | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 541 | 332 | W9 |
| Dallas Cowboys$^{(4)}$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 479 | 360 | L2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–4–1 | 5–6–1 | 374 | 428 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–7 | 4–10 | 233 | 322 | L2 |
| New York Giants | 3 | 12 | 1 | .219 | 1–6–1 | 3–8–1 | 267 | 347 | L4 |

## Awards and records

* Joe Gibbs, National Football League Coach of the Year Award
* John Riggins, Bert Bell Award
* Joe Theismann, AP NFL MVP
* Joe Theismann, PFWA NFL MVP
* Joe Theismann, NEA NFL MVP
* Joe Theismann, National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award
* John Riggins, 1,347 Rushing Yards and set record with 24 rushing TDs (Held the TD record for 12 Years)
* Team scoring: 541 points (Held record until 1998)
* Turnover differential: +43 (Record still stands today. Next closest is Cleveland with +33 in 1946.)