The 1991 season was the Washington Redskins' 60th in the National Football League (NFL), their 55th representing Washington, D.C., and the eleventh under head coach Joe Gibbs.
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The Redskins were coming off two consecutive 10–6 seasons and looking to return to the playoffs for a second straight season. Not only did the Redskins improve their position, but they also put together a season that is considered by some to be one of the best any team has ever played. Washington won a franchise record-tying 14 games, the best record in the league, and their two losses (to two of their division rivals) were by a combined five points. The Redskins ended their campaign as world champions, knocking off the defending AFC Champion Buffalo Bills 37–24, in Super Bowl XXVI.
The Redskins led the league in scoring with 485 points and allowed the second-fewest points (224) in the league in 1991.[1] (As of the 1991 season, this was the third-highest total in NFL history, and still ranks in the top 20 all-time.) They had a +18 turnover ratio, also best in the NFL. In 2016, Chris Chase of USA Today ranked the team as the greatest to ever win a Super Bowl.[2] As of 2023, this is Washington's most recent appearance in the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. In addition, this is also Washington's most recent season winning more than 10 regular season games.
Statistics site Football Outsiders ranks the 1991 Redskins as the best team they have measured (from 1986 to present).[3][4] The team ranked No. 15 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.[5][6]
Quarterback Mark Rypien had an outstanding year. His 8.5 yards per pass attempt was second in the league, and his 3,564 passing yards were best in the NFC and fourth in the league. Running back Earnest Byner's 1,048 rushing yards were 5th best in the NFL.[7] The Redskins had two wide receivers who went over 1,000 yards receiving in 1991: Gary Clark (1,340) and Art Monk (1,049).[8]
The Redskins beat the Buffalo Bills 37–24 to win Super Bowl XXVI. The team is also the last Super Bowl champion to never trail in any of their playoff victories. The Redskins' Super Bowl XXVI win was their first in a non-strike season.[9] With the championship, coach Joe Gibbs also became the first head coach to win three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks.[10]
In 2007, ESPN.com ranked the 1991 Redskins as the 4th greatest team in NFL history,[11] noting, "you can look at two stats to get a pretty good idea of just how great a team is: yards gained per pass attempt, and yards allowed per pass attempt. The 1991 'Skins topped the NFL in each category, with Mark Rypien averaging 8.5 yards per attempt, while his colleagues on Washington's defense allowed only 6 yards per attempt.... The 'Skins outscored their opponents 485–224, and they had a tough schedule. After going 14–2, they romped through the NFC playoffs, beating the Falcons 24–7 and demolishing the Lions 41–10 on their way to the Super Bowl. In the Big Game, the 'Skins beat the cursed early-1990s Bills 37–24."
Statistics site Football Outsiders has ranked the 1991 Redskins as the greatest team in their ratings history,[12] stating that the team "may have been the most well-rounded team in NFL history. [...] A lot of the best teams in NFL history got a little extra boost by picking on an easy schedule, but not Washington. They had an average schedule, and a harder-than-average schedule of opposing defenses. One reason for that: 1991 was not only the year of the best overall team in [their rating system's] history. It was also the year of the best defense in [their system's] history, which showed up on Washington's schedule twice: the 1991 Philadelphia Eagles."
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Staff
1991 Washington Redskins staff
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Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
- Special teams – Wayne Sevier
Strength and conditioning
- Strength – Dan Riley
- Assistant strength – Steve Wetzel
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[13]
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Note: Division opponents are bolded
Schedule
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Game summaries
Week 1
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Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Lions |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Redskins |
21 |
14 |
7 | 3 | 45 |
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Week 2
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Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins |
7 |
13 |
3 | 10 | 33 |
Cowboys |
14 |
7 |
3 | 7 | 31 |
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Week 3
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Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Redskins |
7 |
7 |
14 | 6 | 34 |
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Week 4
Washington would not beat the Bengals again until 2020.
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins |
3 |
21 |
3 | 7 | 34 |
Bengals |
7 |
3 |
14 | 3 | 27 |
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Week 5
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Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Eagles |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Redskins |
0 |
10 |
3 | 10 | 23 |
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Week 6
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Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins |
0 |
10 |
0 | 10 | 20 |
Bears |
0 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
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Week 7
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Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Browns |
7 |
0 |
10 | 0 | 17 |
Redskins |
7 |
14 |
7 | 14 | 42 |
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Week 9
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Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins |
0 |
0 |
7 | 10 | 17 |
Giants |
10 |
3 |
0 | 0 | 13 |
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Week 10
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Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Oilers |
0 |
6 |
0 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
Redskins |
0 |
3 |
3 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
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Week 11
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Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Falcons |
3 |
0 |
14 | 0 | 17 |
Redskins |
7 |
21 |
7 | 21 | 56 |
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Scoring summary |
Quarter |
Time |
Drive |
Team |
Scoring information |
Score |
Plays |
Yards |
TOP |
ATL |
WSH |
1 |
9:52 |
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Falcons |
31-yard field goal by Johnson |
3 |
0 |
1 |
5:43 |
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Redskins |
Orr 9-yard touchdown reception from Rypien, Lohmiller kick good |
3 |
7 |
2 |
7:28 |
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Redskins |
Clark 61-yard touchdown reception from Rypien, Lohmiller kick good |
3 |
14 |
2 |
1:55 |
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Redskins |
Rypien 4-yard touchdown run, Lohmiller kick good |
3 |
21 |
2 |
0:37 |
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Redskins |
Clark 19-yard touchdown reception from Rypien, Lohmiller kick good |
3 |
28 |
3 |
14:41 |
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Falcons |
Haynes 75-yard touchdown reception from Tolliver, Johnson kick good |
10 |
28 |
3 |
12:18 |
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Falcons |
Rison 15-yard touchdown reception from Tolliver, Johnson kick good |
17 |
28 |
3 |
10:13 |
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|
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Redskins |
Monk 19-yard touchdown reception from Rypien, Lohmiller kick good |
17 |
35 |
4 |
12:12 |
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Redskins |
Clark 82-yard touchdown reception from Rypien, Lohmiller kick good |
17 |
42 |
4 |
10:00 |
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Redskins |
Monk 64-yard touchdown reception from Rypien, Lohmiller kick good |
17 |
49 |
4 |
0:52 |
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Redskins |
Interception returned 15 yards for touchdown by Collins, Lohmiller kick good |
17 |
56 |
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. |
17 |
56 |
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Week 12
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Redskins |
7 |
10 | 10 | 14 |
41 |
Steelers |
0 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
14 |
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Week 13
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Cowboys |
0 |
14 | 0 | 10 |
24 |
Redskins |
7 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
21 |
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Week 14
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Redskins |
7 |
0 | 14 | 6 |
27 |
Rams |
3 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
6 |
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Week 15
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Redskins |
0 |
0 | 14 | 6 |
20 |
Cardinals |
0 |
14 | 0 | 0 |
14 |
|
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Week 16
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Giants |
3 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
17 |
• Redskins |
7 |
17 | 3 | 7 |
34 |
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Week 17
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins |
3 |
10 | 3 | 6 |
22 |
• Eagles |
7 |
0 | 0 | 17 |
24 |
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Standings
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Schedule
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Game summaries
NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs Atlanta Falcons
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Falcons |
0 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
Redskins |
0 |
14 |
3 | 7 | 24 |
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NFC Divisional Playoffs: Atlanta Falcons at Washington Redskins
at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.
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NFC Championship Game: vs Detroit Lions
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Lions |
0 |
10 |
0 | 0 | 10 |
Redskins |
10 |
7 |
10 | 14 | 41 |
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NFC Championship Game: Detroit Lions vs Washington Redskins
at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.
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Super Bowl XXVI: vs Buffalo Bills
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins |
0 |
17 |
14 | 6 | 37 |
Bills |
0 |
0 |
10 | 14 | 24 |
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Passing
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Rushing
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Receiving
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Player |
G |
Rec. |
Yards |
Y/G |
Avg. |
TD |
Art Monk | 16 | 71 | 1,049 | 65.6 | 14.8 | 8 |
Gary Clark | 16 | 70 | 1,340 | 83.8 | 19.1 | 10 |
Ricky Sanders | 16 | 45 | 580 | 36.3 | 12.9 | 5 |
Earnest Byner | 16 | 34 | 308 | 19.3 | 9.1 | 0 |
Ricky Ervins | 16 | 16 | 181 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 1 |
Terry Orr | 16 | 10 | 201 | 12.6 | 20.1 | 4 |
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Kicking
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Awards and records
Milestones
- November 10, 1991 – Mark Rypien threw for 442 yards and 6 touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons, despite being taken out of the game in the middle of the 4th quarter;[14] when Atlanta did the same, their third-string quarterback, a rookie named Brett Favre, made his NFL debut – and his first pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. On that same day, Warren Moon of the Houston Oilers threw for over 400 yards as well in an overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Best team ever
In 2010, ESPN conducted a "super league," consisting of the best Super Bowl winning teams of all time; the 1991 Redskins finished the regular season in first place with a record of 14-2 and beat the 1992 Dallas Cowboys in the "Super Bowl" to be named the greatest team of all time.[15] Football Outsiders also has them ranked as the best Super Bowl-winning team in NFL history based on their advanced analysis.[16]
Team Efficiency Ratings 1991
The Redskins previously won the Super Bowl after the 1982 and 1987 seasons, both shortened by strikes
Washington Redskins 1991 Press Guide. pp. 3–36.