1991 Washington Redskins season

1991 Washington Redskins season
OwnerJack Kent Cooke
PresidentJohn Kent Cooke
General managerCharley Casserly
Head coachJoe Gibbs
Offensive coordinatorJoe Gibbs
Defensive coordinatorRichie Petitbon
Home stadiumRFK Stadium
Results
Record14–2
Division place1st NFC East
PlayoffsWon Divisional Round
(vs. Falcons) 24–7
Won NFC Championship
(vs. Lions) 41–10
Won Super Bowl XXVI
(vs. Bills) 37–24
All-Pros
9
Pro Bowlers
8

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.

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, which was an average of 14 points per game.[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. Their point differential of +261 was the best in franchise history, and the sixth-highest of all time.[2][3] In 2016, Chris Chase of USA Today ranked the team as the greatest to ever win a Super Bowl.[4] As of 2024, this is the most recent season Washington appeared in a Super Bowl. They would not return to the NFC Championship Game or win more than 10 regular season games again until the 2024 season, by which time the team had changed its name.

Statistics site Football Outsiders ranks the 1991 Redskins as the best team they have measured (from 1986 to present).[5][6] The team ranked No. 15 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.[7][8]

The season

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.[9] The Redskins had two wide receivers who went over 1,000 yards receiving in 1991: Gary Clark (1,340) and Art Monk (1,049).[10]

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.[11] With the championship, coach Joe Gibbs also became the first head coach to win three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks.[12]

In 2007, ESPN.com ranked the 1991 Redskins as the 4th greatest team in NFL history,[13] 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,[14] 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."

Draft

Main article: 1991 NFL draft
1991 Washington Redskins draft
Round Pick Player Position College
1 17 Bobby Wilson DT Michigan St.
3 76 Ricky Ervins RB USC
6 159 Dennis Ransom TE Texas A&M
7 188 Keith Cash TE Texas
8 215 Jimmy Spencer DB Florida
9 243 Charles Bell DB Baylor
10 270 Cris Shale P Bowling Green
11 299 David Gulledge DB Jacksonville St.
12 326 Keenan McCardell WR UNLV

Personnel

Staff

1991 Washington Redskins staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Wayne Sevier

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength – Dan Riley
  • Assistant strength – Steve Wetzel

[15]

Roster

1991 Washington Redskins roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Practice squad

Reserve

47 active, 12 inactive, 5 practice squad
Rookies in italics

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 4 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–16 0–1 Three Rivers Stadium Recap
2 August 10 at New England Patriots W 27–6 1–1 Foxboro Stadium Recap
3 August 16 Cleveland Browns L 21–24 (OT) 1–2 RFK Stadium Recap
4 August 24 vs. New York Jets L 9–13 1–3 Williams–Brice Stadium Recap

Regular season

Note: Division opponents are bolded

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 1 Detroit Lions W 45–0 1–0 RFK Stadium Recap
2 September 9 at Dallas Cowboys W 33–31 2–0 Texas Stadium Recap
3 September 15 Phoenix Cardinals W 34–0 3–0 RFK Stadium Recap
4 September 22 at Cincinnati Bengals W 34–27 4–0 Riverfront Stadium Recap
5 September 30 Philadelphia Eagles W 23–0 5–0 RFK Stadium Recap
6 October 6 at Chicago Bears W 20–7 6–0 Soldier Field Recap
7 October 13 Cleveland Browns W 42–17 7–0 RFK Stadium Recap
8 Bye
9 October 27 at New York Giants W 17–13 8–0 Giants Stadium Recap
10 November 3 Houston Oilers W 16–13 (OT) 9–0 RFK Stadium Recap
11 November 10 Atlanta Falcons W 56–17 10–0 RFK Stadium Recap
12 November 17 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 41–14 11–0 Three Rivers Stadium Recap
13 November 24 Dallas Cowboys L 21–24 11–1 RFK Stadium Recap
14 December 1 at Los Angeles Rams W 27–6 12–1 Anaheim Stadium Recap
15 December 8 at Phoenix Cardinals W 20–14 13–1 Sun Devil Stadium Recap
16 December 15 New York Giants W 34–17 14–1 RFK Stadium Recap
17 December 22 at Philadelphia Eagles L 22–24 14–2 Veterans Stadium Recap

Game summaries

Week 1

See also: 1991 Detroit Lions season
Week 1: Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 000
Redskins 21 14 7345

at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

Game information

Week 2

See also: 1991 Dallas Cowboys season
Week 2: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redskins 7 13 31033
Cowboys 14 7 3731

at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas

Game information

Week 3

See also: 1991 Phoenix Cardinals season
Week 3: Phoenix Cardinals at Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 000
Redskins 7 7 14634

at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

Game information

Week 4

See also: 1991 Cincinnati Bengals season

Washington would not beat the Bengals again until 2020.

Week 4: Washington Redskins at Cincinnati Bengals
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redskins 3 21 3734
Bengals 7 3 14327

at Riverfront Stadium • Cincinnati

Game information

Week 5

See also: 1991 Philadelphia Eagles season
Week 5: Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Eagles 0 0 000
Redskins 0 10 31023

at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

Game information

Week 6

See also: 1991 Chicago Bears season
Week 6: Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 10 01020
Bears 0 0 707

at Soldier Field • Chicago

Game information

Week 7

See also: 1991 Cleveland Browns season
Week 7: Cleveland Browns at Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Browns 7 0 10017
Redskins 7 14 71442

at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

Game information

Week 9

See also: 1991 New York Giants season
Week 9: Washington Redskins at New York Giants
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 0 71017
Giants 10 3 0013

at Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

Week 10

See also: 1991 Houston Oilers season
Week 10: Houston Oilers at Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Oilers 0 6 07013
Redskins 0 3 37316

at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

Game information

Week 11

See also: 1991 Atlanta Falcons season
Week 11: Atlanta Falcons at Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 0 14017
Redskins 7 21 72156

at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

Game information

Week 12

Team 1 234Total
• Redskins 7 101014 41
Steelers 0 0014 14

Week 13

Team 1 234Total
• Cowboys 0 14010 24
Redskins 7 0014 21

Week 14

Team 1 234Total
• Redskins 7 0146 27
Rams 3 300 6

Week 15

Team 1 234Total
• Redskins 0 0146 20
Cardinals 0 1400 14

Week 16

Team 1 234Total
Giants 3 770 17
• Redskins 7 1737 34

Week 17

Team 1 234Total
Redskins 3 1036 22
• Eagles 7 0017 24

Standings

NFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(1) 14 2 0 .875 6–2 10–2 485 224 L1
(5) Dallas Cowboys 11 5 0 .688 5–3 8–4 342 310 W5
Philadelphia Eagles 10 6 0 .625 5–3 6–6 285 244 W1
New York Giants 8 8 0 .500 3–5 5–7 281 297 W1
Phoenix Cardinals 4 12 0 .250 1–7 3–11 196 344 L8

Playoffs

Main article: 1991–92 NFL playoffs

Schedule

Week Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap
Divisional January 4 Atlanta Falcons (6) W 24–7 1–0 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Recap
Championship January 12 Detroit Lions (2) W 41–10 2–0 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Recap
Super Bowl XXVI January 26 Buffalo Bills (A1) W 37–24 3–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap

Game summaries

NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs Atlanta Falcons

NFC Divisional Playoffs: Atlanta Falcons at Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 7 007
Redskins 0 14 3724

at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

Game information

NFC Championship Game: vs Detroit Lions

NFC Championship Game: Detroit Lions vs Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 10 0010
Redskins 10 7 101441

at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

Super Bowl XXVI: vs Buffalo Bills

Super Bowl XXVI: Washington Redskins vs. Buffalo Bills
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 17 14637
Bills 0 0 101424

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, Minnesota

Statistics

Passing

Player G Comp. Att. Pct. Yds. TD INT
Mark Rypien 16 249 421 59.1 3,564 28 11
Jeff Rutledge 16 11 22 50.0 189 1 0

Rushing

Player G Att. Yards Avg. TD
Earnest Byner 16 274 1,048 3.8 5
Ricky Ervins 15 145 680 4.7 3
Gerald Riggs 16 78 248 3.2 11

Receiving

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

Kicking

Player FGM FGA Pct. XPM XPA Pct.
Chip Lohmiller 31 43 72.1 56 56 100.0

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;[16] 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.

Legacy

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.[17] Football Outsiders also has them ranked as the best Super Bowl-winning team in NFL history based on their advanced analysis.[18]

References

  1. ^ "1991 Washington Redskins Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  2. ^ "Commanders Point Differential In 1991". StatMuse. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  3. ^ "Best Point Differential By An NFL Team In A Season". StatMuse. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  4. ^ Chase, Chris (January 27, 2016). "Ranking all 49 Super Bowl champions, from best to worst". USA Today. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  5. ^ Football Outsiders: 1991 DVOA Ratings and Commentary, published July 16, 2012, spanning 1991–2011 seasons.
  6. ^ [1] Team Efficiency Ratings 1991
  7. ^ "NFL Top 100 Teams". Pro Football Reference.
  8. ^ "100 Greatest Teams: Numbers 100-1 SUPERCUT". NFL.com.
  9. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1991 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards
  10. ^ Pro-Football-Reference: 1991 Washington Redskins
  11. ^ The Redskins previously won the Super Bowl after the 1982 and 1987 seasons, both shortened by strikes
  12. ^ Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien
  13. ^ ESPN.com, Page 2 – The List: Greatest NFL teams of all time, 2007
  14. ^ Football Outsiders: 1991 DVOA Ratings and Commentary, published July 16, 2012, spanning 1991–2011 seasons.
  15. ^ Washington Redskins 1991 Press Guide. pp. 3–36.
  16. ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  17. ^ https://promo.espn.com/espn/promotions/nfl/superleague/?gameId=121 [2] "Redskins win on dramatic final play"
  18. ^ "Historical DVOA Estimates | Football Outsiders". www.footballoutsiders.com. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
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