The Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 51st season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 46th in Washington, D.C. Although the Redskins lost all their preseason games, they advanced from an 8–8 record the previous season to become the first team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl after not winning a pre-season game (this would be repeated by the Los Angeles Rams 39 years later). The 1990 Buffalo Bills and 2000 New York Giants also reached the Super Bowl after a winless pre-season, but they did not win it.

The 1982 NFL season was shortened from sixteen games per team to nine because of a players’ strike. The NFL adopted a special 16-team playoff tournament; division standings were ignored, and the top eight teams from each conference earned playoff berths with seeds corresponding to their position in the conference standings. With the best record in the NFC, Washington received the number one seed in the conference for the playoff tournament. Although they and the Los Angeles Raiders had identical 8–1 records, the Redskins were the best in the league because they had a +62-point differential, which was 2 more than the Raiders.

The Redskins marched through the NFC playoffs, beating each of their opponents by an average of 19 points. In a rematch of Washington's only prior Super Bowl appearance ten years prior, the Redskins—in a game famous for Washington's "70 Chip" play on fourth-and-1—went on to beat the Miami Dolphins 27–17 to win Super Bowl XVII. It was the Redskins’ first ever Super Bowl victory, and their first NFL Championship in 40 years. Combining the post-season and their first Super Bowl victory, the Redskins finished the season with an overall record of 12–1.

NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled Hail To The Redskins; it was narrated by John Facenda. On March 22, 2007, NFL Network aired America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, the 1982 Washington Redskins, with team commentary from Russ Grimm, Joe Theismann and Rick Walker, and narrated by Alec Baldwin.

Offseason

NFL draft

1982 Washington Redskins draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 14 Traded to L.A. Rams 2 41 Traded to New England from San Francisco 49 Vernon Dean CB San Diego State from San Diego via L.A. Rams 3 61 Carl Powell WR Jackson State from L.A. Rams 68 Traded to New Orleans 4 99 Todd Liebenstein DE UNLV 5 125 Traded to St. Louis 133 Mike Williams TE Alabama A&M from Buffalo 6 153 Lemont Holt Jeffers LB Tennessee 7 180 John Schachtner LB Northern Arizona 8 211 Traded to Cleveland 223 Ralph Warthen DT Gardner-Webb from San Francisco via New Orleans9 226 Ken Coffey S Southwest Texas State from New Orleans 238 Randy Trautman DT Boise State 10 254 Harold Smith DE Kentucky State 265 Terry Daniels CB Tennessee 11 281 Dan Miller K Miami (FL) from New Orleans 291 Bob Holly QB Princeton 12 309 Donald Laster OT Tennessee State From New Orleans 322 Jeff Goff LB Arkansas

Undrafted free agents

+ 1982 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeJohn AndreoliLinebackerHoly CrossKirk WilsonCornerbackIndiana State

Personnel Coaches / Staff

Final roster

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Time TV Record Game site Attendance NFL.comrecap 1 at Miami Dolphins 8:00p.m. EDT WJLA-TV L 7–24 0–1 Orange Bowl Recap 2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7:00p.m. EDT WJLA-TV L 13–28 0–2 Tampa Stadium Recap 3 Buffalo Bills 7:30p.m. EDT WJLA-TV L 14–20 0–3 RFK Stadium Recap 4 at Cincinnati Bengals 7:30p.m. EDT WJLA-TV L 21–28 0–4 Riverfront Stadium Recap

Preseason Game summaries

Week P1 (Saturday, August 14, 1982): at Miami Dolphins

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

RedskinsGame statisticsDolphins First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession

Week P2 (Saturday, August 21, 1982): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game: 2 hours, 45 minutes

RedskinsGame statisticsBuccaneers14 First downs 2031–134 Rushes–yards 34–143136 Passing yards 25016–27–2 18–27–01–10 Sacked–yards 3–15126 Net passing yards 235260 Total yards 378143 Return yards 446–44.0 6–36.74–2 Fumbles–lost 2–27–63 Penalties–yards 4–3027:56 Time of possession 32:04

Week P3 (Friday, August 27, 1982): vs. Buffalo Bills

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

BillsGame statisticsRedskins First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession

Week P4 (Friday, September 3, 1982): at Cincinnati Bengals

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

RedskinsGame statisticsBengals First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession

Regular season

Schedule Week Date Opponent Time TV Result Record Game site Attendance NFL.comrecap 1 at Philadelphia Eagles 1:00p.m. EDT CBS W 37–34 1–0 Veterans Stadium Recap 2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4:00p.m. EDT CBS W 21–13 2–0 Tampa Stadium66,187Recap St. Louis Cardinals Postponed until January 2, 1983 due to the NFLPA Players' strike Cleveland Browns Cancelled due to the NFLPA Players' strike † at Dallas Cowboys Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers San Francisco 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals Minnesota Vikings 3 at New York Giants 4:00p.m. EST CBS W 27–17 3–0 Giants Stadium Recap 4 Philadelphia Eagles 1:00p.m. EST CBS W 13–9 4–0 RFK Stadium Recap 5 Dallas Cowboys 4:00p.m. EST CBS L 10–24 4–1 RFK Stadium Recap 6 at St. Louis Cardinals 1:00p.m. EST CBS W 12–7 5–1 Busch Memorial Stadium Recap 7 New York Giants 1:00p.m. EST CBS W 15–14 6–1 RFK Stadium Recap 8 at New Orleans Saints 4:00p.m. EST CBS W 27–10 7–1 Louisiana Superdome Recap 9 St. Louis Cardinals 1:00p.m. EST CBS W 28–0 8–1 RFK Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Regular season game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday, September 12, 1982): at Philadelphia Eagles The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Jun-28.

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game: 3 hours, 22 minutes

RedskinsGame statisticsEagles26 First downs 2530–114 Rushes–yards 27–101382 Passing yards 37128–39–0 27–38–01–9 Sacked–yards 6–46373 Net passing yards 325487 Total yards 426185 Return yards 584–32.3 4–43.53–2 Fumbles–lost 1–15–61 Penalties–yards 6–3936:02 Time of possession 28:45

Individual stats Passing: Theismann – 28/39, 382 YDS, 3 TDs Rushing: Riggins – 20 CAR, 66 YDS, 1 TD; Theismann – 3 CAR, 18 YDS; Harmon – 2 CAR, 16 YDS; Monk – 1 CAR, 8 YDS; Jackson – 4 CAR, 6 YDS Receiving: Monk – 8 REC, 134 YDS, 1 TD; Brown – 5 REC, 97 YDS, 2 TDs; Warren – 4 REC, 73 YDS; Harmon – 3 REC, 38 YDS; Williams – 3 REC, 14 YDS; Riggins – 3 REC, 3 YDS; Walker – 1 REC, 14 YDS; Jackson – 1 REC, 9 YDS Kicking: Moseley – 4/4 PAT, 3/3 FG Punting: Hayes – 4 PUNTS, 129 YDS Kickoff Return: Nelms – 7 KR, 152 YDS Punt Return: Nelms – 3 PR, 33 YDS Sacks: Manley – 2.0; McGee – 1.5; Brooks – 1.0; Olkewicz – 1.0; Butz – 0.5

Week 2 (Sunday, September 19, 1982): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Jun-28.

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game: 2 hours, 55 minutes

RedskinsGame statisticsBuccaneers18 First downs 1445–177 Rushes–yards 28–101112 Passing yards 19912–20–0 14–27–06–41 Sacked–yards 2–2271 Net passing yards 177248 Total yards 27876 Return yards 1497–40.6 6–31.71–0 Fumbles–lost 5–43–23 Penalties–yards 5–3236:37 Time of possession 23:23

Individual stats Passing: Theismann – 12/29, 112 YDS, 1 TD Rushing: Riggins – 34 CAR, 136 YDS; Wonsley – 6 CAR, 22 YDS; Harmon – 3 CAR, 13 YDS; Theismann – 2 CAR, 6 YDS Receiving: Monk – 4 REC, 41 YDS; Brown – 3 REC, 33 YDS; Riggins – 2 REC, 15 YDS; Warren – 2 REC, 15 YDS; Didier – 1 REC, 8 YDS Kicking: Moseley – 0/2 PAT, 3/3 FG Punting: Hayes – 7 PUNTS, 284 YDS Kickoff Return: Nelms – 2 KR, 41 YDS; Williams – 1 KR, 2 YDS Punt Return: Nelms – 4 PR, 33 YDS Sacks: Manley – 1.0; McGee – 1.0

Week 3 (Sunday, November 21, 1982): at New York Giants The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Jun-28.

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

RedskinsGame statisticsGiants19 First downs 2040–139 Rushes–yards 31–136185 Passing yards 16916–24–0 14–28–11–12 Sacked–yards 3–18173 Net passing yards 151312 Total yards 287148 Return yards 934–41.0 4–44.02–0 Fumbles–lost 3–05–35 Penalties–yards 4–2525:39 Time of possession 34:21

Individual stats Passing: Theismann – 16/24, 185 YDS, 2 TDs Rushing: Riggins – 28 CAR, 70 YDS, 1 TD; Harmon – 4 CAR, 33 YDS; Theismann – 4 CAR, 19 YDS; Monk – 2 CAR, 14 YDS; Washington – 1 CAR, 2 YDS; Wonsley – 1 CAR, 1 YD Receiving: Monk – 6 REC, 42 YDS; Brown – 3 REC, 27 YDS, 1 TD; Seay – 2 REC, 71 TDS; Riggins – 2 REC, 3 YDS; Harmon – 1 REC, 7 YDS; Warren – 1 REC, 4 YDS; Wonsley – 1 REC, 1 YD Kicking: Moseley – 3/3 PAT, 2/2 FG Punting: Hayes – 4 PUNTS, 164 YDS Kickoff Return: Nelms – 4 KR, 127 YDS Punt Return: Nelms – 3 PR, 23 YDS Sacks: Butz – 1.0; Manley – 1.0; McGee – 1.0 Interceptions: Manley – 1 INT, –2 YDS

Week 4 (Sunday, November 28, 1982): vs. Philadelphia Eagles The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Jun-28.

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game: 2 hours, 57 minutes

EaglesGame statisticsRedskins17 First downs 1523–101 Rushes–yards 31–61233 Passing yards 25018–42–4 14–28–22–15 Sacked–yards 4–25218 Net passing yards 225319 Total yards 29585 Return yards 1205–36.0 7–27.74–1 Fumbles–lost 2–11–5 Penalties–yards 4–3027:24 Time of possession 32:36

Individual stats Passing: Theismann – 14/28, 259 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing: Riggins – 20 CAR, 52 YDS; Walker – 2 CAR, 11 YDS; Washington – 1 CAR, 3 YDS; Theismann – 7 CAR, 1 YD; Monk – 1 CAR, –6 YDS Receiving: Warren – 4 REC, 34 YDS; Brown – 3 REC, 124 YDS, 1 TD; Seay – 2 REC, 37 YDS; Harmon – 2 REC, 14 YDS; Giaquinto – 1 REC, 29 YDS; Riggins – 1 REC, 11 YDS; Monk – 1 REC, 10 YDS Kicking: Moseley – 1/1 PAT, 2/2 FG Punting: Hayes – 7 PUNTS, 194 YDS Kickoff Return: Nelms – 3 KR, 89 YDS Punt Return: Nelms – 4 PR, 17 YDS Sacks: Butz – 1.0; Olkewicz – 1.0 Interceptions: White – 2 INTs, 0 YDS; Peters – 1 INT, 14 YDS; Murphy – 1 INT, 0 YDS

Week 5 (Sunday, December 5, 1982): vs. Dallas Cowboys The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Jun-28.

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

CowboysGame statisticsRedskins22 First downs 1538–160 Rushes–yards 17–66216 Passing yards 26921–30–2 20–30–31–14 Sacked–yards 7–60202 Net passing yards 209362 Total yards 27588 Return yards 1784–41.0 5–32.42–0 Fumbles–lost 0–07–52 Penalties–yards 3–4032:26 Time of possession 27:34

Individual stats Passing: Theismann – 19/29, 234 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INTs; Washington – 1/1, 35 YDS Rushing: Washington – 6 CAR, 32 YDS; Riggins – 9 CAR, 26 YDS; Theismann – 1 CAR, 8 YDS; Wonsley – 1 CAR, 0 YDS Receiving: Monk – 7 REC, 100 YDS; Warren – 5 REC, 59 YDS; Washington – 3 REC, 26 YDS; Brown – 2 REC, 52 YDS; Seay – 1 REC, 24 YDS; Harmon – 1 REC, 7 YDS; Walker – 1 REC, 1 YD Kicking: Moseley – 1/1 PAT, 1/1 FG Punting: Hayes – 5 PUNTS, 162 YDS Kickoff Return: Nelms – 5 KR, 129 YDS Punt Return: Nelms – 2 PR, 6 YDS Sacks: Manley – 1.0 Interceptions: Dean – 2 INTs, 43 YDS

Week 6 (Sunday, December 12, 1982): at St. Louis Cardinals The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Jun-28.

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

RedskinsGame statisticsCardinals18 First downs 1935–122 Rushes–yards 25–131188 Passing yards 25117–26–0 15–26–02–18 Sacked–yards 3–26170 Net passing yards 225292 Total yards 35635 Return yards 1003–41.3 2–40.52–1 Fumbles–lost 3–39–65 Penalties–yards 8–6532:41 Time of possession 27:19

Individual stats Passing: Theismann – 17/26, 188 YDS Rushing: Riggins – 25 CAR, 89 YDS; Washington – 5 CAR, 15 YDS; Theismann – 1 CAR, 11 YDS; Harmon – 1 CAR, 4 YDS; Monk – 2 CAR, 3 YDS Receiving: Washington – 8 REC, 78 YDS; Warren – 3 REC, 33 YDS; Brown – 2 REC, 47 YDS; Walker – 2 REC, 15 YDS; Riggins – 1 REC, 11 YDS; Harmon – 1 REC, 4 YDS Kicking: Moseley – 4/4 FG Punting: Hayes – 3 PUNTS, 123 YDS