1972 Washington Redskins season

The 1972 Washington Redskins season was the 41st in the National Football League (NFL) and the 36th in Washington, D.C. The Redskins were trying to build on the success of the previous season, in which they had finished 9–4–1 and made the postseason for the first time in 26 seasons. They ultimately finished the year 11–3, the best record in franchise history and only the second ten-win season in team history after 1942 (the win record would not be surpassed until the 1983 season).

Head coach George Allen, in just his second season with the team, took the Redskins to their first Super Bowl. The team, who had missed the postseason in the entirety of the 1950s and 1960s, won its first postseason game since 1943, and appeared in its first league championship game since 1945.

The NFC champion Redskins would ultimately lose a close Super Bowl VII, 14–7, to the undefeated Miami Dolphins.

The 1972 season was the first in which the team wore its longtime logo, which featured a Native American head in profile within a gold circle. The logo would stay with the team for the next 48 seasons until both it and the team nickname were retired after the 2019 season. With the Washington Senators relocating to Texas in 1971, the Baltimore Bullets not relocating until the summer of 1973, and the Washington Capitals having their inaugural season in 1974, the 1972 Redskins were at the time the D.C. area's only team playing in one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.

Running back Larry Brown led the league with 101.3 yard per game (while rushing for 1,216 yards) on his way to be named league MVP, becoming the first Redskin to receive the honor.

Offseason

NFL draft

1972 Washington Redskins draft Round Selection Player Position College 8 203 Moses Denson Running back Maryland-Eastern Shore 9 229 Steve Boekholder Defensive end Drake 10 255 Mike Oldham Wide receiver Michigan 11 281 Jeff Welch Defensive back Arkansas Tech 12 307 Don Bunce Quarterback Stanford 13 332 Frank Grant Wide receiver Southern Colorado 15 365 Mike O'Quinn Guard McNeese State 15 385 Carl Taibi Defensive end Colorado 16 411 Steve Higginbotham Defensive back Alabama 17 437 Kevin Clemente Linebacker Boston College

Roster

Preseason

Schedule Week Date Opponent Time TV Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 vs. Baltimore Colts 8:00p.m. EDT WMAL-TV W 33–3 1–0 Tampa Stadium 42,864 2 Denver Broncos 8:00p.m. EDT WMAL-TV W 41–0 2–0 RFK Stadium 46,043 3 Philadelphia Eagles 8:00p.m. EDT WMAL-TV W 34–10 3–0 RFK Stadium 47,843 4 at Detroit Lions 9:00p.m. EDT CBS L 10–23 3–1 Tiger Stadium 52,647 5 Miami Dolphins 8:00p.m. EDT NBC W 27–24 4–1 RFK Stadium 52,098 6 at Pittsburgh Steelers 8:00p.m. EDT WMAL-TV T 10–10 4–1–1 Three Rivers Stadium 42,227

Game summaries

Week P1: vs. Baltimore Colts

Week P2: vs. Denver Broncos

Week P3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week P4: at Detroit Lions

Week P5: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week P6: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Regular season

Schedule Week Date Opponent Time TV Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 at Minnesota Vikings 9:00p.m. EDT ABC W 24–21 1–0 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 Recap 2 St. Louis Cardinals 1:00p.m. EDT CBS W 24–10 2–0 RFK Stadium 53,039 Recap 3 at New England Patriots 1:00p.m. EDT CBS L 23–24 2–1 Schaefer Stadium 60,999 Recap 4 Philadelphia Eagles 1:00p.m. EDT CBS W 14–0 3–1 RFK Stadium 53,039 Recap 5 at St. Louis Cardinals 2:00p.m. EDT CBS W 33–3 4–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,454 Recap 6 Dallas Cowboys 4:00p.m. EDT CBS W 24–20 5–1 RFK Stadium 53,039 Recap 7 at New York Giants 1:00p.m. EST CBS W 23–16 6–1 Yankee Stadium 62,878 Recap 8 at New York Jets 1:00p.m. EST CBS W 35–17 7–1 Shea Stadium 63,962 Recap 9 New York Giants 1:00p.m. EST CBS W 27–13 8–1 RFK Stadium 53,039 Recap 10 Atlanta Falcons 9:00p.m. EST ABC W 24–13 9–1 RFK Stadium 53,034 Recap 11 Green Bay Packers 1:00p.m. EST CBS W 21–16 10–1 RFK Stadium 53,039 Recap 12 at Philadelphia Eagles 1:00p.m. EST CBS W 23–7 11–1 Veterans Stadium 65,720 Recap 13 at Dallas Cowboys 4:00p.m. EST CBS L 24–34 11–2 Texas Stadium 65,136 Recap 14 Buffalo Bills 1:00p.m. EST NBC L 17–24 11–3 RFK Stadium 53,039 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Game summaries Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 2: vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Week 3: at New England Patriots

Week 4: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 5: at St. Louis Cardinals

Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 7: at New York Giants

Week 8: at New York Jets

Week 9: vs. New York Giants

Week 10: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 12: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 13: at Dallas Cowboys

Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills

Stats

Passing Passing Player Pos G GS QBrec Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD TD% Int Int% Y/A AY/A Y/C Y/G Lng Rate Sk Yds NY/A ANY/A Sk% 4QC GWD Kilmer QB 12 10 7–3–0 120 225 53.3 1,648 19 8.4 11 4.9 89 7.3 6.8 13.7 137.3 84.8 9 67 3.8 6.76 6.26 1 2 Jurgensen QB 7 4 4–0–0 39 59 66.1 633 2 3.4 4 6.8 36 10.7 8.4 16.2 90.4 84.9 2 21 3.3 10.03 7.74 1 1 Team total 14 11–3–0 159 284 56.0 2,281 21 7.4 15 5.3 89 8.0 7.1 14.3 162.9 84.8 11 88 3.7 7.43 6.57 2 3 Opp total 14 186 367 50.7 2,130 10 2.7 17 4.6 5.8 4.26 11.5 152.1 58.3 35 268 8.7 4.6 3.2

Rushing Rushing Player Pos G GS Att Yds TD Lng Y/A Y/G A/G Brown RB 12 12 285 1,216 8 38 4.3 101.3 23.8 Harraway FB 14 14 148 567 6 24 3.8 40.5 10.6 Mul-Key RB 2 1 33 155 1 35 4.7 77.5 16.5 Brunet RB 14 1 30 82 2 18 2.7 5.9 2.1 Tayloe WR 14 14 3 39 0 17 13.0 2.8 0.2 Nock RB 7 0 6 22 0 6 3.7 3.1 0.9 Smith TE 14 14 1 9 0 9 9.0 0.6 0.1 Kilmer QB 12 10 3 –3 0 1 –1.0 –0.3 0.3 Jurgensen QB 7 4 4 –5 0 0 –1.3 –0.7 0.6 Team total 14 513 2,082 17 38 4.1 148.7 36.6 Opp total 14 427 1,733 12 4.1 123.8 30.5

Receiving Receiving Player Pos G GS Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Ctch% Taylor WR 14 14 49 673 13.7 7 70 3.5 48.1 0.0% Jefferson WR 14 14 35 550 15.7 3 45 2.5 39.3 0.0% Brown RB 12 12 32 473 14.8 4 89 2.7 39.4 0.0% Smith TE 14 14 21 353 16.8 7 34 1.5 25.2 0.0% Harraway FB 14 14 15 105 7.0 0 24 1.1 7.5 0.0% Mul-Key RB 2 1 4 66 16.5 0 28 2.0 33.0 0.0% Alston TE 14 0 2 53 26.5 0 36 0.1 3.8 0.0% Brunet RB 14 1 1 8 8.0 0 8 0.1 0.6 0.0% Team total 14 159 2,281 14.3 21 89 11.4 162.9 Opp total 14 186 1,862 10.0 10 13.3 133.0

Kicking Kicking Games 0–19 20–29 30–39 40–49 50+ Scoring Player Pos G GS FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM Lng FG% XPA XPM XP% Knight K 14 0 4 4 3 11 6 8 4 4 30 14 46 46.7% 41 40 97.6% Team total 14 4 4 3 11 6 8 4 4 30 14 46.7% 41 40 97.6% Opp total 14 33 19 57.6% 23 23 100.0%

Punting Punting Player Pos G GS Pnt Yds Lng Blck Y/P Bragg P 14 0 59 2,273 62 0 38.5 Team total 14 59 2,273 62 0 38.5 Opp total 14 69 2,767 40.1

Kick return Kick return Player Pos G GS Rt Yds TD Lng Y/Rt Duncan DB 8 0 15 364 0 41 24.3 Haymond DB 4 0 10 291 0 41 29.1 Mul-Key RB 2 1 8 209 0 44 26.1 Brunet RB 14 1 8 190 0 45 23.8 Bass RCB 14 14 2 22 0 21 11.0 Tillman LB 14 0 2 6 0 6 3.0 Vactor DB 14 0 1 21 0 21 21.0 Fanucci DE 14 0 1 15 0 15 15.0 McLinton MLB 13 8 1 15 0 15 15.0 Team total 14 48 1,133 0 45 23.6 Opp total 14 53 1,191 0 22.5

Punt return Punt return Player Pos G GS Ret Yds TD Lng Y/R Vactor DB 14 0 17 88 0 28 5.2 Duncan DB 8 0 11 70 0 18 6.4 Haymond DB 4 0 6 1 0 6 0.2 Team total 14 34 159 0 28 Opp total 14 19 39 0

Sacks Sacks Player Pos G GS Sk Biggs RDE 14 14 8.0 Talbert RDT 14 14 7.5 McDole LDE 14 14 6.0 Pardee LLB 14 14 4.0 Hanburger RLB 14 14 3.5 Brundige LDT 11 10 2.5 Sistrunk DT 12 4 2.0 Jones DE 3 0 1.0 Bass RCB 14 14 0.5 Team total 14 35 Opp total 14 11

Interceptions Interceptions Player Pos G GS Int Yds TD Lng PD Hanburger RLB 14 14 4 98 1 41 Fischer LCB 14 14 4 61 0 35 Bass RCB 14 14 3 53 0 29 McLinton MLB 13 8 2 22 0 19 Vactor DB 14 0 1 28 0 28 Taylor FS 14 14 1 17 0 17 Duncan DB 8 0 1 8 0 8 Owens SS 14 11 1 0 0 0 Team total 14 17 287 1 41 Opp total 14

Fumbles Fumbles Player Pos G GS FF Fmb FR Yds TD Brown RB 12 12 9 3 0 0 Vactor DB 14 0 4 2 0 0 Jurgensen QB 7 4 4 0 –9 0 Duncan DB 8 0 2 1 0 0 Harraway FB 14 14 2 0 0 0 Jefferson WR 14 14 1 1 0 0 Nock RB 7 0 1 1 0 0 Taylor WR 14 14 1 1 9 0 Brunet RB 14 1 1 0 0 0 Kilmer QB 12 10 1 0 0 0 Mul-Key RB 2 1 1 0 0 0 Biggs RDE 14 14 0 2 16 1 Laaveg LG 14 14 0 2 2 0 Hanburger RLB 14 14 0 2 0 0 Pardee LLB 13 13 0 2 0 0 Pottios MLB 12 7 0 2 0 0 Rock RT 14 14 0 2 0 0 Owens SS 14 11 0 1 5 0 Petitbon DB 3 3 0 1 5 0 Alston TE 14 0 0 1 0 0 Fischer LCB 14 14 0 1 0 0 Hermeling LT 14 14 0 1 0 0 Malinchak WR 6 0 0 1 0 0 McLinton MLB 13 8 0 1 0 0 Schoenke G 12 0 0 1 0 0 Talbert RDT 14 14 0 1 0 0 Team total 14 27 30 28 1 Opp total 14 28 13 0

Tackles Tackles Player Pos G GS Comb Solo Ast TFL QBHits Sfty Malinchak WR 6 0 1 Team total 14 1 Opp total 14

Scoring summary Scoring summary Player Pos G GS RshTD RecTD PR TD KR TD FblTD IntTD OthTD AllTD XPM XPA FGM FGA Sfty Pts Pts/G Knight K 14 0 40 41 14 30 82 5.9 Brown RB 12 12 8 4 12 72 6.0 Smith TE 14 14 7 7 42 3.0 Taylor WR 14 14 7 7 42 3.0 Harraway FB 14 14 6 6 36 2.6 Jefferson WR 14 14 3 3 18 1.3 Brunet RB 14 1 2 2 12 0.9 Malinchak WR 6 0 1 1 1 8 1.3 Bass RCB 14 14 1 1 6 0.4 Biggs RDE 14 14 1 1 6 0.4 Hanburger RLB 14 14 1 1 6 0.4 Mul-Key RB 2 1 1 1 6 3.0 Team total 14 17 21 1 1 2 42 40 41 14 30 1 336 Opp total 14 12 10 1 23 23 23 19 33 218

Team Team Total yds & TO Passing Rushing Penalties Player PF Yds Ply Y/P TO FL 1stD Cmp Att Yds TD Int NY/A 1stD Att Yds TD Y/A 1stD Pen Yds 1stPy Team Stats 336 4,275 808 5.3 26 11 235 159 284 2,193 21 15 7.4 106 513 2,082 17 4.1 110 78 721 19 Opp Stats 218 3,595 829 4.3 32 15 223 186 367 1,862 10 17 4.6 108 427 1,733 12 4.1 95 64 568 20 Lg Rank Offense 7 11 3 8 14 23 12 3 8 2 6 10 6 14 Lg Rank Defense 3 4 14 10 9 21 6 3 16 4 4 7 10 13

Quarter-by-quarter Quarter-by-quarter Team 1 2 3 4 T Redskins 30 105 92 109 336 Opponent 58 56 43 61 218

Postseason

Schedule Round Date Opponent Time TV Result Venue Attendance Recap Divisional Green Bay Packers 12Noon EST CBS W 16–3 RFK Stadium 53,140 Recap NFC Championship Dallas Cowboys 3:00p.m. EST CBS W 26–3 RFK Stadium 53,129 Recap Super Bowl VII Miami Dolphins 3:30p.m. EST NBC L 7–14 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 90,182 Recap

Game summaries

NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. Green Bay Packers

NFC Championship Game: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Super Bowl VII: vs. Miami Dolphins

Awards and records Larry Brown, NFL MVPNFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 400 Larry Brown, Bert Bell Award Larry Brown, AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Billy Kilmer, NFL leader (tied) in touchdown passes (19).NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 451 NFL leader in passer rating (84.8).

References

Further reading

Brig Owens and Chuck Cascio, Over the Hill to the Superbowl. New York: Robert B. Luce, 1973.