The 2012 season was the Washington Redskins' 81st in the National Football League (NFL) and their 76th representing Washington, D.C. Their home games were played at FedExField in Landover, Maryland for the 16th consecutive season. It was the third season for head coach Mike Shanahan.

After initially starting the season 3–6, the Redskins rebounded after their bye week by winning their remaining seven games, improving on their 5–11 record from the 2011 season, and ending the regular season with a 10–6 record, leading to a NFC East division championship and a 4th seed spot in the playoffs. It was their first division title since 1999. The Redskins lost in the wild card round to the Seattle Seahawks, ending their season but marking the team's first playoff appearance since the end of the 2007 season (in which the Redskins also lost the wild card game to the Seahawks). This would be the last season with 10 or more wins until 2024. This was also the last time the Redskins would win 10 games under this name. The next time they won 10 games in 2024, they would be called by their current name, the Commanders. Their .625 winning percentage was their best since 2005.

The Redskins ranked #1 in the league in rushing yards for the 2012 season. Robert Griffin III's 815 rushing yards and Alfred Morris's 1,613 rushing yards accounted for 90% of the Redskins rushing yards for 2012.Alfred Morris (American football)#cite note-19

Draft

2012 Washington Redskins draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 2 Robert Griffin III Quarterback Baylor 2 39 Traded to the St. Louis Rams 3 71 Josh LeRibeus Guard SMU4 102 Kirk Cousins Quarterback Michigan State 109 Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers 119 Keenan Robinson Linebacker Texas 5 141 Adam Gettis Guard Iowa 6 173 Alfred Morris Running back Florida Atlantic 177 Traded to the Arizona Cardinals 193 Tom Compton Offensive Tackle South Dakota 7 213 Richard Crawford Cornerback SMU 217 Jordan Bernstine Safety Iowa NOTES The team traded its original first-round selection (#6 overall), second-round selection (#39 overall) and first-round selections in 2013 (#22 overall) and 2014 (#2 overall) to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for the Rams' first-round selection (#2 overall).

The team acquired an additional fourth-round selection in a trade that sent QB Jason Campbell to the Oakland Raiders.

The team traded its original third round selection (#69 overall) to the Buffalo Bills for its 3rd round (#71 overall) and its 7th round selections (#217 overall).

The team acquired a new sixth-round selection (#173 overall) and a 2013 sixth-round selection in a trade that sent QB Donovan McNabb to the Minnesota Vikings.

The team traded its original sixth-round selection (#177 overall) and DE Vonnie Holliday to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for RB Tim Hightower.

The team traded the fourth-round pick acquired from the Oakland Raiders (#109 overall) to the Pittsburgh Steelers for its fourth-round (#119 overall) and its sixth-round (#193 overall) selections.

Personnel Staff / Coaches

Final roster

Schedule

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Buffalo Bills W 7–6 1–0 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 2 at Chicago Bears L 31–33 1–1 Soldier Field Recap 3 Indianapolis Colts W 30–17 2–1 FedExField Recap 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 30–3 3–1 FedExField Recap

Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 at New Orleans Saints W 40–32 1–0 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 2 September 16 at St. Louis Rams L 28–31 1–1 Edward Jones Dome Recap 3 September 23 Cincinnati Bengals L 31–38 1–2 FedExField Recap 4 September 30 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–22 2–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 5 October 7 Atlanta Falcons L 17–24 2–3 FedExField Recap 6 October 14 Minnesota Vikings W 38–26 3–3 FedExField Recap 7 October 21 at New York Giants L 23–27 3–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 8 October 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 12–27 3–5 Heinz Field Recap 9 November 4 Carolina Panthers L 13–21 3–6 FedExField Recap 10Bye 11 November 18 Philadelphia Eagles W 31–6 4–6 FedExField Recap 12 November 22 at Dallas Cowboys W 38–31 5–6 Cowboys Stadium Recap 13 New York Giants W 17–16 6–6 FedExField Recap 14 December 9 Baltimore Ravens W 31–28 7–6 FedExField Recap 15 December 16 at Cleveland Browns W 38–21 8–6 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 16 December 23 at Philadelphia Eagles W 27–20 9–6 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 17 December 30 Dallas Cowboys W 28–18 10–6 FedExField Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Postseason

Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card January 6 Seattle Seahawks (5) L 14–24 0–1 FedExField Recap

Game summaries

Regular season

Week 1

The Redskins opened their 2012 season on the road, marking the much-anticipated debut of Robert Griffin III, the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Griffin started his career as well as possible, going 6/6 on his opening possession, setting up a 37-yard field goal by new Redskins kicker Billy Cundiff. However, the lead would be short lived as Six-time Pro Bowl QB Drew Brees marched his Saints down the field, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown pass to star tight end Jimmy Graham. For the first time, Griffin's resolve was tested, as he marched onto the field trailing for the first time. Griffin was unfazed, and after not completing a pass ahead of the line of scrimmage on his first possession, Griffin connected with fellow new Redskins Pierre Garçon for an 88-yard strike to give Washington a 10–7 lead.

In the second quarter, Washington's lead continued to grow, as Griffin found second-year man Aldrick Robinson for a 5-yard touchdown pass to extend Washington's advantage to 17–7. Cundiff added a 41-yard field goal to give Washington a 20–7 advantage. On the next Saints ensuing possession, Brees found Marques Colston who was on his way to an apparent touchdown, but fumbled in the Washington end zone, which resulted in a touchback. Appearing to go into the second half up 20–7, Saverio Rocca's punt was blocked and returned four yards for a touchdown by Saints special teamer Courtney Roby to make it 20–14 at the half.

Getting the ball to start the second half, Washington extended its advantage by way of a 1-yard rush TD by rookie running back Alfred Morris. Washington would again expand upon its lead via Cundiff's 37-yarder, to make it 30–14 Washington. Saints kicker Garrett Hartley hit a 21-yard field goal to close the third quarter scoring at 30–17.

In the fourth, Washington again pushed its advantage to 16 when Billy Cundiff nailed his fourth field goal of the day, this one from 45 yards. However, the Saints would not go quietly. On the Saints' ensuing possession, Brian Orakpo dropped an interception on 3rd and 10 that would have all but sealed the deal. With this new break, Brees made the Redskins pay, as Lance Moore beat Madieu Williams to the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown on 4th-and-10. Darren Sproles scored on the two-point conversion to cut the Redskins lead to 33–25.

The Redskins could not amass a first down on their next drive, and Drew Brees got the ball back with the crowd sensing a comeback. However, Brees overthrew his intended receiver on the first play of the drive, and DeJon Gomes returned the interception to the Saints 3-yard line, and on the next play, Alfred Morris extended the advantage to 40–25. However, the Saints continued to battle. It took Brees less than one minute to march New Orleans down the field and find Darren Sproles for a 2-yard touchdown pass, and the Saints again pulled within 8. The Redskins got the ball back and were able to nearly run out the clock, but gave Brees one last chance. However, Brees' Hail Mary pass on the final play of the game fell short of the intended target and was intercepted by Reed Doughty to preserve the 40–32 upset win.

With the win, the Redskins began the season 1–0. Robert Griffin III became the first rookie QB to throw for 300 yards in his debut game and win the game.

This was the first game in league history to end with a score of 40 to 32.

Week 2

Coming off their upset win over the New Orleans Saints, the Redskins continued their road trip and traveled to the Edward Jones Dome to meet the St. Louis Rams for a 5th consecutive season, and for the third consecutive season in St. Louis. The Redskins started the game very well with Josh Wilson recovering a Danny Amendola fumble and returning it to the end zone for a 7–0 Redskins lead on the first snap of the game. St. Louis would fight back, however, and pick up a Greg Zuerlein 39-yard field goal to cut the Redskins advantage to 7–3. Washington would close the first quarter with a Robert Griffin III touchdown run to give the Redskins a 14–3 lead going into the second quarter.

In the second, St. Louis continued to battle, as Zuerlein hit another field goal. However, on the Redskins' ensuing possession, Griffin III connected with Leonard Hankerson for a 68-yard strike on a play action pass, and the Redskins appeared to take firm control, with a 21–6 edge. However, St. Louis would prove resilient, led by Danny Amendola's 12 receptions in the first half, St. Louis pulled within 8 when Sam Bradford found the aforementioned Amendola to cut the Redskins' advantage to 21–13. Then, just before the half, Griffin threw his first career interception to Cortland Finnegan which set up Zuerlein's 42-yard field goal as the half ended to cut the lead to 21–16.

In the third, momentum continued to swing St. Louis' way as Bradford found a wide-open Brandon Gibson to give St. Louis its first advantage of the game. Griffin III continued to amaze as he found the end zone for a second time on the ground, and Washington ended the third quarter up 28–23. However, late in the third, for the second straight week, a Saverio Rocca punt was blocked, this time by St. Louis tight end Matthew Mulligan.

To open the fourth, Bradford found Mulligan, and rookie Daryl Richardson scampered into the end zone for the two-point conversion, and St. Louis led 31–28. Washington was unable to get into position to tie the game, but had an opportunity late when Richardson fumbled and DeJon Gomes picked it up to give Washington the ball with less than three minutes to play. Washington drove the ball to the St. Louis 29, which would have set up a 46-yard field goal attempt by Billy Cundiff, but Josh Morgan was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after he threw the ball at Cortland Finnegan, moving Washington back to the St. Louis 46, and making it a 62-yard field goal. Cundiff's attempt was wide right and well short of the distance, and St. Louis held on for the 31–28 win.

With the loss, the Redskins fell to 1–1. Also, Washington fell to 2–3 in their last five games against St. Louis, dating back the 2008 NFL season. In that time, the Rams have compiled a 13–53 overall record.

Week 3

Hoping to rebound from their road upset against the St. Louis Rams, the Redskins returned to FedExField in an attempt to win its sixth straight home opener and, simultaneously, snap a 6-game home losing streak, the longest such streak in the NFL currently.