Chuck Mak: NFL 1986-NFC Divisional Playoff-Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears: Art Monk Highlights

Source:Chuck Mak 1979- Redskins WR Art Monk, catching a pass against the Chicago Bears, in the 1987 NFC Divisional Playoff.

"One of the most underrated games of Art's Career - 2 TDs in a playoff win vs. the defending champion Chicago Bears."

From Chuck Mak 1979

What you are seeing in this video is that how great of an all around wide receiver that Art Monk was. And how good Jay Schroeder was when he was good. Perhaps as athletic, strong and accurate a quarterback as John Elway when he was on.

But what we also saw how great a receiver Art Monk really was. Someone who was stereotyped as a possession WR. You go to him when you need a first down or you are in the red zone or going to a possession passing game. When the fact is he was 6'2-6'3 210 pounds or so of muscle with great track and football speed.

Art Monk was an all-purpose receiver and how the Chicago Bears stayed in man-to-man coverage against him in this game, when they didn't have a great cover corner, I may never know and perhaps only head coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Bill Tobin of the Bears knows that answer.

But Monk was big and fast, which meant if you play him man-to-man, you need a great cover corner. Like a Rod Woodson of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Someone who can run and tackle with real size. The Bears didn't have that at corner, at least in 1986.

NFL Films: NFL 1987- NFC Divisional- Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears: Highlights

Source:NFL Films- the Chicago Bears taking an early lead over the Redskins.

"1987 Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears Divisional Football Playoff Highlights. Highlights from the Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears 1987 Divisional Football Playoff played on January 10, 1988." 

From Mr. J

"Template:Infobox NFL single game The 1987 NFC Divisional Playoff Game was an American football game played on January 10, 1988 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois following the 1987 regular season.

The Washington Redskins defeated the Chicago Bears, 21-17, to advance to their second straight NFC Championship Game, their fourth in six seasons.

From American Football Fandom

Pat Summerall with another classic NFC intro for CBS Sports to get your fire pumping to start the game. But even with Jim McMahon, who I'm not sure if he even finished this game, because the Redskins defense which was really good in 87 and if anything better than the Chicago Bears, hit him and the Bears very hard on that cold frigid astroturf Solider Field. 

Summerall was right that the Bears were definitely different offensively with him healthy and in the lineup, because it meant the Bears had a passing game, or at least a QB at could consistently throw the ball. And with Willie Gualt and Dennis McKinnon on the outside and Emory Morehead in the middle, the Bears had real weapons in the passing game. But with Jim Mc out, they struggled to get those players the ball.

The problem that the Bears had in this game, is that they were playing one of maybe three teams in the NFL that had the personal and intelligence to not only play against their 46 defense, but the manpower to do it. With an accurate QB who could throw deep or short in Doug Williams, an offensive line that could at least shut down the Bears defensive line and the receivers that could get open and beat man-to-man coverage. The Redskins were a passing team first in 1987, unlike what they were from 1981-85, because their great tailback George Rogers was hurt most of the season.

So what the Redskins did in this game was to spread out the Bears 46 and use all of their receivers. Their wideouts Art Monk, Gary Clark and Rickey Sanders, their tight end Clint Didier and halfback Kelvin Bryant in the passing game. Or go max protection and look deep to Sanders, Monk or Clark and the come back with the quick running game with either Kelvin Bryant, George Rogers and Timmy Smith. With the Bears on offense not being able to do much against the Redskins defense, at least in the 2nd half.

Washington Redskins: NFL 1991-Washington Redskins Highlights

Source: Washington Redskins-

Source:Washington Redskins

What I remember about the 1991 Redskins as a fifteen and sixteen year old, is how dominant they were. They didn't win games, but they simply beat teams on both sides of the ball. Probably the most physical defense that they've ever had. Which is saying something, because they were always big and strong on defense under Joe Gibbs in the 1980s. But if you watch the 1991 Redskins, you see them simply hammering the opposition on defense game after game. The Lions, Falcons and Eagles games come to mind very quickly.

What I remember about the 91 Redskins is all of those blowouts that they won. They scored 485 points and only gave up 224, which meant they more than double points that they gave up. You do that by winning a lot of blowouts. They had probably the best running game in the league that year with the best offensive line. And then add quarterback Mark Rypien who was pretty good and accurate when he had a running game and pass protection and throw in The Posse as his receivers. Art Monk, Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders, someone was always open for Ryp to throw the ball to.

Not saying that the 91 Redskins are the best Redskins team ever, but they were the most dominant and perhaps the most complete. Really no weakness's on either side of the ball. But they played a fairly weak schedule, including the Falcons twice, the Lions twice. And then the AFC Central where the only winning team in that division was the Houston Oilers. I rather have Joe Theisman as my QB and John Riggins running the ball, with Dave Butz and Darryl Grant in the middle of my defense. With Dexter Manley as one defensive end to go with Charles Mann. But the 91 Redskins are about as dominant a Super Bowl champion that has ever played.

NFL Films: NFL 1986- NFC Final- Washington Redskins @ New York Giants: Bill Parcels

Source: NFL Films-

Source:NFL Films

Another classic Pat Summerall NFL intro and another classic Pat Summerall Redskins-Giants intro and he and John Madden were a big part of the great Redskins-Giants rivalry. Because they did so many games between these two great franchises. I just the wish especially as a lifelong Redskins fan that he had a better game to call and we would've really of heard how great an announcer that he was. And how great an analyst that John Madden was. But the Giants got on top early on the Redskins early in the first quarter and never looked back.

The Redskins never established their great power running and outside running games in this game. The Giants essentially stacked the line of scrimmage against them early on. And then with the big lead, went into the trademark elephant two-deep zone defense so Redskins quarterback Jay Schroeder couldn't beat them deep in the air with those great Redskins speed receivers like Art Monk and Gary Clark. Which left the Redskins really just to short and medium-range passes when Schroeder could hit them.

CBS Sports: NFL 1986-NFC Final-Washington Redskins @ New York Giants: 2nd Half

On paper at least this was a great matchup. Two big physical very good teams on both sides of the ball. I think under normal conditions this is a one touchdown game and perhaps the New York Giants would've won again, but not in a shutout. Even when the Giants did beat the Redskins in this era, their victories tended to be very close even at Giants Stadium. But this obviously wasn't normal conditions, at least for the Redskins. The Redskins are from Washington, where it doesn't tend to get very cold until January. Winter tends to start in New York/New Jersey in November.

This was a Giants game in Giants weather at Giants Stadium where they were extremely difficult to beat. Very similar to the Green Packers at Lambeau Field when they are good. And now the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. The Giants got off to a very hot start in this game putting up seventeen points in the first half. With the weather being the way it was and with the Giants defense in 1986, that was more than enough for a shell-shocked Redskins team that weren't prepared or didn't seem to be able to deal with the stadium and the weather.

NFL Films: The Story of the 1982 Washington Redskins

Source:The Daily Press 

Of the three Super Bowl Championships that the Washington Redskins won, the 1982 Championship is my favorite because no one other than the Redskins themselves, expected them to do anything. I believe the Redskins knew they were good. Joe Theisman knew he was a good quarterback and could play. John Riggins knew he was a good tailback who just needed an opportunity and be able to play the right position tailback not fullback. They knew they had a very good offensive line, if not the best in the NFL. They knew they had a good defense, giving up the fewest points in the league in 1982.

But no one else knew, because the Redskins were a collection of players, their main players that other teams had given up on or didn't bother drafting. Like offensive tackle Joe Jacoby who will be in the Hall of Fame, offensive guard Russ Grimm who's in the Hall of Fame by the way. Center Jeff Bostic was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles a big rival of the Redskins. So as a Redskin fan myself, it's great that we took both QB Sonny Jurgenson and Jeff Bostic from the Eagles. And a lot of the other players were holdovers from the George Allen regime, the "Over the Hill Gang".

People like OT George Starke, defensive tackle Dave Butz, kicker Mark Mosely who was the NFL MVP in 1982. But some of the Redskins key players were drafted after Bobby Beatherd became general manager in 1978 replacing George Allen and drafted some of the players, so the Redskins were starting to regroup in the late 1970s. With players like tight end Don Warren, linebacker Monte Coleman, LB Mell Kauffman, LB Rich Milot, LB Neal Olkewitz who the rest of the NFL probably thought was too small. But started for two Super Bowl Champions in Olkewitz's case.

The 1982 Redskins were a collection of holdovers, free agents that no one else wanted or drafted and a group of players that were drafted before the Joe Gibbs era. And Joe Gibbs knew that he had a good team with the Hogs on the OL, QB Joe Theisman, TB John Riggins, WR Art Monk, WR Charlie Brown, one of the best defenses in the NFL. Not one of the most talented, but one of the best and that's different. With defensive end Dexter Manley, DT Darryl Grant, DT Dave Butz, the LBs that I just mentioned. Vernon Dean and hard-hitting Mark Murphy in the secondary.

But the rest of the NFL didn't know that the Redskins were a good team and nobody else respected them as NFC East Champions or the number one seed in the NFC. Which was perfect because the best time to strike is when your opponents aren't ready for you. And the way to earn your respect is by winning, winning playoff games and winning championships. Which is exactly what the Redskins did in 1982, take out their disrespect against their opponents.

That's what made the 1982 Redskins so special and I believe are still the best Redskins Super Bowl Champion. They were a collection of very good players that most people never heard of, all put into one championship package. Led by Joe Gibbs and his coaching staff the 1982 Redskins were so good that they could take it to the best defense in the NFL if you look at their talent in the Dallas Cowboys with their Doomsday Flex Defense. That probably had the best defensive line in the NFL with DE Ed Jones, the best DT in the NFL in Randy White, arguably the best DT of all-time, and DE Harvey Martin.

The Redskins ran the ball down the Cowboys Flex Defense throat with John Riggins and the Hogs and they ran it down Randy White's throat with OG Russ Grimm smashing and blowing Randy White out-of-the-way play after play and it was great. That's how good the 1982 Redskins were and I'm not sure a lot of people understand that.

CSN Redskins Chronicles: Vince Lombardi's Impact on the Washington Redskins

Source:The Daily Press

In the 1960s the Redskins weren't bad at least starting around 1964 when they traded quarterback Norm Snead to Philadelphia for future Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgenson. They also picked up tailback/receiver Charlie Taylor who would also end up in the Hall of Fame and you could make a good case that he's the best WR of his era and of all time. And they picked up TB/WR Bobby Mitchell in 1962, who's also in the Hall of Fame. Drafted tight end Jerry Smith who should also be in the Hall of Fame. Drafted linebacker Chris Hamburger who just went in to the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame LB Sam Huff was still there.

The Redskins weren't bad in the 1960s, but they weren't very good either, they only had one winning season, 1969 Vince Lombardi's only season in Washington and had several 7-7 seasons and a few 6-8 seasons, but they were building a lot of the success that the Redskins had in the 1970s started in the 1960s with the players that they drafted, including tailback Larry Brown in 1969 the Redskins first 1000 yard rusher. The Redskins had some of the best passing offenses in the NFL in the 1960s from 1964 and on, but they never had a solid running game until 1969 with Larry Brown.

But they also had some of the worst defenses in this decade unlike the 1970s and 80s when they were always in the top 10 in defense with George Allen and then Joe Gibbs where they win five NFC Finals from 1972-91 and three Super Bowls in that same period. Which is why Vince Lombardi and George Allen were so important for the Redskins to change the culture in how they operated.

When George Allen took over the Redskins in 1971 as head coach/general manager, I believe he knew he had a good nucleus, but that he had to add to it to make the Redskins a winner and contender. Which is what he did, he did not come to Washington from Los Angeles, where he was one game away from the Super Bowl a few times to have a 500 team or a team that barely has a winning record, but he wanted to build a champion win the NFC East, the NFC Final and the Super Bowl. He had very good teams with the Rams that always had one of the best defenses which was his background. He was George Halas's defensive coordinator with (da Bears) before he went to Los Angeles to be the Rams head coach.

His philosophy was simple. Tough take charge defense that takes away the run to attack the QB. Run the ball on offense, protect the QB and take a few shots down field on offense off of play-action and win the turnover battle. That if you do these things well you'll win much more than you lose and when he came to Washington that's what he wanted to establish. He knew he had a good group that he had to add a few pieces to make them winners and contenders,which is why he brought in some Rams, like defensive tackle Diron Talbert who reminds me a little of DT Dave Butz who Allen also brought to Washington. As well as linebacker Jack Pardee who would later be the Redskins head coach from 1978-80 and others. 

The Redskins in the George Allen era were nicknamed the "Over the Hill Gang", not because his players couldn't play anymore, but because most of them were in their thirty's when they got there. Or were going bald or were coming from teams, like QB Billy Kilmer's case that no longer wanted them and when you get released from the New Orleans Saints like Kilmer did in 1971 you are starting over and trying to find a place for yourself. Because the Saints were awful their first few years, but it all worked for Allen in Washington because he sold them on the idea that they are here to win. "Thats why I brought you here and kept you here to win and become champions". Something a lot of these players had never done before.

H Cosell Fan: 1972 Washington Redskins

Source:The Daily Press 

The 1972 Redskins didn't win the NFC Eastern Division Championship their first in thirty years or win the NFC Final their first in thirty years because they had overwhelming talent. They had very good talent with wide receivers Charlie Taylor, WR Roy Jefferson, tight end Jerry Smith and tailback Larry Brown. And on defense with people like defensive tackle Diron Talbert, linebacker Chris Hamburger, LB Jack Pardee and others, one of the best defenses in the NFL. I believe the best in the NFC that only gave up 217 points. They didn't accomplish these things because of great talent. They weren't the Cowboys Doomsday Defense, or the Vikings Purple People Eaters or the Rams Fearsome Foursome or the Steelers Steel Curtain.

They were a bunch of tough guys who could play who all had character, that all wanted to win and never were champions before. Thats why George Allen the Redskins head coach/general manager brought them to Washington to become champions. George Allen's whole philosophy was about the team, "how do I get forty men (as was the case back then) to play the best that they can and play together". (And I know this sounds corny)

But thats how George Allen operated. His favorite drink was milk probably because he didn't spend much time drinking other things or even thinking about other drinks that he liked, because he was all about his team. "How do I get them to play the best that they can and play together at the same time". And everything else including his family came after his team as his kids would tell you. In the 1960s the Redskins had a pass first explosive offense that was built around QB Sonny Jurgenson, WR Charlie Taylor, WR Bobby Mitchell and TE Jerry Smith. That didn't run the ball very well or play a lot of defense, sort of like the Miami Dolphins with Dan Marino in the 1980s.

But George Allen came from the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams where they played tough defense always had one of the best defenses in the NFL. With ball control offenses so thats exactly what he wanted to establish in Washington, but the difference being that he was able to bring those defenders to Washington. Diron Talbert, Jack Pardee, but had a lot more offensive talent to go with his defense, which made the Redskins very explosive on both sides of the ball.

Allen inherited a team that was like 5-9 in 1970 the year Vince Lombardi died and took them to 10-4 and into the NFC Playoffs and 11-3 in 1972 as they won the NFC East, beat the Cowboys in the 1972 NFC Final, became NFC Champions. And went to Super Bowl 7 where they lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins, but I believed the Redskins had the better team. The 1972 Redskins were a team that represent what a good team looks like, with star players, but other players on the team who are also good. But know their roles and everyone playing together and playing their roles.

George Allen was not perfect, the way he handled Sonny Jurgenson and Billy Kilmer and then later Joe Theisman. All three of them playing at the same time was a tragic mistake, that I believe cost him a championship. Sonny Jurgenson was clearly his best QB and should've led his teams until he retired instead of splitting time with Billy Kilmer. Who was at best a journeyman QB and a part-time starter and Joe Theisman should've replaced Jurgenson when Sonny retired. But George Allen's whole philosophy was built around "how to get the most out of my team at the same time to win as many games as possible" and he had a lot of success with that philosophy.

NFL Films: NFL 1975- Washington Redskins @ St. Louis Cardinals: Highlights

Source:St. Louis Football Cardinals- QB Jim Hart leading the Cardinals against the Redskins in 1975.

“Jim Hart hits Mel Gray with a controversial game tying TD vs the Redskins. The catch would become known as the “Phantom Catch” and the Redskin fans are still not happy about it.”

From St. Louis Football Cardinals

The Redskins probably would have made the NFC Playoffs in 1975 had they beaten the Cardinals in St. Louis, and perhaps even the NFC East as well. But instead they missed the NFC Playoffs in 1975 for the first time since 1970, because their offense was inconsistent (at best) struggling to put points on the board all season and putting too much pressure on their very good defense. But the Cardinals, who had been longtime losers, were very good in 1974 and 1975, winning back-to-back NFC East titles.

You can also see this post on WordPress.

ABC Sports: NFL 1983- Monday Night Football - Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins: Highlights

Source:ABC Sports- Redskins QB Joe Theisman and kicker Mark Moseley, congratulating Cowboys QB Danny White.

"This is one of the all-time great classic NFL games, and a classic rivalry game between the Cowboys and Redskins on September 5, 1983. 

This Monday Night Football opener rates up there with the 1999 Dallas at Washington opener and others when it comes to Dallas Cowboys comeback games. At this time, Redskins were the defending Super Bowl Champs. The Cowboys had won every opening game from 1965-1981 Although they did lose the 1982 opener the previous year, it looked as if they were going to lose another here in 1983. 

The Cowboys looked bad. They had one reception in the first half. They had one great play with a Tony Dorsett 77 yard run as this is more well-known for the Redskins Darryl Green catching up to Dorsett and making the tackle. It was 23-3 Redskins at the half. Even Frank Gifford said Landry has problems, and Howard Cosell said the team is in disarray. Fans started yelling, "we want Dallas, we want Dallas". Well, they got Dallas, but not as they had hoped. 

The two half's were like two completely different games, with the opposing team not showing up to play. In the 3rd quarter, QB Danny White connected with WR Tony Hill immediately for a 76 yard TD pass, then a short time later another TD for 51 yards. At that time, Frank Gifford says "the Redskins are starting to get nervous"  By 2:25 left in the game, Dallas was ahead 31-23. 

Final result: Dallas 31 Washington 30.

This is from ESPN. I wanted to post the full game as well but it has been blocked. :(

For the record, the Cowboys started the season 7-0 and were eliminated in the playoffs and the Redskins did return to the Super Bowl but lost to the Raiders. 

Danny White was a fine QB, he had several great comeback games. Check out other comeback games:

- 1981 Atlanta Falcons playoff game

- 1982 vs Miami Dolphins

- 1984 vs New Orleans Saints"  

From ROG. 

"1983 - Week 1 - Cowboys at Redskins - Monday Night Memory" 

Source:Dave Volsky- Cowboys QB Danny White against the Redskins defense.

From Dave Volsky 

"In a game that will be dissected and cursed for days to come in Washington, the Dallas Cowboys rallied from a 23-3 halftime deficit last night to defeat the Redskins, 31-30, in a nationally televised season opener before a sellout of 55,045 at RFK Stadium.

The Redskins were so competent in every way in the first half, but the walls of their Jericho came crashing down in the second half.

After quarterback Danny White, held to one measly completion in the first half, threw touchdown passes of 75 and 51 yards to wide receiver Tony Hill, closing Dallas within 23-17 with 6:35 left in the third quarter, the Redskins' trouble multiplied again and again.

That's when, fittingly enough, Dallas became Dallas.

The Redskins missed a chance to take a 26-17 lead when Mark Moseley, good on three first-half field goal attempts, missed wide right on a 31-yarder with 9:24 left."  

Source:The Washington Post- the paper of record

From The Washington Post  

"Summary: The defending Super Bowl Champions thought they had Opening Day in the bag. By halftime, they had limited their archrivals from Dallas to three points. But in the second half, the Cowboys ignored the feats of rookie cornerback Darrell Green and stormed out of the gate. Four touchdowns pushed Dallas to a 31-30 comeback win, avenging their defeat to Washington in the 1982 NFC Championship game."  

Source:META Critic- Redskins vs Cowboys at it's best.

From META Critic

Interesting matchup in 1983 between the Cowboys and Redskins in this great rivalry and when at least it was a great rivalry. Perhaps the best in the NFL at the time. How times have changed in the last twenty-years or so as the Redskins has become at best a mediocre franchise, with Cowboys being a consistent playoff contender, but even when they make the NFC Playoffs, they don’t tend to do much in the playoffs.  

But what I believe made this Cowboys-Redskins matchup even more interesting, is that the shoe was on the other foot. (So to speak) Pre-1983 when they played the Cowboys were either the defending NFC or Super Bowl champions if not both, or they lost the NFC Final the year before. With the Redskins trying to either get back to the NFC Playoffs, or lost in the first round the year before. In 1983 the Redskins were the Super Bowl champions and beat the Cowboys in the NFC Final the year before. 

You can also see this post on WordPress.

You can also see this post at The Daily Press, on Blogger. 

You can also see this post at The Daily Press, on WordPress.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress. 

CBS Sports: NFL 1986-NFC Final-Washington Redskins @ New York Giants: First Half

Source:Real Life Journal 

I think the Redskins-Giants rivalry was my favorite NFC East rivalry of the 1980s. Because they were both Super Bowl contenders at the same time. Both big tough physical teams on both offense and defense, both very good on both sides of the ball. And both teams simply disliked each other, but also respected each other to the point that they always gave the other team their best effort which is all you can hope for a great rivalry. Which is what Redskins-Giants was back then and of course still is today.  

As far as this game the Redskins defense played well enough for them to win only giving up seventeen-points. But when you don’t score anything, you can’t beat anyone and the Redskins had some opportunities on offense. Like dropping some deep passes down the field that probably would’ve resulted in touchdowns. WR Gary Clark comes to mind, but the Giants simply outplayed the Redskins in this game and deserved to win it.  

I think home field advantage is overrated in the NFL, but Giants Stadium was a different story when the Giants were good. Because they were a powerful team on both sides of the ball and I'm talking about physically. And they were very good as well and size and strength plays very well in brutal cold weather. Especially when it is windy and you play on a really hard field like the Giants Stadium astroturf. And then you throw in the fact that the Giants knew how to play with the weather in that stadium. 

CBS Sports: NFL 1986-Week 14-New York Giants @ Washington Redskins: Pat Summerall Intro

Source:Real Life Journal

One of the classic games in the great Giants-Redskins rivalry with the Giants winning at RFK 24-14. Breaking a trend in the rivalry where both teams would win at home every year. As well as the Giants sweeping the series. But the 1986 Giants were special and accomplished things they hadn’t accomplished in while like winning an NFL Championship for the first time since 1956. As well as sweeping the Redskins and beating the Redskins in Washington. And beating the Redskins in the NFC Final in a 17-0 shutout.

But this post is really about the Pat Summerall intro. He was the master at that and is no secret why he was the number one play-by-play NFL announcer at CBS Sports for what twenty-years. Because of his voice, his delivery and his simple great knowledge of not just the NFL, because he played himself, but because of his knowledge of the New York Giants, Redskins and NFC East more broadly, because he and John Madden did so many NFC East games together. Because they were the number one NFC broadcast team at CBS Sports and the NFC East was a great division back then.

Iron Skin Bng: The Washington Redskins Department of Defense

Source:Real Life Journal  

What I loved about the Redskins defense of the 1980s, was that they could get to the QB with their front four. They didn’t have to blitz to pressure the QB, because they had three guys that you basically had to double team. With two defensive ends who were both quick enough to be linebackers and the strength of defensive ends in Dexter Manley who should be in the Hall of Fame. But that is a different blog and Charles Mann who you might be able to make a good case for him as well.  

But with Dexter on the other side commanding so much attention, Charlie didn’t have to take on a lot of double teams at least with Dexter there. And then you had DT Dave Butz in the middle, 6’7 three hundred something pounds of muscle, bigger than most offensive tackles back then in the 1970s and 80s playing defensive tackle. With Darryl Grant who was built like a nose tackle playing the other defensive tackle with very good quickness who could get up the field.  

So with these four DL, it meant the Redskins didn’t have to pass or run blitz much because there defensive line could do most of the work. Leaving the linebackers to finish off play rather than having to make most of the plays. The Redskins defense back in the 1980s wasn't great because they had so much talent or more talent than anyone else. Because they certainly didn't, but they had a lot of very good players and depth, who all played very well with each other. And a great defensive coach like Richie Pettibon leading them.

Washington Redskins: Sonny Jurgenson & Billy Kilmer: The Sonny-Billy Rivalry

Source:Real Life Journal 

Sonny Jurgensen was clearly a better quarterback than Billy Kilmer. But Bill better fit head coach George Allen’s conservative offensive personality better. So George could say "see this is why we need to run more and Bill won’t take as many chances throwing the ball. Because his arm wasn’t as good as Sonny’s". But a better head coach with perhaps a better understanding of offensive football, who didn't have a conservative defensive mindset that George Allen had, would've known better. And what worked better for the Redskins offensively. 

There are many horrible tragedies of Vince Lombardi dying and when he did. In 1970 at the age of fifty-seven when he could've probably coached another 5-10 years had he taken better care of himself. But one of those tragedies that Sonny paid the heaviest price for with the Redskins, was George Allen coming in, in 1971 as the head coach/general manager of the club. The Redskins did pretty well under Allen. Seven winning seasons, five playoff appearances, an NFC East title and NFC title. 

But had Vince Lombardi lived and continued on with the Redskins in the 1970s, Sonny Jurgenson not only finishes his career with the Redskins, which he did, but he would've remained the full-time starter with the Redskins at quarterback, had he stayed healthy. Because the Lombardi would've figured out quickly that Sonny was the better quarterback than Billy Kilmer. And the Redskins would've won more games, more NFC East titles, played in more Super Bowls and perhaps won at least one Super Bowl in the 1970s. 

Redskinrey Hail: Redskins Super Bowl Week 1972

Source:The Daily Press

I’m sure, actually I’m positive that the Redskins wanted to beat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl 7. But beating the Dallas Cowboys in the 1972 NFC Final was their Super Bowl victory and championship that year. That is the goal that they set out to accomplish. Not that different from the 1982 Redskins that admitted to feeling better about beating the Cowboys in the 1982 NFC Final than beating the Dolphins in Super Bowl 17. The Super Bowl was sort of icing to the Cowboys victory. That is how important these rivalry games are to teams. Especially the team that isn’t traditionally as successful as the other team. Which the Redskins are in the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry and perhaps hate the Cowboys more than the Cowboys hate the Redskins. And may if anything see other teams and games as more important to them.

Billy Blythe: Vintage Redskins: Dave Butz

Source:Real Life Journal

Back in 1975 then Redskins Head Coach/General Manager George Allen traded for S.t. Louis Cardinals defensive tackle Dave Butz, who was probably the best trade that coach Allen ever made at least in Washington. Because Butz would go on to anchor the Redskins defense for the next fourteen seasons. While the Cardinals after the 1975 pretty much went in decline failing to make the NFC Playoffs for the rest of their time in S.t. Louis. After making the NFC Playoffs both in 1974 and 1975.

Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells didn’t have much in common, but they both believed in at least one thing together when it came to football. That you win football games by controlling the line of scrimmage. You run the ball well and stop the run, you protect your quarterback and pressure the other teams quarterback. And you protect the ball and come up with a takeaway or two. 

You do those things well and you’ve dramatically increased your chances of winning. Because now you are in charge of who can move the ball down the field because you can run and throw. While your opponent is having their running game stuffed and consistently seeing their quarterback hit and under pressure. Joe Gibbs gets a lot of credit for the Redskins having such great offensive teams while he was in Washington as he should. But the fact is in his tenure and under assistant head coach Ritchie Pettibone, the Redskins except for maybe 1981, were always in the top ten in defense. 

Because the Redskins were about as good as anyone or better than anyone in the 1980s at controlling the line of scrimmage. On both sides of the ball which is why their pass rush led by defensive ends Dexter Manley, Charles Mann and others including Dave Butz, was so good, because the Redskins forced teams to throw the ball a lot. And consistently throw the ball under pressure because they couldn’t run the ball. 

Dave Butz was the anchor of the Redskins defense in the 1980s because he consistently commanded double teams if not triple teams. Because of his awesome size and strength, 6’7 300 pounds plus. Looked more like an offensive tackle with better mobility back in an era when defensive lineman weren’t generally that big. Which freed up a lot of one-on-one matchup's for DT Darryl Grant, Dexter and others.