Records are meant to be broken, but some stats just feel like they belong in a different universe. Honestly, if you look at the 1983 Washington Redskins, you aren't just looking at a good football team. You’re looking at a points-scoring machine that basically broke the NFL for four months.
They scored 541 points.
In 1983, that was insane. It stayed the single-season record until the 1998 Vikings finally nudged past it, and even now, in an era where the rules are basically written by wide receivers, that 541 mark still commands respect. But here’s the kicker: most people only remember how it ended. They remember Marcus Allen gliding through the shadows in Tampa during Super Bowl XVIII. They remember the 38-9 blowout. Because of that one game, we sort of collectively forgot that the '83 Washington squad was arguably the most dominant version of the Joe Gibbs era.
Joe Gibbs and the Evolution of the "Hogs"
To understand why the 1983 Washington Redskins were so terrifying, you have to look at the dirt. The offensive line. Most teams have a line; Washington had a subculture. By '83, "The Hogs" weren't just a nickname coined by offensive line coach Joe Bugel; they were a legitimate cultural phenomenon in D.C. You had Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby, Mark May, Jeff Bostic, and George Starke.
These guys were massive for the time. But they weren't just big. They were mean, technically sound, and they played with a level of chemistry that’s hard to find in today's free-agent-heavy landscape.
Joe Gibbs was doing things with personnel that felt like magic. He pioneered the use of the H-back—basically a hybrid tight end/fullback—which allowed him to create mismatches all over the field. Clint Didier was the guy often tasked with this. By moving Didier around, Gibbs forced defenses to show their hand before the ball was even snapped. If the defense stayed in base, Washington threw. If they went nickel, John Riggins just ran over them.
Riggins was 34 years old in 1983. Think about that. Most running backs are washed by 28 nowadays. "The Diesel" went out and carried the ball 375 times for 1,347 yards and set a then-record with 24 rushing touchdowns. It wasn't flashy. It was a 240-pound man running directly into your chest, over and over again, until you stopped wanting to tackle him.
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A Season of Statistical Absurdity
The regular season was a bloodbath. After a Week 1 loss to the Cowboys by a single point—a game where Danny White led a furious comeback—Washington basically decided they weren't losing again. They went 14-2.
Look at the turnover margin. This is the stat that usually makes scouts drool. The 1983 Washington Redskins finished the season with a +43 turnover margin. That is not a typo. It remains the NFL record. To put that in perspective, the 2023 Baltimore Ravens led the league with a +12. Being +43 means you are essentially playing a different sport than your opponent. The defense, led by guys like Dexter Manley and Charles Mann, was constantly screaming off the edges, while the secondary, featuring Darrell Green as a rookie, was vacuuming up everything in sight.
Green was so fast it didn't even make sense. There’s a famous story about him chasing down Tony Dorsett on Monday Night Football that year. Dorsett had a ten-yard head start. Green caught him. That kind of closing speed allowed the defense to take massive risks because they knew No. 28 was back there to clean up any mistakes.
The Fun Bunch and the Air Attack
While Riggins was the hammer, Joe Theismann was the scalpel. 1983 was Theismann’s MVP year. He threw for 3,714 yards and 29 touchdowns. By today's standards, those look like "okay" numbers for a mid-tier starter. In 1983? Those were elite, MVP-trophy-winning figures.
Theismann had the "Fun Bunch."
Art Monk, Charlie Brown, and Alvin Garrett. They were famous for their choreographed high-fives in the end zone, which eventually got so annoying to the rest of the league that the NFL actually banned "excessive celebrations." But they weren't just dancers. Charlie Brown was a legitimate deep threat, averaging over 15 yards per catch. Art Monk was the possession king, a physical receiver who would eventually go to the Hall of Fame.
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The offense was balanced in a way that felt unfair. You couldn't stack the box because Theismann would burn you. You couldn't play soft zones because Riggins would grind out four yards a carry until your linebackers quit.
The Playoff Destruction
If you want to see how good this team actually was, go back and watch the Divisional Round against the Los Angeles Rams. It was a 51-7 massacre. Washington didn't just win; they deleted the Rams from existence.
The following week, the NFC Championship against the 49ers was much tighter. It was a 24-21 nail-biter that required two late field goals by Mark Moseley. That game is often cited by historians as the "real" Super Bowl of that year, as Bill Walsh’s 49ers were just beginning their ascent to a dynasty. Washington survived it, but some argue they left their legs on the field that day at RFK Stadium.
What Went Wrong in Super Bowl XVIII?
You can't talk about the 1983 Washington Redskins without talking about the "Black Sunday" collapse. Facing the Los Angeles Raiders in Tampa, Washington was the heavy favorite. They had beaten the Raiders earlier in the season in a 37-35 thriller.
But Super Bowl XVIII was a disaster from the jump.
- The Blocked Punt: Early on, the Raiders blocked a punt for a touchdown.
- Squirek’s Interception: Right before halftime, Joe Gibbs called a screen pass—a play called "Rocket Screen"—that the Raiders had scouted perfectly. Jack Squirek intercepted it and walked into the end zone.
- Marcus Allen: The 74-yard touchdown run. Allen reversed field, eluded the entire Washington pursuit, and effectively ended the game.
The final score was 38-9. It was shocking. It was the largest margin of defeat in Super Bowl history at the time.
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Why the 1983 Season Still Matters
Despite the Super Bowl loss, the 1983 team is the peak of the Gibbs "Era One." They proved that a ball-control offense could coexist with a high-flying passing game. They proved that a +43 turnover margin is possible if you have a pass rush that forces bad decisions and a secondary with world-class speed.
Most importantly, they set the standard for what Washington football was supposed to be: physical, disciplined, and relentlessly high-scoring.
Actionable Insights for Football Historians and Fans
If you’re looking to truly appreciate the 1983 Washington Redskins, don't just look at the Super Bowl highlights. Do these three things instead:
- Watch the Week 5 Raiders game: This was the regular-season matchup where Washington came back from 15 points down in the fourth quarter. It shows the true resilience of the '83 squad and features a legendary duel between Theismann and Jim Plunkett.
- Analyze the "H-Back" footage: If you’re a coach or a scheme nerd, watch how Clint Didier moves. You’ll see the origins of the modern "move" tight end (think Travis Kelce or George Kittle) being birthed in the RFK mud.
- Check the Turnover Stats: Go to Pro Football Reference and look at the game-by-game turnover logs. Notice how many games they won simply because they refused to give the ball away while taking it at will. It’s a masterclass in "winning the hidden game."
The '83 team didn't get the ring, but they produced a season of football that was statistically more impressive than the 1982 or 1987 championship teams. They were a powerhouse that ran into a perfect storm in the Super Bowl, but their 14-2 run remains one of the greatest stretches of dominance in NFL history.
Next Steps for Deep Research:
To get the full picture of this era, your next move should be researching the 1983 NFL Draft. It was the year of the Quarterback (Elway, Marino, Kelly), but for Washington, it was the year they landed Darrell Green at pick 28. Understanding how Green transformed their defensive scheme from a conservative shell into a man-to-man powerhouse is the final piece of the 1983 puzzle. You can also look into the "Counter Trey" running play, which Joe Bugel and Joe Gibbs perfected during this specific season; it became the most copied play-call in football history for the next two decades.