Super Bowl XVII (17) Washington VS Miami Recap

Super Bowl XVII Washington 27, Miami 17 Recap

Washington Defeats Miami in Super Bowl XVII. John Riggins named MVP

Fullback John Riggins ran for a Super Bowl-record 166 yards on 38 carries to spark the Washington Redskins to a 27-17 victory over AFC champion Miami Dolphins. Riggins's rushed for four straight 100-yard rushing game during these playoffs, also a record.

The win marked Washington's first NFL title since 1942, and was only the second time in Super Bowl history NFL / NFC teams scored consecutive victories (Green Bay did it in Super Bowls I and II and San Francisco won Super Bowl XVI). The Redskins, under second-year head coach Joe Gibbs, used a balanced offense that accounted for 400 total yards (a Super Bowl-record 276 yards rushing and 124 passing), second in Super Bowl history to 429 yards by Oakland in Super Bowl XI.

The Dolphins built a 17-10 halftime lead on a 76-yard touchdown pass from quarterback David Woodley to wide receiver Jimmy Cefalo 6:49 into the first period, a 20-yard field goal by Uwe von Schamann with 6:00 left in the half, and a Super Bowl-record 98-yard kickoff return by Fulton Walker with 1:38 remaining.

Washington had tied the score at 10-10 with 1:51 left on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Joe Theismann to wide receiver Alvin Garrett. Mark Moseley started the Redskins' scoring with a 31-yard field goal late in the first period, and added a 20-yard kick midway through the third period to cut the Dolphins' lead to 17-13.

Riggins, who was voted the game's most valuable player, gave Washington its first lead of the game with 10:01 left when he ran 43 yards off left tackle for a touchdown in a fourth-and-1 situation. Wide receiver Charlie Brown caught a 6-yard scoring pass from Theismann with 1:55 left to complete the scoring.

The Dolphins managed only 176 yards (142 in first half). Theismann completed 15 of 23 passes for 143 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. For Miami, Woodley was 4 of 14 for 97 yards, with one touchdown, and one interception. Don Strock was 0 for 3 in relief.

Scoring Information

                       1  2  3  4  Final
                       _________________
Miami Dolphins         7 10  0  0     17
Washington Redskins    0 10  3 14     27

Miami      - Cefalo 76 pass from Woodley (Von Schamann kick)
6:49 into the 1st

Washington - FG Moseley 31                             
 0:21 into the 2nd

Miami      - FG Von Schamann 20                        
9:00 into the 2nd

Miami      - Garrett 4 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick)
13:09 into the 2nd

Miami      - Walker 98 kick return (Von Schamann kick) 
13:22 into the 2nd

Washington - FG Moseley 20                         
6:51 into the 3rd

Washington - Riggins 43 run  (Moseley kick)        
4:59 into the 4th

Washington - Brown 6 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick)
13:05 into the 4th

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Quick Facts

Score:

Super Bowl XVII

Washington 27
Miami 17

Location:
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
January 30, 1983
Attendance: 103,667

MVP:
John Riggins, Running Back
of the Washington Redskins

Coaches
WAS Joe Gibbs
MIA Don Shula

Super Bowl XVII Ring, Washington 27 vs Miami 17, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, MVP John Riggins, Running Back of the Washington Redskins

Super Bowl XVII Ring