1992 NFC Divisional: Washington @ San Francisco

[ShinobiMusashi]

To me this is a game etched into my memory along with most of the 92 playoffs. But I feel like this was one that was forgotten or overlooked, because of The Comeback and so much else going on in those playoffs that year(San Fran vs Dallas NFCCG, Buffalo vs Miami AFCCG was big too). But this game was a true clash of titans is what is forgotten. I wanted to put a spotlight on it and see what yall think/thought about it. The box score tells the story of it on PFR.

From 1981 up to this game;

-These were the 2 winningest teams in regular season in the NFL

-Both teams combined played in 10 of the last 11 NFC Championship Games up to this point.

-Both teams combined to win 7 out of 11 Super Bowls over that period(playing in 8 total counting Washington's loss in XVIII to LA).

The big game between these two teams over that period is the 1983 NFCCG won by the Redskins in controversial fashion. Washington went on to get blown out by the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII. San Fran felt like they were screwed by a bad call in that NFCCG and were motivated by this loss to go on the 15-1 tear they did in 1984 to win Super Bowl XIX over Miami.

This game was a rematch of the 1990 divisional round won by Montana and Co. in a pretty great game in itself for the time(seem to remember quite a few excellent Darrell Green vs Jerry Rice moments in that game). San Fran went on to lose to the Giants in the NFCCG ending the 3peat run.

Montana was out all of 1991 and Steve Young missed 6 games too, San Fran missed the playoffs entirely in 1991 at 10-6 while that was Washington's epic 14-2 Super Bowl season.

Here in 1992 the tables turned, San Fran dominated at 14-2 with Steve Young fully taking over(Montana only played partial game in the finale against Detroit, I've read he was 3rd on the depth chart for their playoff games behind Bono not sure if that was true). San Fran had #1 seed in the NFC while Washington on the other hand BARELY backed into the playoffs with some major issues with Mark Rypien and their passing game. The offense was bad but Wilber Marshall and co. and the defense were still great, and led them to a 9-7 finish to make the playoffs as a Wild Card.

The Redskins dominated the 11-5 Vikings in the Metrodome(the same place they won the Super Bowl that January) to advance to this game in Candlestick in the NFC Divisional Round against the 49ers. This is a true clash of the titans and an excellent game that I feel gets overlooked and overshadowed by other games from that epic 1992 playoff tournament.

-I feel like Washington's defense played an amazing game and almost won it, had the offense had just kept from turning the ball over I think Washington could have taken this on the defense performance alone.

-For all the hoopla about San Fran vs Dallas rivalry in the 90's it's forgotten how close Washington was to winning this game. Lets say hypothetically some type of miracle happens and Washington is able to tie it there on their final drive, then they win the overtime coin toss and win it with Chip Lohmiller, how does this Redskins team do against Dallas in the NFCCG the next week? Does one and done at home in this game change anything with the Montana trade in 93?

[7DnBrnc53]

-For all the hoopla about San Fran vs Dallas rivalry in the 90's it's forgotten how close Washington was to winning this game. Lets say hypothetically some type of miracle happens and Washington is able to tie it there on their final drive, then they win the overtime coin toss and win it with Chip Lohmiller, how does this Redskins team do against Dallas in the NFCCG the next week? Does one and done at home in this game change anything with the Montana trade in 93?

I don't see Washington winning in Dallas the next week.

As for the Montana/Young thing, the odds that Young could go probably increase, no doubt. I heard that they were looking at trading Young (that was one package. Another was several draft picks) to either NE or the Seahawks before the 1993 draft so they could get Rick Mirer (who they were real high on).

[ShinobiMusashi]

-For all the hoopla about San Fran vs Dallas rivalry in the 90's it's forgotten how close Washington was to winning this game. Lets say hypothetically some type of miracle happens and Washington is able to tie it there on their final drive, then they win the overtime coin toss and win it with Chip Lohmiller, how does this Redskins team do against Dallas in the NFCCG the next week? Does one and done at home in this game change anything with the Montana trade in 93?

I don't see Washington winning in Dallas the next week.

As for the Montana/Young thing, the odds that Young could go probably increase, no doubt. I heard that they were looking at trading Young (that was one package. Another was several draft picks) to either NE or the Seahawks before the 1993 draft so they could get Rick Mirer (who they were real high on).

Whoa never heard that before. Maybe that would have done Mirer some good to sit behind Montana for a year or so but either way talk about dodging a bullet. I wonder if that was on the table around the same time they were trying to change to that horrendous new logo that got rejected by fans?

I had this game going around the house as background noise this morning. Lovely call by Madden and Summerall. They said at one point Ritchie Petitbon the Redskins DC was set for the Chicago Bears head coaching job(that Dave Wandstedt took).

All of Washington's 13 points came off of turnovers by the defense. If they could have just protected the ball they win this one. Crazy

[Bob Gill]

-For all the hoopla about San Fran vs Dallas rivalry in the 90's it's forgotten how close Washington was to winning this game. Lets say hypothetically some type of miracle happens and Washington is able to tie it there on their final drive, then they win the overtime coin toss and win it with Chip Lohmiller, how does this Redskins team do against Dallas in the NFCCG the next week? Does one and done at home in this game change anything with the Montana trade in 93?

I don't see Washington winning in Dallas the next week.

Yeah, I'd have to agree. They did beat the Cowboys once that season, but only with the help of a very favorable (and probably mistaken) call on what was ruled a fumble by Aikman in the end zone and turned into a game-winning or game-tying touchdown. I don't think they could count on something like that happening again.

[CSKreager]

Clash of the titans? It was a sloppy mudfest