Welcome to Flashback Friday, where we take a trip down memory lane to revisit yesteryear moments in Washington football history. From jaw-dropping plays to nail-biting finishes, Washington football has provided its fans with countless memories throughout the years. Today, we turn our attention back to December 15, 1990, when the Washington Redskins took on the New England Patriots. As we dive into the archives, let’s try relive the events that unfolded on that historic day.
Each #FlashbackFriday, we’ll uncover performances and milestones that are part of the franchise’s storied history. So, grab your virtual time machine, fasten your seat belts, and get ready to embark on a captivating journey through the annals of franchise history. Let’s relish in the nostalgia, as we honor the past and pay tribute to the legends who’ve donned the burgundy and gold.
On This Day
Washington Redskins 25 New England Patriots 10
Date: December 15, 1990
Venue: Foxboro Stadium
Attendance: 22,286
It was cold. It was wet. But in the end, it was an important victory.
The Patriots were bad in 1990. Exceptionally bad. People forget that fact after the success they would realize during the Bill Belichek / Tom Brady days. New England had lost a franchise-record 11 straight games coming into their match-up with Washington. It was also the NFL’s lowest attendance of the season and by all accounts, there was no way that the 22,000+ number was accurate.
By the end of the first half, even many of those fans had left for greener pastures.
They didn’t even get two minutes of joy.
Kurt Gouveia picked up a fumble less than a minute and a half into the game and took it 39 yards for the score. It was his very first NFL touchdown. Washington hadn’t returned a fumble since Darrell Green had one in 1987.
On the next set of downs, the Patriots duffed their punt and snapped the ball through their end zone for a safety.
The Redskins were up 9-0 and their offense hadn’t even taken the field.
They coasted from there.
Running Rampant
Well, coasted on the back of running back Earnest Byner. He carried the ball a whopping 39 times – including 14 of the first 17 plays.
On the Redskins first offensive drive, they marched the ball 70 yards on 12 plays – 10 of them being Byner runs. On the scoring play, Joe Jacoby smashed two Patriots into the end zone and paved the way for Byner to score from 5 yards out.
Washington’s stud running back put up 149 yards, and surpassed the 1,000 yard mark for the season.
Quarterback Mark Rypien basically had the day off. He only threw 11 balls, and completed just five of them for a grand total of 100 yards.
The Redskins scored a field goal on their next drive and all tolled, had swallowed over 13 minutes of game clock on their first two drives.
It was 19-0 at half time and the game was ostensibly over.
2nd Half
The Patriots did score a touchdown and field goal early in the fourth to make a bit of a game of it, but Washington then answered with two more Chip Lohmiller field goals and sealed the deal.
The Redskin defense was stout. They sacked rookie quarterback Tommy Hudson five times – Eric Williams with two, and Charles Mann, Andre Collins, and Marcus Koch all had one each. They also intercepted Hudson once and forced four Patriot fumbles – one of them resulting in Gouveia’s touchdown.
What It Meant
The win gave Washington their third victory in a row. It also moved Joe Gibbs‘ career mark in December to an astounding 28-7.
Despite the unpleasant conditions, the outcome of getting to 9-5 on the season was very pleasant. It locked down one of the three NFC Wild Card spots for Washington. It was their first playoff appearance in three years.
They beat the Eagles in that Wild Card match-up before losing to the Joe Montana led San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional playoff game.
Flashback Fridays
Thank you for joining us as we step back in time and celebrate the rich heritage of Washington football. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the team, this series aims to ignite your passion and deepen your appreciation for the remarkable moments that have defined our beloved franchise.
Stay tuned each week for a new Flashback Friday article, and be transported back to the unforgettable moments that have defined our beloved team.
Feel free to hit up the Twitter account at @TheHogsdotNetv2 and give your thoughts on the match-up.
