On this Redskins throwback for January 8, the Washington Redskins defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-21 in the 1984 NFC Championship game. This game also led to the first Super Bowl win in franchise history.
Washington held a 21-0 fourth-quarter lead before Joe Montana staged a massive comeback to tie it, but Mark Moseley’s field goal with 40 seconds left secured the win for Washington
Joe Theismann led the Redskins offense, making several clutch plays throughout the contest. He threw for 229 yards and a touchdown.
In addition, John Riggins powered the running game with 123 yards and many of the Redskins’ 24 first downs.
Montana did everything he could to keep the 49ers close until the final minutes. He was a fantastic 27 of 48 for 347 yards in the losing effort. He threw for three straight touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Key Moments in the Victory
- Washington built a lead and then held on in a tense fourth quarter.
- The defense made critical stops against Joe Montana and the 49ers offense.
- Special teams and timely scoring helped secure the narrow win.
- The Redskins advanced to Super Bowl XVII with the victory.
- Fans at RFK Stadium celebrated one of the biggest wins of the Joe Gibbs era.
Throwback to A Classic NFC Title Battle
Both teams played at a high level in this matchup. Meanwhile, the Redskins showed championship toughness when it mattered most. They edged out the defending Super Bowl champions in dramatic fashion to move on to their own Super Bowl date with the Miami Dolphins.
This 1984 contest remains one of the most memorable games in franchise history. It helped define a golden era for the Redskins.