NFL Old School Game of the Week: Browns Prevail over Jets in the "Marathon By The Lake"

When it comes to the Cleveland Browns and the NFL playoffs, they think of the excuriating losses the franchise has endured like "Red Right 88" when Browns quarterback Brian Sipe was intercepted in the end zone by Oakland Raiders safety Mike Davis in the final seconds when Clevland was in field goal range for a game-winning field goal as they lost their 1980 AFC Divisional Playoff 14-12 or the Browns blowing a 17-point lead to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2002 AFC Wild Card Round to lose 36-33.

But on January 4, 1987, the Cleveland Browns would find themselves on the winning end of an epic playoff game that would become known as the "Marathon By The Lake" as they faced the New York Jets in the Divisional Round.

The Browns came into the playoffs with a 12-4 record to earn the #1 seed in the AFC and home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

The Browns were led by head coach Marty Schottenheimer who was in his second full season as the Cleveland head coach after taking over from former head coach Sam Rutigliano midway through the 1984 season.

The Browns also had one of the top young quarterbacks in the league in Bernie Kosar who was in his second year in the league and had led the Browns to the 1985 AFC Central Division title in his rookie year.

However, the Browns were blow a 21-3 lead and lose to the Miami Dolphins 24-21 as Kosar criticized Schottenheimer after the game for their conservative, run-oriented attack while holding a 18-point lead.

This would lead to a change in offensive philosophy for the Browns in 1986 as Kosar threw for 3,854 yards during the regular season as the Browns won eight of their last nine games to earn the top seed in the AFC.

While the Browns came into the playoffs on fire, the Jets came ice cold as they had dropped their last five games of the regular season to finish with a 10-6 record and a Wild Card spot.

A slew of injuries to starting quarterback Ken O'Brien, defensive end Mark Gastineau, and defensive tackle Joe Klecko had led to a five-game losing streak to end the regular season as the Jets were outscored 183-61 as head coach Joe Walton's team limped into the playoffs, the team's fourth in six seasons.

In the AFC Wild Card Game, Pat Ryan started in place of O'Brien, where the backup quarterback's 24-yard run on a 4th down quarterback draw in the 1st quarter sparked the Jets to a 35-15 win over the Kansas City Chiefs and send them on the shores of Lake Erie to take on the Browns in a Divisional Playoff game for the ages.

After the Jets went three-and-out to start the game, the Browns got the ball at their 44-yard-line where on 2nd & 9, Kosar connected with tight end Ozzie Newsome for nine yards and a 1st down which became a 24-yard play when New York defensive end Marty Lyons was called for a personal foul penalty, giving the Browns 15 extra yards as they had a 1st down at the Jets 31-yard-line.

The Jets' defense would stiffen and hold the Browns to just two yards on the next three plays to force a 46-yard field goal attempt by Mark Moseley, which fell short of the uprights and no good to keep the game scoreless.

Following an exchange of punts, the Jets had the ball at their 18-yard-line when Ryan connected with Al Toon for 28 yards on the first play of the drive to give New York a 1st down at their 46-yard-line.

Then after picking up another 1st down, the Jets went into their bag of tracks as Ryan handed the ball off to McNeil, only to have the running back throw a backwards lateral back to Ryan, who then fired a pass for a wide open Wesley Walker, who made the catch for a 42-yard touchdown to put New York on top 7-0 with 5:05 left in the first quarter.

The Browns would then get poor field position for their next possession as Gerald McNeil mishandled the ensuing kickoff, leading to Cleveland to begin the drive at its own two-yard-line.

However, Kosar would get the Browns out of the jam quickly as he connected with Newsome for passes of 21 and 23 yards to get Cleveland to midfield.

A nine-yard pass to Harry Holt and an offsides penalty gave the Browns a 1st down at the Jets' 37-yard-line when Kosar dropped back and found Herman Fontenot for a 37-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7 with 1:44 to go in the opening period.

Browns quarterback  Bernie Kosar would throw for a then Playoff record 489 yards on 33-of-64 passing.

The score remained 7-7 in the second quarter when on a 3rd & 6 from the Jets eight-yard-line, Ryan would be sacked by Browns linebacker Chip Banks and defensive end Reggie Camp for an one-yard-loss which forced an New York punt, but even worse led to Ryan limp off the field with a pulled groin.

The Jets would punt the the ball back to the Browns who took over at exactly the 50-yard-line when Kosar hit three passes in a row: a 13-yarder to Newsome, a 3-yarder to Fontenot, and a 25-yarder to Mack to give Cleveland a 1st & goal at the New York nine-yard-line.

But an holding penalty would push the Browns 10 yards back and eventually kill the drive as Moseley was forced to come on and kick a 38-yard field goal to give Cleveland a 10-7 lead with 5:51 left in the second quarter.

When the Jets' offense come onto the field for their next possession, O' Brien came onto the field with them, replacing Ryan. 

O'Brien's first pass was complete to Toon for 11 yards but the Jets would be forced to punt again when McNeil was dropped for a three-yard loss on 3rd & 1.

The Jets would get the ball back at their 31-yard-line with 89 seconds left in the first half and a chance to pick up some points before halftime.

O'Brien scrambled for nine yards to begin the drive, then after a sack by Camp that dropped him for a three-yard loss, found McNeil for 12 yards and a 1st down at the Jets' 49-yard-line.

Soon, the Jets would be faced with a 4th & 4 at the Cleveland 45-yard-line when Walton decided not to punt the ball away and go for the 1st down.

The gamble paid off as O'Brien scrambled for 16 yards to set up Pat Leahy's 46-yard field goal that tied the game at 10 as the first half came to a close.

The Browns would get the ball to start the second half but would go three-and-out, giving the ball back to the Jets who took over at the Browns' 41-yard-line.

From there, McNeil would carry the ball three straight times, gaining 23 yards until he was dropped for a two-yard loss on his fourth straight carry.

Two incomplete passes would force the Jets to settle for another Leahy field goal, this one from 37 yards out to give New York a 13-10 lead with 10:57 left in the third quarter.

The Browns would get the ball back at their 28-yard-line but would quickly be in New York territory as Kosar connected with Holt for a 33-yard completion on 3rd & 1 to give Cleveland a 1st down at the Jets' 30-yard-line.

But the Jets' defense would hold to force a 44-yard field goal attempt by Moseley which sailed wide left to keep the score 13-10 in the Jets' favor.

The two teams would trade punts into the fourth quarter when the Browns got the ball at the 50-yard-line when one play after Mack was dropped for a two-yard-loss on 1st down, Kosar found Newsome for 34 yards and a Cleveland 1st down at the Jets' 18-yard-line.

The Browns would pick up another 1st down when Jets cornerback Russell Carter was called for pass interference to give Cleveland a 1st & goal at the 10-yard-line.

After two runs by Mack that picked up eight yards, Carter would atone for his mistake as he intercepted a Kosar pass intended for Webster Slaughter in the corner of the end zone to stop the Browns from at least tying the game and giving the ball back to the Jets who took over at their 20-yard-line with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Jets would drive to the Cleveland 43-yard-line before punting the ball back to the Browns who took over at their 17-yard-line with 4:31 to go in the fourth quarter.

But on 1st down, Kosar was intercepted again, this time by the Jets' other cornerback, Jerry Holmes on a pass intended for Fontenot to give New York the ball at the Browns' 25-yard-line.

That is when O'Brien handed the ball off to McNeil, who took it around the right side for a 25-yard touchdown to increase New York's lead to 20-10 with 4:14 left and leading Jets radio broadcaster and future ESPN anchor Charley Steiner to declare "The Jets are going to win this football game! The Jets are going to the AFC Championship Game!"

It certainly appeared that way as the Browns needed at least 10 points in the final four minutes of regulation to force overtime and had only one timeout left in their pocket.

Cleveland would begin its next possession at its 32-yard-line when an holding penalty pushed the Browns back 10 yards for 1st & 20 when Kosar was sacked by Lyons for a four-yard loss to set up 2nd & 24 at the Cleveland 18-yard-line.

The next play would see a pair of offsetting penalties forcing the two teams to replay 2nd & 24 when the turning point of the game.

Kosar would drop back and throw an incomplete pass only to have Gastineau dropped his helmet down and hit Kosar in the back to draw an roughing-the-passer penalty to not only give the Browns 15 yards but an automatic 1st down.

So instead of 3rd & 24 from the 18-yard-line, the Browns had a 1st & 10 from their 33-yard-line.

Mark Gastineau's late hit on Bernie Kosar gave the Browns new life as they trailed 20-10 with over four minutes left in regulation.

After two more incomplete passes, Kosar would get rolling as he hit Reggie Langhorne for 10 yards and a 1st down at the Browns' 43-yard-line, then connected with Langhorne again, this time for 13 yards and a 1st down at the Jets' 44-yard-line.

Kosar would then complete passes to Brian Brennan of 22 and 19 yards to set up 1st & goal at the three-yard-line where he connected Curtis Dickey for two yards before handing the ball off to Mack who punched it in for the one-yard touchdown to make it 20-17 with 1:57 left in regulation.

The Browns would attempt an onside kick but the Jets' Marion Barber recovered it at the Cleveland 45-yard-line as New York needed just one 1st down to ice the game.

But the Jets would lose three yards on three straight running plays to force a punt with 1:13 left that was downed at the Cleveland' seven-yard-line, only to have it nullified by a holding penalty on Barber to push the Jets back 10 yards and force them to re-kick.

This time, the punt traveled 36 yards and was returned by McNeil for 11 yards to give the Browns the ball at their 33-yard-line, a 26-yard chance in field position, with 51 seconds left and no timeouts remaining.

Kosar would throw a pass to Brennan which fell incomplete but drew a pass interference penalty on Jets defensive back Carl Howard, resulting in a 25-yard gain for the Browns and a 1st down at the New York 42-yard-line.

That is when Kosar dropped back and fired a deep pass for Slaughter, who made a sliding catch at the Jets' five-yard-line for a 37-yard completion to give Cleveland a 1st & goal.

As the Browns celebrated Slaughter's catch, Kosar tried to get the team lined up for a shot at the end zone which almost backfired as Kosar's pass for Slaughter was almost intercepted by Carter, who got one hand on the ball but could not complete the catch.

Following this near disaster, Schottenheimer sent in the field goal unit as Moseley kicked a 22-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with seven seconds left in regulation.

Miraculously, the Browns had scored 10 points in the final two minutes to send the game into overtime.

The Jets won the coin toss and elected to receive but would go three-and-out to punt the ball back to the Browns who took over at their 26-yard-line.

Kosar would complete a six-yard pass to Fontenot to begin the drive which was followed by a five-yard run by Mack to pick up a 1st down at the Cleveland 37-yard-line.

After an incomplete pass on 1st down, Kosar would complete his next three passes for 23 yards to set up 2nd & 1 at the Jets' 40-yard-line when Kosar lofted a deep pass that was caught by Langhorne for a 35-yard gain to set up 1st & goal at the five-yard-line.

Schottenheimer decided to send in the field goal unit as Moseley would attempt a 23-yard chip shot to send the Browns to the AFC Championship Game.

But shockingly, Moseley's kick sailed wide right and no good keeping it 20-20 and giving the ball back to the Jets at their 20-yard-line.

Seemingly have found no life, the Jets' drive began with back-to-back passes from O'Brien as he hit tight end Mickey Shuler for seven yards and Toon for 12 yards for a New York 1st down at their 39-yard-line.

But a sack of O'Brien by Browns defensive end Carl Hairston, one of the Browns' playoff record nine sacks, for a seven-yard loss killed the drive and forced the Jets to punt the ball away.

After both teams went three-and-out on their ensuing possessions, the Browns would get the ball at their 31-yard-line with 2:38 left in the overtime session.

But since it was a playoff game, the Browns would have more than 2 1/2 minutes to win the game as NFL rules dictate that a postseason game must have a winner, so if more than one overtime period is needed, then so be it.

On this drive, it was time for the running game to take over as Mack picked up four yards on 3rd & 1 at the Cleveland 40-yard-line, then ran for eight more on 2nd & 4 to give the Browns a 1st down at the Jets' 42-yard-line.

An seven-yard run by Fontenot set up 3rd & 4 at the Jets' 35-yard-line as the second overtime began when Mack busted through to run for 15 yards and a 1st down at the New York 20-yard-line.

Mack would run the ball two more times gaining 11 yards before Schottenheimer called on Moseley again to attempt a 27-yard field goal.

This time, Moseley's kick sailed through the uprights 2:02 into the second overtime period to give Cleveland a 23-20 double overtime win and their first trip to the AFC Championship Game after winning the third longest game in NFL history.

Mark Moseley kicks the game-winning field goal in double overtime.

The loss to the Browns would begin a precipitous decline for the Jets as they would finish with only one winning season and one playoff appearance over the next decade.

As for the Browns, the high from their win over the Jets would be followed by a crushing low as they would lose to the Denver Broncos 23-20 in overtime with Broncos quarterback John Elway leading the Broncos on a 15-play, 98-yard touchdown drive in the final five minutes of regulation that would become known as "The Drive".

The two teams would meet again in the following year's AFC Championship Game where the Browns' hearts would be broken again when Byner looked to be on his way to the game-tying touchdown, only to have the ball knocked loose and recovered by Broncos defensive back Jeremiah Castille at the Denver' two-yard-line in a play that would go to be known as "The Fumble" as the Broncos would come away with the 38-33 victory.

After another playoff loss in 1988, Schottenheimer was fired by the Browns and replaced by Bud Carson who helped lead the Browns back to the AFC Championship Game, only to lose again to the Broncos, this time by the score of 37-21.

Since then, the Browns have only made the playoffs three times and won only one playoff game.

NFL Old School Game of the Week: Redskins Come Back To Beat Eagles in Wild Opening Day Shootout

Redskins wide receiver Charlie Brown caught five passes for 97 yards and scored two touchdowns in Washington's 1982 Opening Day win.

As fans prepared for the 1982 NFL season, they entered with tepidness rather than excitement.
That was because the NFL Players Association or the just the players were threatening to go on strike following the second week of games if the players' demand of receiving 55 percent of all revenue was not met.
Even though a strike was looming, the season did get underway on September 12, 1982 with one of the 14 games being an old NFC East grudge match between the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles on a hot afternoon at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
The Eagles entered the 1982 season hoping to make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season and perhaps returning to the Super Bowl after losing to the Oakland Raiders 27-10 in Super Bowl XV just two years prior.
Philadelphia was coached by Dick Vermeil, who was in his seventh season as head coach of the Eagles and directed an offense which featured quarterback Ron Jaworski, running back Wilbert Montgomery(who had ran for over 1,000 yards in three of the previous four seasons) and wide receiver Harold Carmichael.
The Eagles also had most of their starters back from a defense that ranked #1 in 1981, so Philly fans had high expectations for the Eagles.
While the Eagles were hoping to continue their string of making the playoffs, the Redskins were hoping to return to the playoffs for the first time since 1977 as they entered the 1982 season.
The Redskins were hoping to build off a 8-8 season in 1981 in which they won eight of their final 11 games after starting out the season 0-5.
Joe Gibbs was more comfortable entering his second season as head coach of the Redskins with an offense which featured veteran quarterback Joe Theismann and veteran running back John Riggins.
But the biggest question mark entering the season for the Redskins was who would be the kicker as veteran Mark Moseley had been in a tight battle with rookie Dan Miller.
Miller had been given the placekicking duties for the final two preseason games, allowing for Moseley to keep his job as the Redskins traveled to Philadelphia, where Moseley make his presence felt in the final minutes of the game.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard as Montgomery scored on a four-yard touchdown run to culminate a 10-play, 67-yard drive which saw Jaworski complete five of six passes for 48 yards on the drive, giving Philadelphia a 7-0 lead with 9:20 to go in the opening quarter.
Then on the first play following a Redskins punt, Jaworski hit Montgomery on a 34-yard pass to put the Eagles at the Washington 29-yard-line.
However, the Redskins defense allowed only two more yards on the next three plays, forcing the Eagles to settle for a 44-yard field goal by Tony Franklin which increased their lead to 10-0 with 3:01 left in the first quarter.

Eagles running back Wilbert Montgomery carried the ball 15 times for 63 yards and caught four passes for 99 yards while scoring three touchdowns(2 rushing, 1 receiving).

Things were not going well for the Redskins and it looked like they were in deep trouble after the ensuing kickoff when Mike Nelms fumbled the kickoff which was recovered by Eagles linebacker Reggie Wilkes at the Washington 18-yard-line.
But on the second play following the fumble, the Eagles gave the ball right back to the Redskins as Montgomery was stripped of the football by Washington linebacker Neal Olkewicz,which was recovered by cornerback Joe Lavender at the Philadelphia 15-yard-line.
The fumble recovery seem to spark the Redskins offense as Theismann would direct Washington to the Eagles' 29-yard-line until he was sacked and stripped of the ball by Eagles defensive lineman Greg Brown, leading to a recovery by defensive end Dennis Harrison.
The score was still 10-0 in favor of the Eagles midway through the second quarter when the Redskins put together a 11-play, 87-yard drive where Theismann completed four of five passes for 66 yards, with the big play being a 43-yard pass to Art Monk to set up 1st & goal at the Eagles' seven-yard-line.
Theismann and Monk would connect again, this time on a five-yard touchdown to cut the Eagles' lead to 10-7 with just 2:19 left in the first half.
Then after forcing the Eagles to punt, the Redskins got the ball at the Philadelphia 46-yard-line where it took Washington five plays to get back into the end zone as Theismann hit Charlie Brown for an eight-yard touchdown to give the Redskins a 14-10 lead with 35 seconds left before halftime.
The Eagles got the ball back at their 20-yard-line and seemed to poise to run out the clock as they ran the ball for three yards only to have the Redskins call timeout in hopes of forcing an Eagles punt to give Washington a chance to increase their lead.
The Eagles decided to put the ball in Jaworski's hands and see what he could do with it as he completed three straight passes for 50 yards, including a 32-yarder to Ron Smith with one second left, to set up another 44-yard field goal by Franklin as time expired in the first half to make it a one-point game, 14-13 in favor of the Redskins.
Philadelphia would get the ball to start the second half and would drive 86 yards in eight plays as Jaworski completed all four of his passes on the drive for 75 yards with the biggest pass being a 46-yard completion to Carmichael on 3rd & 8 at the Redskins 48-yard-line, which set up a 1st & goal at the two-yard-line.
From there, Montgomery punched into the end zone on a toss sweep to the right side to put the Eagles back on top, 20-14 with 10:26 left in the third quarter.
The Eagles defense would force another Redskins punt to get the ball back at their 40-yard-line where Montgomery carried ball twice for 18 yards, then caught a screen pass from Jaworski and took it all way to the house for his third touchdown of the game, a 42-yard reception to push the Philadelphia lead back to 13 points at 27-14 with 6:34 left in the third quarter.
The Eagles had taken control of the game again as they would carry their nearly two-touchdown lead into the fourth quarter as Philadelphia had the ball at the Redskins' 39-yard-line when Smith made a catch for an apparent 1st down.
But the referees threw a flag calling Smith for offsides, pushing the Eagles back five yards to the 44-yard-line when Jaworski was sacked by Olkewicz, pushing the Eagles back into Redskins territory and eventually leading to a Philadelphia punt.
Taking over at his 22-yard-line, Theismann decided to go deep on the first play from scrimmage and hit Brown in a stride on a deep fly pattern along the left sideline for a 78-yard touchdown to cut the Eagles' lead to 27-21 exactly 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann completed 28 of 39 passes for 382 yards and threw three touchdown passes.

After an Eagles punt and a 28-yard return by Nelms, the Redskins would begin their next drive in Eagles territory at the Philadelphia 48-yard-line with 8:45 to play.
It would take them five plays to get back into the end zone as Riggins would punch it from two yards out to give the Redskins the lead once again, 28-27 with 6:17 left in the game.
On their ensuing possession, the Eagles picked up nine yards on three plays, forcing a punting situation from their 23-yard-line.
That is when the Eagles attempted a fake punt as the snap went to upback Frank LeMaster, only to have LeMaster bobble the snap and be drop for an one-yard loss, giving the ball to the Redskins at the Philadelphia 22-yard-line with 5:10 left and a chance to put the game away with a touchdown(There was no two-point conversion back in 1982).
However, the Redskins gained nine yards on the next three plays, forcing their own 4th & 1 situation at the Eagles' 13-yard-line.
Unlike Vermeil, Gibbs decided to play it safe and called on Moseley to kick a 30-yard field goal which increased the Redskins' lead to 31-27 with 2:48 left in the fourth quarter.
Taking over at his 10-yard-line, Jaworski was able to get the Eagles into Redskins territory right before the two-minute warning, but was almost driven out of Washington territory when "Jaws" was sacked by Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley dropping him for a 11-yard-loss back to the Washington 48-yard-line as the two-minute hit.
On the very next play, Jaworski would hit tight end John Spagnola for 17 yards, followed by a seven-yard pass to Billy Campfield to give the Eagles a 1st down at the Redskins' 24-yard-line with 1:44 left.
Following an incomplete pass, Jaworski would hit Campfield again, this time for 20 yards to set up 1st & goal from the four-yard-line.
From there, Jaworski would loft a pass for Carmichael in the left corner of the end zone, who tipped the ball and then made the catch lying on his back for the go-ahead touchdown to give the Eagles a 34-31 lead with just 64 seconds to go in regulation.
Needing at least a field goal to force overtime, the Redskins got good field position when Nelms returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards to the Washington 37-yard-line.
That is when Theismann completed three straight passes for 23 yards to put the Redskins at the Eagles' 40-yard-line, needing one more 1st down to get in range for Moseley to attempt a field goal.
An offsides penalty and a four-yard run by Theismann put the Redskins at the Eagles' 31-yard-line with six seconds left when Gibbs called on Moseley to try and tie the game with a 48-yard field goal.
Moseley calmly made the 48-yard field goal as time expired, tying the game at 34 and sending the game into overtime.
The Redskins won the coin toss and elected to receiver, taking over at their 29-yard-line to begin the overtime period.
Washington picked up five yards on the first two plays of the drive forcing a 3rd & 5 when Theismann handed the ball off to Clarence Harmon who ran for six yards and a 1st down at the Philadelphia 40-yard-line.
After an holding penalty pushed back them 10 yards to the 30-yard-line for a 1st & 20, Theismann connected with Monk for a 28-yard completion to put the Redskins in Eagles territory with a 1st down at the Philadelphia 42-yard-line.
Then on 3rd & 4 at the Eagles' 36-yard-line, Theismann rolled to his left and fired a pass toward Monk, which just missed the fingers of Eagles cornerback and future NFL head coach Herman Edwards, to find Monk who made the catch at the 24-yard-line, then ran 15 yards to the Eagles' nine-yard-line, for a 27-yard completion to set up 1st & goal.
Gibbs wasted no time as he called for Moseley and the field goal unit on 1st down for a game-winning field goal which Moseley made from 26 yards out to give the Redskins a 37-34 overtime win.

Mark Moseley kicked the game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation and the game-winning field goal almost four minutes into the overtime period.

For NFL fans who wanted more of the excitement they saw in the Redskins-Eagles opener, they would have to wait as the players went through on their threat to go on strike, which lasted almost two months until a revolt by some of the players forced an end to the strike.
After the strike ended, the Eagles would lose their next four games and ended finishing the season with a 3-6 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1977.
In the offseason, Vermeil resigned as Eagles head coach, saying he was "burned out" by the experiences of coaching in the NFL.
The Eagles would not return to the playoffs until 1988 and Vermeil would not return to coaching until 1997 when he took became the head coach of the then St. Louis Rams and leading them to a Super Bowl following the 1999 season, leading to a second retirement which lasting only one season, as he returned to the sidelines as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs where he coached for five years before retiring for good following the 2005 season.
As for the Redskins, they would go on to finish with the NFL's best record at 8-1 and win four games in the NFL's 16-team postseason tournament to win their first Super Bowl and first NFL championship since 1937.
The man responsible most for the Redskins' run to the Super Bowl was Moseley as he finished the regular season making 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points for 76 points in helping Washington earn the #1 seed in the NFC which they used to their advantage as they got to play three games at home, which they all won, before defeating the Miami Dolphins 27-17 in Super Bowl XVII as Moseley kicked two field goals in that game.
For his regular season, Moseley would be win the NFL MVP for that season, the first and only time a kicker as won the MVP award.
Not bad for a man who was almost cut in the preseason.
To know more about Mark Moseley's 1982 season, check out my article on the Redskins' win against the New York Giants by clicking on the highlighted link: https://oldschoolsportsblog.blogspot.com/2018/12/nfl-old-school-game-of-week-moseley.html

NFL Old School Game of The Week: Moseley Breaks FG Record as Redskins Clinch Playoff Berth

Redskins kicker Mark Moseley kicks the game-winning field goal in Washington's 1982 game with the New York Giants.

Kickers are not usually recognized as great players.
In fact, some folks do not even regard kickers as players.
Perhaps this perception is why only two true placekicker, Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen, and one
punter, Ray Guy, are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So many NFL fans under the age of 30 might be surprised to hear that a kicker has won the NFL MVP award.That happened in 1982 and the kicker who received was Redskins place kicker Mark Moseley broke the record for most made consecutive field goals.
Moseley had been the Redskins’ kicker since 1974 but in the 1982 preseason he was in danger of being
cut as second-year head coach Joe Gibbs had picked kicker Dan Miller in the 11th round of the NFL draft.
But after Miller missed two field goals in the Redskins’ final preseason game, Moseley was still the
Redskins kicker.
Moseley rewarded Gibbs by kicking the game-tying field goal and then the game-winning field goal in the
team’s season opener for a 37-34 overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles, then kicked three more field
goals the following week as the Redskins defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21-13.
Then, the NFL Players Union went on strike for 57 days, wiping out two months of the season and
reducing the amount of games in the season from 16 to 9.
When the Redskins came back after the strike, their offense, which featured quarterback Joe Theismann and
running back John Riggins, sputtered as they only scored five touchdowns over the next four games.
But Moseley was able to bail out the Redskins as he made nine field goals, including four in a 12-7 win over
the St. Louis Cardinals.
As the 5-1 Redskins prepared to host the New York Giants, Moseley had kicked 18 consecutive field goals
dating back to the 1981 season and was three field goals away from breaking Garo Yepremian’s record of
20 straight field goals he made during the 1977-78 seasons.
The Giants came in with a 3-3 record under fourth-year head coach Ray Perkins but without Phil Simms
who was lost for the season after tearing a ligament in his knee during the preseason.
He was replaced by Scott Brunner, but days before their game with the Redskins, the Giants learned they
would have to replace their head coach as Perkins announced he would leave the team after the season to
replace Paul “Bear” Bryant as head coach at the University of Alabama and that defensive coordinator Bill
Parcells would become the Giants’ head coach in 1983.
The Giants hoped Perkins would not lose the locker room as the team needed a win against Washington to
keep their playoff hopes alive as the postseason would be expanded to 16 teams, eight per conference
because of the shortened season.
Washington could actually secure a spot in the playoffs if they defeated the Giants as the two division rivals
prepared to play on a cold, snowy afternoon in the nation’s capital.

Giants quarterback Scott Brunner(12) only completed 10 of 26 passes for 128 yards but threw one touchdown.

The Redskins got the ball to start the game but turned it over when Theismann was intercepted by linebacker
Brian Kelley, giving the ball to the Giants at their own 46-yard-line.
On the first play of the drive, Brunner hit wide receiver Johnny Perkins for 11 yards, then found fullback
Rob Carpenter for 11 more yards on a 3rd-and-6, then wrapped up the drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass
to Perkins that gave the Giants a 7-0 lead with 6:33 left in the first quarter.
The Redskins responded to the touchdown by driving into Giants territory and were poised to score a
touchdown when Theismann found Art Monk for a 29-yard pass play, only to have Giants cornerback
Terry Jackson knock the ball loose and free safety Beasley Reece recover the fumble at the New York’
three-yard-line.
Washington forced the Giants to punt and the Redskins got the ball back at the Giants’ 47-yard-line.
The Redskins seemed on the verge of scoring a touchdown when Monk atoned for his fumble and made a
26-yard reception to the eight-yard-line setting up a 1st-and-goal.
But the Giants defense held Washington to five yards on the next three plays and forced a 20-yard field goal
by Moseley.
Moseley made the chip shot for his 19th consecutive straight field goal to cut the New York lead to 7-3,
49 seconds into the second quarter.
The rest of the second quarter would be a nightmare for Theismann as he would throw three more
interceptions to bring his total to four in the first half, tying a career high for most interceptions in a single
game.
But only the second of three interceptions in the second quarter, one by Terry Jackson off a tipped pass by
linebacker Harry Carson, and subsequent 14-yard return to the Washington 25, help led to Giant points as
Butch Woolfolk punched it from the one-yard-line to extend the Giants lead to 14-3 as the first half came to
a close.
Theismann tried to atone for his mistakes on the Redskins’ opening possession of the second half as he threw
pair of 17-yard completions, one to tight end Don Warren and the other to wide receiver Charlie Brown,
to drive Washington to the Giants’ 22 in nine plays.
On the next play, Theismann handed the ball to running back Joe Washington, who rolled to the right side,
and was poised to throw a halfback option pass, but his primary target, Monk, was covered.
So, Washington decided to cut back to the left and try to pick as much yardage as he could by running the
ball to salvage the play.
He did more than salvage the play as he scored a 22-yard touchdown run, thanks in large part to a block
from Theismann on Terry Jackson to make a 14-9 game.

Joe Theismann handed the ball off to John Riggins 31 times as "The Diesel" ran for 87 yards.

Even they had finally got into the end zone, the Redskins could not cut the lead any further as Moseley
missed the extra point, the third missed extra point of the season and first since he missed two extra points
since the Redskins’ second game of the season.
The score was still 14-9 at the start of the 4th quarter when the Redskins began a drive at their own
35-yard-line.
That is when they called on Riggins, who carried the ball eight times for 42 yards, but his last carry being a
two-yard loss, that led a 4th-and-5 at the Giants’ 14-yard-line.
Gibbs decided to go for the field goal since they were nearly 8 ½ minutes left in the game and give Moseley
chance to tie the record.
Moseley came on and for the 20th straight time made a field goal as his 31-yard field goal cut the
New York lead to 14-12 with 8:23 left in the game.
The Redskins defense would force the Giants to go three-and-out on their next possession, giving their
offense the ball back at their own 31-yard-line.
Three plays gained nine yards setting up a 4th-and-1 at the Washington 40-yard-line.
Needing six inches, Gibbs decided to go for it and give it to Riggins.
But unlike his famous touchdown run in Super Bowl XVII seven weeks later, Riggins was stopped for a by
Kelley and cornerback Mark Haynes, giving New York the ball at the Redskins’ 39-yard-line with 5:25 to
play in the game and clinging to a two-point lead.
Now the Giants offense had to do something they had been unable to do in the second half; move the ball
and get some 1st downs as they had been held to 56 yards of total offense up to this point.
They gained four yards on 1st down, but on 2nd-and-6 Brunner was sacked by linebacker Mel Kaufman for
a seven-yard loss and then was sacked by again by the combination of Mark Murphy, Neal Olkewicz, and
Larry Kubin for a 11-yard-loss, forcing the Giants to punt the ball back to the Redskins who took over at
their own 29 with 3:28 left.
On 2nd-and-8 at the 31, Theismann found tight end Rick Walker for 20 yards that along with a five-yard
facemask penalty on Reese gave the Redskins a 1st down at the Giants’ 44-yard-line.
Then after being pushed back five yards and facing 2nd-and-15, Theismann connected with Brown on
two straight completions, the first for seven yards, and then again for 14 yards to give the Redskins another
1st down at the New York 25.
Gibbs felt that they were in Moseley’s range so he decided to go back to Riggins who gained six yards on
1st down, then six more on 2nd down.
But on the 2nd down run, Walker was called for holding pushing the Redskins back to the New York 29
with nearly a minute left.
Gibbs decided to stick with Riggins who gained five yards on the next play, but then lost a yard on the next
run, which had the Redskins back at the 25-yard-line facing 4th-and-10.
Gibbs let the clock run down to nine seconds, then called timeout and called on Moseley to come on and
attempt a game-winning 42-yard field goal.
Moseley had made four kicks earlier in the season longer than this one but with the game on the line and
the snow falling, this kick was not a lock.
Plus, there was added pressure of breaking Yepremian’s record with this field goal.
With Jeff Bostic snapping and Theismann holding, everything was in place for Moseley to try and make
history.
The snap was perfect, the hold was perfect, but the kick was not perfect as linebacker Byron Hunt leaped in
and got a fingertip on the ball, making the kick wobbly and uncertain where it would land.
But fortunately for Moseley and the Redskins, the kick went through the uprights with a few yards to spare
to give Moseley his record-setting 21st field goal in a row, a 15-14 win over the Giants, and clinch the
Redskins their first playoff berth since 1976.

Mark Moseley celebrates with Joe Theismann after his 42-yard field goal set the NFL record for most consecutive field goals made and sent the Redskins into the 1982 playoffs.

Perkins would not win another game as the Giants’ head coach as New York lost their last two games of the
season to finish with a 3-6 record and out of the playoffs.
Perkins would go 32-15-1 in four seasons at Alabama before returning to the NFL in 1987 as the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers’ head coach where he went 20-41 until he was fired with three games left in the 1990 season
while Parcells would direct the Giants to two Super Bowl titles in that same eight-year span.
As for Moseley, he would extend his streak of consecutive field goals made to 23 until he missed a 40-yarder
in the Redskins’ regular season finale against the Cardinals.
That miss actually started a slump for Moseley as he only made two out of six field goal attempts in the
Redskins’ three playoff victories over the Detroit Lions, the Minnesota Vikings, and Dallas Cowboys
until he made both of his field goal attempts in the Redskins’ 27-17 win in Super Bowl XVII over the
Miami Dolphins.
The following season, Moseley would led the league in points as he accounted for 161 of the team’s
then-record 541 points.
Moseley would remain with the Redskins until the middle of the 1986 season when he was released,
but signed on with the Cleveland Browns later that same year and kicked the game-tying and game-winning
field goals in the Browns’ 23-20 double overtime win over the New York Jets.
After the ‘86 season, Moseley retired with 300 field goals and 1,382 points.
As for the record, Moseley held the mark for seven years until Bears kicker Kevin Butler broke the record
with 24 straight field goals.
The current record for most field goals made in a row is 42, held by Mike Vanderjagt since 2004.