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1972 Washington Redskins season
NFL team season (lost in Super Bowl) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 1972 Washington Redskins season was the 41st in the National Football League (NFL) and the 36th in Washington, D.C. The Redskins were trying to build on the success of the previous season, in which they had finished 9–4–1 and made the postseason for the first time in 26 seasons. They ultimately finished the year 11–3, the best record in franchise history and only the second ten-win season in team history after 1942 (the win record would not be surpassed until the 1983 season).

Head coach George Allen, in just his second season with the team, took the Redskins to their first Super Bowl. The team, who had missed the postseason in the entirety of the 1950s and 1960s, won its first postseason game since 1943, and appeared in its first league championship game since 1945.
The NFC champion Redskins would ultimately lose a close Super Bowl VII, 14–7, to the undefeated Miami Dolphins.
The 1972 season was the first in which the team wore its longtime logo, which featured a Native American head in profile within a gold circle. The logo would stay with the team for the next 48 seasons until both it and the team nickname were retired after the 2019 season.[1] With the Washington Senators relocating to Texas in 1971, the Baltimore Bullets not relocating until the summer of 1973, and the Washington Capitals having their inaugural season in 1974, the 1972 Redskins were at the time the D.C. area's only team playing in one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.
Running back Larry Brown led the league with 101.3 yard per game (while rushing for 1,216 yards) on his way to be named league MVP, becoming the first Redskin to receive the honor.
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Offseason
NFL draft
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Roster
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Preseason
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Schedule
Game summaries
Week P1: vs. Baltimore Colts
Preseason Week 1: Washington Redskins 33 vs. Baltimore Colts 3 – Game summary
Week P2: vs. Denver Broncos
Preseason Week 2: Denver Broncos 0 at Washington Redskins 41 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: August 11, 1972
- Game time: 8:05 p.m. EDT
- Game attendance: 46,043
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV: WMAL-TV
Week P3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Preseason Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles 10 at Washington Redskins 34 – Game summary
Week P4: at Detroit Lions
Preseason Week 4: Washington Redskins 10 vs. Detroit Lions 23 – Game summary
Week P5: vs. Miami Dolphins
Preseason Week 5: Miami Dolphins 24 at Washington Redskins 27 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: August 31, 1972
- Game time: 8:05 p.m. EDT
- Game attendance: 52,098
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV: NBC
Week P6: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Preseason Week 6: Washington Redskins 10 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 10 – Game summary
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 9, 1972
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
- Game attendance: 42,227
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV: WMAL-TV
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Regular season
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Schedule
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 1: Washington Redskins 24 at Minnesota Vikings 21 – Game summary
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: September 18, 1972
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C); relative humidity 67%; wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn) (Mostly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 47,900
- Referee: Norm Schachter
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play-by-play), Howard Cosell (color commentator) and Don Meredith (color commentator)
- [2]
Week 2: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Week 2: St. Louis Cardinals 24 at Washington Redskins 10 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: September 24, 1972
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C); relative humidity 82%; wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn) (Overcast)
- Game attendance: 53,039
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck (play-by-play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator) and Andy Musser (studio reporter)
- [3]
Week 3: at New England Patriots
Week 3: Washington Redskins 23 at New England Patriots 24 – Game summary
at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: October 1, 1972
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C); relative humidity 63%; wind 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn) (Mostly cloudy)
- Game attendance: 60,999
- Referee: John McDonough
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Whitaker (play-by-play), Jim Morse (color commentator) and Dick Stockton (studio reporter)
- [4]
Week 4: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 4: Philadelphia Eagles 0 at Washington Redskins 14 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: October 8, 1972
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C); relative humidity 53%; wind 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn) (Clear)
- Game attendance: 53,039
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck (play-by-play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator) and Andy Musser (studio reporter)
- [5]
Week 5: at St. Louis Cardinals
Week 5: Washington Redskins 33 at St. Louis Cardinals 3 – Game summary
at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: October 15, 1972
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C); relative humidity 59%; wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn) (Overcast)
- Game attendance: 50,454
- Referee: Jack Reader
- TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson (play-by-play), Jim Morse (color commentator) and Dick Stockton (studio reporter)
- [6]
Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 6: Dallas Cowboys 20 at Washington Redskins 24 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: October 22, 1972
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C); relative humidity 64%; wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn) (Partly cloudy)
- Game attendance: 53,039
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- TV announcers (CBS): Ray Scott (play-by-play), Pat Summerall (color commentator) and Dick Stockton (studio reporter)
- [7]
Week 7: at New York Giants
Week 7: Washington Redskins 23 at New York Giants 16 – Game summary
at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
- Date: October 29, 1972
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C); relative humidity 91%; wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn) (Overcast)
- Game attendance: 62,878
- Referee: Fred Swearingen
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Whitaker (play-by-play), Jim Morse (color commentator) and Andy Musser (studio reporter)
- [8]
Week 8: at New York Jets
Week 8: Washington Redskins 35 at New York Jets 17 – Game summary
at Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York
- Date: November 5, 1972
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C); relative humidity 86%; wind 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn) (Overcast)
- Game attendance: 63,962
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV: NONE (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers strike)
- [9]
Week 9: vs. New York Giants
Week 9: New York Giants 13 at Washington Redskins 27 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: November 12, 1972
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C); relative humidity 73%; wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn) (Mostly clear)
- Game attendance: 53,039
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (CBS): Ray Scott (play-by-play), Pat Summerall (color commentator) and Dick Stockton (studio reporter)
- [10]
Week 10: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 10: Atlanta Falcons 13 at Washington Redskins 27 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: November 20, 1972
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C); relative humidity 90%; wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn) (Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 53,039
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play-by-play), Howard Cosell (color commentator) and Don Meredith (color commentator)
- [11]
Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 11: Green Bay Packers 16 at Washington Redskins 21 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: November 26, 1972
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C); relative humidity 87%; wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn) (Half cloudy)
- Game attendance: 53,039
- Referee: John McDonough
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck (play-by-play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator) and Tim Ryan (studio reporter)
- [12]
Week 12: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 12: Washington Redskins 23 at Philadelphia Eagles 7 – Game summary
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: December 3, 1972
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C); relative humidity 78%; wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn) (Clear)
- Game attendance: 65,720
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Whitaker (play-by-play), Jim Morse (color commentator) and Dick Stockton (studio reporter)
- [13]
Week 13: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 13: Washington Redskins 24 at Dallas Cowboys 34 – Game summary
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: December 9, 1972
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C); relative humidity 95%; wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn) (Fog)
- Game attendance: 65,136
- Referee: Fred Swearingen
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Whitaker (play-by-play), Jim Morse (color commentator) and Don Criqui (studio reporter)
- [14]
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 14: Buffalo Bills 24 at Washington Redskins 17 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: December 17, 1972
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 22 °F (−6 °C); relative humidity 52%; wind 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn); wind chill 5 °F (−15 °C) (Mostly clear)
- Game attendance: 53,039
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson (play-by-play) and Kyle Rote (color commentator)
- [15]
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Stats
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Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kicking
Punting
Kick return
Punt return
Sacks
Interceptions
Fumbles
Tackles
Scoring summary
Team
Quarter-by-quarter
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Postseason
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Schedule
Game summaries
NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. Green Bay Packers
NFC Divisional Playoffs: Green Bay Packers 3 at Washington Redskins 16 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: December 24, 1972
- Game time: 12 Noon EST
- Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C); relative humidity 98%; wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn) (Drizzle)
- Game attendance: 53,140
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck (play-by-play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator) and Bruce Roberts (studio reporter)
- [16]
NFC Championship Game: vs. Dallas Cowboys
NFC Championship Game: Dallas Cowboys 3 at Washington Redskins 26 – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: December 31, 1972
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C); relative humidity 99%; wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn) (Overcast)
- Game attendance: 53,129
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck (play-by-play), Pat Summerall (color commentator) and Bruce Roberts (studio reporter)
- [17]
Super Bowl VII: vs. Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins 14 vs. Washington Redskins 7 – Game summary
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
- Date: January 14, 1973
- Game time: 3:49 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C); relative humidity 53%; wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn) (sunny, hazy)[18]
- Game attendance: 90,182 (paid); 81,706 (actual)
- Referee: Tom Bell
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy (play-by-play), Al DeRogatis (color commentator) and Bill Enis (sideline reporter)
- [19]
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Awards and records
- Larry Brown, NFL MVP[20]
- Larry Brown, Bert Bell Award[21]
- Larry Brown, AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year
- Billy Kilmer, NFL leader (tied) in touchdown passes (19).[22] NFL leader in passer rating (84.8).
References
Further reading
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