On this week’s slate of NFL games the Las Vegas Raiders meet the Washington Commanders, and for the second week in a row our Throwback Thursday feature will highlight a past Super Bowl matchup, this time between these 2 franchises. It was played on January 22, 1984 at Tampa Stadium, with the Redskins (Washington’s long time team name) a slight favorite. That Redskin team boasted a powerhouse offensive unit and was also defending NFL champions. The Raiders were no slouch, having won a title a few years earlier under coach Tom Flores.
The Raiders’ special teams made the first big play of the game when their bomb squad captain, Derrick Jensen, blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown, the only score of the first quarter. In the second quarter Los Angeles (Raiders’ home at the time), after running a mostly conservative offense, decided to stretch the field. Quarterback Jim Plunkett sailed a 50 yard bomb to Cliff Branch, then hit Branch again in the end zone on a 12 yard scoring pass to up the lead to 14-0. Washington managed a Mark Mosely field goal to cut the lead to 14-3, but with just 12 seconds to go in the half the Raiders made the play that was the turning point. Joe Theismann, with his team backed up deep in their own end, inexplicably attempted a short screen pass that linebacker Jack Squirek promptly intercepted and returned the short 12 yards to the end zone and suddenly it was 21-3.
The Redskins tried to regain some momentum after that crushing blow and succeeded in that somewhat by cobbling together a touchdown drive that ended with a 1 yard John Riggins dive into the end zone, but a blocked extra point tampered that momentum. After that the game became the Marcus Allen show. The Raider running back earned the game’s Most Valuable Player award by running roughshod through Washington’s defense, first scoring on a 5 yard run and then adding a second TD with a highlight reel 74 yard scamper that has been considered the greatest run in Super Bowl history. In all Allen set a then-Super Bowl record of 191 yards rushing on 20 carries. Matt Bahr finished the scoring with a field goal that set the final score at 38-9. The Raiders had now earned the third title in team history and second in a 4 year span, while the loss was a dismal end to what was otherwise a good season for the ‘Skins. That was to be the last Raider championship even to this day, however, while Washington coach Joe Gibbs went on to win 2 more for a total of 3 (won with 3 different quarterbacks). He also has been a very successful NASCAR team owner.
Marcus Allen scampers to the end zone (SI.com photo)