NFL Thursday miniseries action moves forward on the Ides of June: it’s time for the Washington Commanders, a.k.a. the Boston Braves (1932), the Boston Redskins (1933-1936), the Washington Redskins (1927-2019), and the Washington Football Team (2020-2021). Whoa, that’s a mouthful. For the record, we would have gone with the Admirals for a new team mascot/nickname, but we didn’t get to choose, did we?

This franchise has been successful over the years, despite the .498 overall winning percentage. The organization has won five NFL championships, including three Super Bowls in a ten-season span (1982, 1987, 1991). Two of those SB champs made our list below, as we only go back to the 1950 season as the demarcation line of the “modern” era of professional football in America. Enjoy today’s Memory Lane!

No. 5: 1973 Washington Redskins

The defending NFC champions after losing the Super Bowl the prior season, the Redskins finished second in the NFC East to make the postseason as a wild-card team with a 10-4 record. Washington was sixth on offense, sixth on defense, and sixth in the overall SRS rankings. In the divisional playoff, though, the Minnesota Vikings beat the Redskins, 27-20, as the two teams combined for 27 points in the final quarter.

The top players in terms of Approximate Value (AV) were linebacker Chris Hanburger (15), running back Larry Brown (13), and strong safety Ken Houston (12). This was a better team than the one that lost to the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl, but the postseason is always about matchups. The Vikings broke the ‘Skins with two touchdown passes from Fran Tarkenton to John Gilliam on the way to their own SB loss.

No. 4: 1982 Washington Redskins

In a strike-shortened season, Washington posted an 8-1 record to finish atop the NFC. With the No. 12 offense and the No. 1 defense, the Redskins were fourth overall in the SRS rankings. The historical narrative of the Hogs forgets these statistical details. Either way, Washington rolled through the playoffs, beating Detroit, Minnesota, Dallas, and Miami in succession by a combined 110-48 score to win the team’s first SB.

Four players led the way in this abbreviated season: quarterback Joe Theismann (14 AV), wide receiver Charlie Brown (12), defensive end Dexter Manley (12), and SS Tony Peters (12). A 24-point win over the Lions was followed by a 14-point victory over the Vikings, and then the 14-point triumph over the Cowboys was a glorious affair. The 27-17 win over the Dolphins in the Super Bowl was the closest game of the bunch.

No. 3: 1974 Washington Redskins

Just like the season before it explored at No. 5 above, the team posted a 10-4 record to take second place in the NFC East. But this team was actually No. 1 in the overall SRS rankings, thanks to the No. 4 offense and the No. 4 defense. Alas, it didn’t help in the postseason, as the wild-card status forced the Redskins to travel to Los Angeles in the divisional round of the playoffs., and the Rams emerged victorious by a 19-10 score.

Cornerback Mike Bass (15 AV), Hanburger (13), and center Len Hauss (12) were the most valuable players on this relatively nondescript team. The playoff matchup in L.A. was a defensive struggle, as both teams combined for just 444 total yards. The Redskins led, 10-7, at halftime, but the Rams owned the second half with two field goals and the decisive interception return for a TD in the fourth quarter that ended it all.

No. 2: 1983 Washington Redskins

One of the more dominant teams of the past 50 years, these Redskins posted a 14-2 record, losing the two games by a combined two points. Washington was first in the NFC East, first in offense, and first in the overall SRS rankings. The only “flaw” was the No. 11 defense. After torching the Rams, 51-7, to open the playoffs, though, the Redskins barely escaped the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game before losing the SB.

Top dogs on this squad were Theismann (18 AV), guard Russ Grimm (17), tackle Joe Jacoby (17), Brown (15), and defensive tackle Dave Butz (15). But against the 49ers, Washington blew a 21-0 lead in the fourth quarter before escaping, 24-21, and then the Los Angeles Raiders ran all over the Redskins in the Super Bowl, pulling off a shocking upset despite the fact Washington was only a 2-point favorite in the game.

No. 1: 1991 Washington Redskins

Most “experts” might call this the weakest of the three SB title teams from Washington, but sabermetrics say otherwise. With a 14-2 record, the Redskins were No. 1 on offense, No. 2 on defense, and No. 1 in the overall SRS rankings as they won the NFC East. Washington dominated its three playoff opponents—Atlanta, Detroit, and Buffalo—by a combined 102-41 margin to claim its most recent NFL title.

Six players topped 15 AV here: CB Darrell Green (18), T Jim Lachey (18), WR Gary Clark (17), LB Wilber Marshall (17), QB Mark Rypien (17), and DE Charles Mann (15). The Washington defense held NFL GOAT Barry Sanders to just 44 yards rushing on 11 carries in the 41-10 victory in the NFC Championship Game, and then the Redskins jumped out to a 24-0 lead against the Bills in the Super Bowl before cruising to a win.