The Redskins started the season 2-0 for the seventh time since 1978. Only once in the previous six occasions did they fail to make the playoffs, losing 10 of their final 12 in 2003 under former coach Steve Spurrier. Here are the best of the other five: 5. 2007 » The Redskins’ most recent 2-0 start came four years ago courtesy of a 16-13 overtime win against Miami and a 20-12 win at Philadelphia. Washington finished 9-7 and lost a wild-card game at Seattle 35-14.
4. 2005 » This might sound familiar: The Redskins also lost in the playoffs at the Seahawks, this time in a divisional playoff game 20-10. The 10-6 season had started with a 9-7 squeaker against Chicago and Mark Brunell’s pair of tosses to Santana Moss in a 14-13 win at Dallas.
3. 1986 » With Jay Schroeder at the helm, the Redskins toppled Philadelphia 41-14 and then beat the Los Angeles Raiders 10-6. After a 12-4 season, they were held scoreless in the NFC championship, losing to eventual Super Bowl champion-New York 17-0.
2. 1982 » In a strike-shortened year, Washington opened with a pair of wins on the road: 37-34 at Philadelphia and 21-13 at Tampa Bay. The year’s only loss came Week 5 at Dallas 24-10, and it was mitigated by John Riggins leading the Redskins to a 27-17 Super Bowl win over Miami.
1. 1991 » Fittingly, Mark Rypien was in the crowd for Sunday’s win over Arizona. Twenty years ago, he led Washington to a 45-0 shellacking of Detroit and a 33-31 win at Dallas en route to a 37-24 Super Bowl victory over Buffalo.
– Craig Stouffer
