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The 1996 Redskins: A season of missed opportunity

By Kyle Hundley

27 Sep 1998: Head coach Norv Turner of the Washington Redskins looks on during the game against the Denver Broncos at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The Broncos defeated the Redskins 38-16. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport
27 Sep 1998: Head coach Norv Turner of the Washington Redskins looks on during the game against the Denver Broncos at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The Broncos defeated the Redskins 38-16. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport /
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WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 22: Center Jeff Uhlenhake #55 of the Washington Redskins snaps the ball during the NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at RFK Stadium on December 22, 1996 in Washington, D.C. The Redskins defeated the Cowboys 37-7. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 22: Center Jeff Uhlenhake #55 of the Washington Redskins snaps the ball during the NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at RFK Stadium on December 22, 1996 in Washington, D.C. The Redskins defeated the Cowboys 37-7. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

The Redskins 1996 Season

After leading the Redskins to six victories in 1995, and after the young team showed both growth and potential, expectations were heightened going into the 1996 season for Norv Turner and his team. Washington had a less than inspiring preseason, however, going just 1-3.

Washinton opened the 1996 season against a familiar face in the Philadephia Eagles. The game was low scoring and hard-fought, but the Eagles won 17-14. This game was highlighted by two Terry Allen touchdowns.

In Week 2, the Redskins faced the Chicago Bears. This was another game in which the defense dominated, registering four sacks and holding the Bears to just three points. Allen had another solid game with the game-winning touchdown run, while Frerotte was a steady 18 of 29 for 177 yards.

In Week 3, the Redskins traveled to the Meadowlands to face the Giants. This was the third week in a row in which the defense had an excellent outing, intercepting Giants quarterback Dave Brown four times while registering another four sacks. The Redskins running game dominated as Allen, Stephen Davis, and Marc Logan all had a rushing touchdown in a 31-10 rout.

In Week 4, Washington traveled to St. Louis to face the Rams. In a balanced team effort, they were able to dominate another tough-fought road game. Scott Galbraith hauled in an early touchdown while Terry Allen had a third-quarter touchdown to give them a 17-3 lead before a fourth-quarter Rams’ touchdown made it 17-10. That score would be final.

In Week 5, The Redskins welcomed the 0-4 Jets to RFK Stadium. Leslie Sheperd had a rushing and receiving touchdown and Terry Allen added two more touchdowns as Washington used a big second half to defeat the Jets and move to 4-1 heading into the Week 6 bye week.

In Week 7, the Redskins traveled to Foxborough to face the Patriots. Gus Frerotte threw two second-half touchdowns and the defense made a critical stop on a two-point conversion by Curtis Martin before Scott Blanton added a 24-yard field goal at the end to preserve another hard-fought 27-22 victory.

In Week 8, Washington welcomed the Giants to town for a division game. Terry Allen had three early short touchdowns, while a 68-yard pick-six by Darrell Green made it 28-0 at halftime. The Giants scored three straight touchdowns before a 45-yard Scott Blanton field goal put the game out of reach.

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In Week 9, The Indianapolis Colts were next up on the schedule. Terry Allen had his second straight game in which he ran for three touchdowns, while Leslie Sheperd hauled in a seven-yard touchdown from Frerotte, as Washington won 31-16 and moved to an impressive 7-1 on the season.

In Week 10, The Redskins took their seven-game winning streak on the road to Buffalo on a cold, windy afternoon. After jumping out to an early 7-0 lead behind a 1-yard Allen touchdown, the Bills scored the next 31 points as the Redskins defense had no answer for Jim Kelly, who was 19 of 23 for 206 yards. Allen had another touchdown, but it was too late, as the game would end 38-13.

In Week 11, Washington looked to rebound at home against the 3-6 Arizona Cardinals. The game was tight through the first half. A 17-yard touchdown reception by Michael Westbrook and two one-yard rushing touchdowns by Allen appeared to put the game out of reach. However, Cardinals quarterback Boomer Esiason threw two late touchdowns to tie it before an overtime field goal by Kevin Butler allowed Arizona to steal one on the road, 37-34.

In Week 12, the Redskins traveled to Philadelphia looking to avenge their Week 1 loss. Ken Harvey helped lead the defense with two sacks while Stanley Richard returned an interception 42 yards. Scott Blanton kicked four field goals while tight end Jamie Asher caught two Frerotte touchdown passes to give the Redskins a much needed 26-21 victory.

In Week 13, the 8-3 San Francisco 49ers were next up. This was another game in which both of the defenses dominated. The teams traded field goals throughout before a 20-yard touchdown reception from Jamie Asher from Frerotte appeared to put the game out of reach. However, 49ers quarterback Steve Young led a late drive to tie the game with two minutes left to play. San Francisco won the coin toss in overtime and kicked the game-winner to drop the Redskins to 8-4.

In Week 14, Norv Turner and company traveled to Texas Stadium to face his former team and reigning Super Bowl champions, the Dallas Cowboys. The Redskins played a tough game, but they turned the ball over three times and couldn’t establish the running game. They were unable to overcome three Emmitt Smith touchdown runs in a 21-10 defeat.

In Week 15, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted the Redskins in what turned to be an almost identical and another ugly game by Washington. After giving up over 200 yards on the ground the week before, in the loss to Dallas, the defense was unable to stop the run again, as Tampa Bay ran for 209 yards on 45 carries. The Washington offense turned the ball over twice and was only able to rush for 41 yards as the Redskins lost their fourth game in a row, 24-10.

In Week 16, the Redskins traveled to Arizona for a rematch against the Cardinals with playoffs implications on the line. Scott Turner recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown and Scott Blanton kicked four field goals, including a 35-yarder to put them up 26-24 with just under four minutes to play. However, on the following drive, Kent Graham led an Arizona drive all the way down the field to the Washington 10-yard line, before Kevin Butler kicked the game-winning 28-yard field goal to eliminate Washington from the playoffs.

In the Week 17 finale, and what would be the last ever game at RFK stadium, the Redskins faced off against the Dallas Cowboys. With nothing to play for other than pride, Washington played their best game of the season, as Scott Blanton kicked three field goals, Terry Allen had another game in which he had three rushing touchdowns, and Stephen Davis had a fourth-quarter touchdown in a 37-7 victory. This game was a fitting way to send the fans off, as a reminder of a season that could have been special.

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