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10 greatest in-season turnarounds in Washington Football Team history

By Jonathan Eig

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CIRCA 1984: Head coach Joe Gibbs of the Washington Football Team talks with quarterback Joe Theismann #7 on the sidelines during an NFL football game circa 1984 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Gibbs coached the Redskins from 1981-92 and 2004-2007. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - CIRCA 1984: Head coach Joe Gibbs of the Washington Football Team talks with quarterback Joe Theismann #7 on the sidelines during an NFL football game circa 1984 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Gibbs coached the Redskins from 1981-92 and 2004-2007. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 30: Robert Griffin III #10 of the Washington Football Team celebrates his touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on December 30, 2012 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Cowboys 28-18. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 30: Robert Griffin III #10 of the Washington Football Team celebrates his touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on December 30, 2012 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Cowboys 28-18. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) /

3. 2012

When Washington sat at 3-6 in Robert Griffin III’s rookie season, the team did not seem as bad as the record indicated. Other than a 15-point loss to Pittsburgh, the defeats were by 8 points or less. RGIII was showing signs that the huge amount of draft capital it took to get him may not have been in vain.

Then came the bye, and one of the greatest runs in team history.

It began at home against the Eagles. DeAngelo Hall and Brandon Meriweather stopped the first two Eagle drives with interceptions. And Griffin did the rest. Touchdown passes to Darrel Young, Aldrick Robinson, Santana Moss, and Logan Paulsen would lead to a dominant victory.

More from Commanders History

They never looked back. The finale of the seven-game win streak was a lot like that Eagles game. Again, the defense began with back-to-back interceptions, this time by Richard Crawford and Josh Wilson. And there would also be four touchdowns. Only this time, all would come via the ground game – three courtesy of Alfred Morris, with RGIII chipping in one.

And best of all, that finale was against Dallas.

Of course, there was an Griffin injury issue along the way which would rear its ugly head in the playoffs. Better not to think of that. Better just to remember that turnarounds are possible, no matter bad things look.

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