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Washington Football Team: 50-year anniversary of the playoff return

By Jonathan Eig

WASHINGTON, D.C. - DECEMBER 5: Billy Kilmer #17 of the Washington Redskins drops back to pass against the New York Giants during an NFL football game on December 5, 1971 at RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington D.C.. Kilmer played for the Redskins from 1971-78. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - DECEMBER 5: Billy Kilmer #17 of the Washington Redskins drops back to pass against the New York Giants during an NFL football game on December 5, 1971 at RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington D.C.. Kilmer played for the Redskins from 1971-78. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Washington Football Team Hall of Fame safety Ken Houston on a run in a 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys on November 2, 1975 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images)
Washington Football Team Hall of Fame safety Ken Houston on a run in a 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys on November 2, 1975 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images) /

The 1971 season

Allen turned over close to half the roster he inherited upon arrival. There were three new starters on offense, including quarterback Billy Kilmer, wide receiver Roy Jefferson, and guard John Wilbur. When star receiver Charley Taylor was lost for the year in the middle of the season, Allen acquired a fourth new starter, Clifton McNeil, from the Giants, as a replacement.

That paled in comparison to what Allen did on defense. Six new starters lined up on opening day. Ron McDole, Diron Talbert, and Verlon Biggs across the defensive front, Jack Pardee and Mo Pottios at linebacker, and Richie Petitbon at safety (He did allow future Hall-of-Famers Ken Houston and Chris Hanburger to retain their jobs).

The average age of these new defensive starters was 31.

The changes worked. Washington went 9-4-1 and secured the one wild card spot in play at the time. Though they lost division to Dallas, they managed to upset the eventual Super Bowl champs in the Cotton Bowl in Week 3 of the season. That early win over the hated Cowboys had the entire city buying into the “future is now” philosophy.

Washington’s playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on December 26, 1971 was the first meaningful game I ever saw my beloved team play. I was two days short of my 10th birthday at the time, but that statement, about it being the first meaningful game I had watched, was true for my five older brothers as well. We had all waited a long time for this.

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