Super Bowl Summaries

Super Bowl XVII
Washington 27, Miami 17
MVP: RB John Riggins, Washington

January 30, 1983
Pasadena, California; Rose Bowl
Attendance: 103,667

Super Bowl XVII
Photograph by: Ronald C. Modra
Riggins couldn't be stopped.

Washington had the Hogs (a powerful offensive line), the Smurfs (undersized wideouts Alvin Garrett and Charlie Brown) and the Fun Bunch (a group with an elaborate post-touchdown celebration), but in the end, the game was decided by John Riggins and the Redskins' nickname-less defense. Riggins carried the ball 38 times for a Super Bowl-record 166 yards and a touchdown, while the Washington defense limited Miami to 34 yards and zero points in the second half.

Super Bowl XVII Drive Charts and Play-by-Play

Miami won the coin toss and elected to receive.

First Quarter
Miami (15:00) Hayes kick to M 8, L. Blackwood 17 return (Wonsley).
M 25	1–10	Woodley pass to Nathan overthrown, incomplete.
M 25	2–10	Franklin 2 run middle (Butz).
M 27	3–8	Woodley 7 run evading pass rush (Coleman).
M 34	4–1	Orosz 42 punt, Nelms 5 return (Potter).
Washington (13:09)
W 29	1–10	Riggins 5 run middle (Duhe).
W 34	2–5	Riggins 4 run off right tackle (Rhone).
W 38	3–1	Riggins 3 run right (Baumhower).
W 41	1–10	Theismann 11 screen pass to Brown (Rhone).
M 48	1–10	Riggins 1 run middle (Brudzinski).
M 47	2–9	Theismann pass to Garrett broken up (G. Blackwood), incomplete.
M 47	3–9	Theismann sacked, loss of 7 (Rhone).
W 46	4–16	Hayes 54 punt into end zone, touchback.
Miami (9:06)
M 20	1–10	Nathan 4 run middle (Olkewicz).
M 24	2–6	Woodley 76 pass to Cefalo right sideline (caught at M 45), touchdown (8:11). von Schamann kicked extra point.
	Miami scoring drive: 80 yards, 2 plays, :55. Miami 7, Washington 0
Washington (8:11) von Schamann kick to W 11, Nelms 39 return (Judson). Washington penalized 10 from spot of foul (W 35) for illegal block (Lowry). Nelms credited with 24 return.
W 25	1–10	Riggins 4 run middle (Baumhower).
W 29	2–6	Riggins 5 run middle (Kozlowski).
W 34	3–1	Theismann sacked, loss of 3 (Gordon).
W 31	4–4	Hayes 41 punt, Vigorito 10 return (Williams).
Miami (6:00)
M 38	1–10	Nathan 12 run middle (Kaufman).
50	1–10	Franklin 9 run middle (Murphy).
W 41	2–1	Franklin 4 run off left tackle (Olkewicz).
W 37	1–10	Woodley sacked, loss of 17 (Manley), fumbled, Butz recovered for Washington at M 46.
Washington (3:55)
M 46	1–10	Theismann pass to Brown deep incomplete.
M 46	2–10	Harmon 8 run off left tackle (G. Blackwood).
M 38	3–2	Theismann 3 pass to Warren middle (Rhone).
M 35	1–10	Riggins 6 run off left tackle (Brudzinski).
M 29	2–4	Riggins 7 run middle (Baumhower). Washington–first time out (:57).
M 22	1–10	Riggins 4 run off left tackle (Duhe).
M 18	2–6	Riggins 3 run off left tackle (Gordon).
	END OF FIRST QUARTER: Miami 7, Washington 0
Second Quarter
M 15	3–3	Riggins 1 run off left tackle (Bokamper).
M 14	4–2	Moseley, 31–yard field goal (14:39).
	Washington scoring drive: 32 yards, 8 plays, 4:16. Miami 7, Washington 3
Miami (14:39) Hayes kick to M 5, F. Walker 42 return (Williams).
M 47	1–10	Nathan 8 run around right end (Kaufman).
W 45	2–2	Nathan 3 run middle (Butz).
W 42	1–10	Franklin 1 run middle (Manley).
W 41	2–9	Woodley 8 pass to Harris right (White).
W 33	3–1	Franklin 2 run right (V. Dean).
W 31	1–10	Woodley 6 pass to Cefalo left (V. Dean).
W 25	2–4	Nathan run middle, loss of 1 (Butz).
W 26	3–5	Woodley 7 pass to Harris left (Murphy).
W 19	1–10	Franklin 4 run middle (Murphy).
W 15	2–6	Washington penalized 5 for offsides (Manley).
W 10	2–1	Franklin 2 run middle (Murphy).
W 8	1–goal	Franklin 2 run off left tackle (Milot).
W 6	2–goal	Woodley 3 run right (Murphy).
W 3	3–goal	Woodley pass to Cefalo incomplete (V. Dean).
W 3	4–goal	von Schamann, 20–yard field goal (6:00).
	Miami scoring drive: 50 yards, 13 plays, 8:39. Miami 10, Washington 3
Washington (6:00) von Schamann kick into end zone, touchback.
W 20	1–10	Theismann 27 pass to R. Walker left (L. Blackwood).
W 47	1–10	R. Walker 6 reverse left (Duhe, Gordon).
M 47	2–4	Riggins 3 run off tackle (Bokamper).
M 44	3–1	Riggins 1 run left (Rhone).
M 43	1–10	Theismann 4 screen pass to Brown right (Betters).
M 39	2–6	Theismann 15 screen pass to Riggins (Brudzinski).
M 24	1–10	Riggins run right, loss of 1 (Brudzinski).
M 25	2–11	Theismann 12 run evading pass rush (McNeal).
M 13	1–10	Riggins 6 run middle (Baumhower). Two–Minute Warning.
M 7	2–4	Riggins 3 run around left end (Small).
M 4	3–1	Theismann 4 pass to Garrett right end zone, touchdown (1:51). Moseley kicked extra point.
	Washington scoring drive: 80 yards, 11 plays, 4:09. Miami 10, Washington 10
Miami (1:51) Hayes kick to M 2, Walker 98 return left, touchdown (1:38). von Schamann kicked extra point. Washington–second time out (injury to Harmon).
	Miami scoring drive: 98–yard kickoff return, :13. Miami 17, Washington 10
Washington (1:38) von Schamann kick 7 yards into end zone, Nelms 20 return (Shull). Washington penalized 6 (half the distance) for illegal block (Liebenstein).
W 7	1–10	Riggins 3 run left (Bokamper). Miami–first time out.
W 10	2–7	Harmon 4 run middle (Baumhower). Miami–second time out.
W 14	3–3	Theismann 10 run evading pass rush (Kozlowski).
W 24	1–10	Theismann 4 pass to Warren (Kozlowski).
W 28	2–6	Theismann pass to Giaquinto incomplete. Play nullified and Miami penalized 30 for pass interference (L. Blackwood) (:30).
M 42	1–10	Theismann 26 pass to Brown (L. Blackwood). Washington–third time out (:14).
M 16	1–10	Theismann 9 pass to Garrett (G. Blackwood).
	END OF SECOND QUARTER: Miami 17, Washington 10
Third Quarter
Washington (15:00) von Schamann kick to W 15, Wonsley 13 return (Hill). Miami penalized 5 for facemask (Heflin).
W 33	1–10	Riggins run left, loss of 1 (Gordon).
W 32	2–11	Theismann sacked, loss of 9 (Baumhower).
W 23	3–20	Theismann pass to Brown incomplete (McNeal).
W 23	4–20	Hayes 31 punt, Vigorito fair catch. Miami penalized 15 for illegal block (F. Walker).
Miami (14:00)
M 31	1–10	Franklin 9 run right (Murphy).
M 40	2–1	Nathan run middle, no gain (Kaufman).
M 40	3–1	Woodley 1 sneak middle (Butz).
M 41	1–10	Woodley pass to Harris incomplete (White).
M 41	2–10	Franklin 4 run middle (Grant).
M 45	3–6	Woodley pass to Rose overthrown (White), incomplete.
M 45	4–6	Orosz 31 punt, Nelms 12 return (Diana).
Washington (11:17)
W 36	1–10	Theismann 7 screen pass to Warren (Brudzinski).
W 43	2–3	Riggins 4 run off right tackle (Betters).
W 47	1–10	Garrett 44 reverse left (Small).
M 9	1–goal	Riggins 2 run middle (Rhone).
M 7	2–goal	Theismann 4 pass to Warren (Rhone).
M 3	3–goal	Theismann pass to Garrett broken up (McNeal).
M 3	4–goal	Moseley, 20–yard field goal (8:09).
	Washington scoring drive: 61 yards, 6 plays, 3:08. Miami 17, Washington 13
Miami (8:09) Hayes kick to M 14, L. Blackwood recovered own fumble, 15 return (Williams).
M 29	1–10	Nathan run left, no gain (Grant).
M 29	2–10	Woodley pass to Harris broken up (White), incomplete.
M 29	3–10	Woodley pass to Vigorito incomplete (Peters).
M 29	4–10	Orosz 35 punt, Nelms 12 return (Heflin).
Washington (7:04)
W 48	1–10	Riggins 2 run right (Brudzinski).
50	2–8	Riggins 2 run off left tackle (Bokamper).
M 48	3–6	Theismann pass to Brown dropped, incomplete.
M 48	4–6	Hayes 42 punt, Vigorito 12 return (Harmon).
Miami (5:29)
M 18	1–10	Franklin 5 run off left tackle (Milot).
M 23	2–5	Franklin 1 run off left tackle (Milot).
M 24	3–4	Woodley pass to Harris deep incomplete.
M 24	4–4	Orosz 46 punt, Nelms 8 return (Heflin).
Washington (3:55)
W 38	1–10	Theismann pass to Warren intercepted at W 47, Duhe no return (Warren).
Miami (3:49)
W 47	1–10	Woodley pass to Cefalo deep broken up (White), incomplete. Play nullified and Washington penalized 5 for offsides (Manley).
W 42	1–5	Woodley 5 run evading pass rush (White).
W 37	1–10	Franklin run middle, loss of 2 (Butz).
W 39	2–12	Woodley pass to Cefalo deep intercepted at W 5 off Cefalo’s deflection, Murphy no return.
Washington (2:42)
W 5	1–10	Riggins 9 run middle (G. Blackwood).
W 14	2–1	Riggins 4 run middle (Rhone).
W 18	1–10	Theismann pass deflected at line and almost intercepted in backfield (Bokamper), incomplete.
W 18	2–10	Harmon 12 run middle (Gordon).
W 30	1–10	Riggins 2 run middle (Baumhower).
W 32	2–8	Theismann 4 screen pass to Brown (McNeal).
	END OF THIRD QUARTER: Miami 17, Washington 13
Fourth Quarter
W 36	3–4	Theismann 10 pass to Warren middle (L. Blackwood).
W 46	1–10	Riggins 9 run middle (Duhe).
M 45	2–1	Riggins 2 run left (Rhone).
M 43	1–10	Riggins lateral to Theismann, Theismann pass to Brown intercepted at M 1, L. Blackwood no return.
Miami (13:23)
M 1	1–10	Franklin 2 run middle (Manley).
M 3	2–8	Franklin 1 run middle (Grant).
M 4	3–7	Woodley pass to Moore deep broken up (White).
M 4	4–7	Orosz 41 punt, Nelms 3 return (Brudzinski). Washington penalized 10 for illegal block (Harmon).
Washington (11:43)
W 48	1–10	Riggins 7 run off left tackle (Gordon).
M 45	2–3	Riggins 1 run off left tackle (Bokamper).
M 44	3–2	Harmon 1 run middle (Baumhower). Miami–first time out.
M 43	4–1	Riggins 43 run off left end, touchdown (10:01). Moseley kicked extra point.
	Washington scoring drive: 52 yards, 4 plays, 1:42. Washington 20, Miami 17
Miami (10:01) Hayes kick to M 8, F. Walker 14 return (Jordan).
M 22	1–10	Franklin 3 run right (Olkewicz).
M 25	2–7	Harris 1 reverse right (Grant).
M 26	3–6	Miami penalized 5 for false start (Toews).
M 21	3–11	Woodley pass to Harris deep incomplete.
M 21	4–11	Orosz 32 punt, Nelms 12 return (Diana).
Washington (8:49)
M 41	1–10	Riggins 6 run around left end (Gordon).
M 35	2–4	Riggins 3 run middle (Rhone).
M 32	3–1	Riggins 2 run off left tackle (Gordon).
M 30	1–10	Riggins 7 run inside left tackle (Brudzinski).
M 23	2–3	Riggins run middle, no gain (Betters). Washington–first time out.
M 23	3–3	Harmon 4 run middle (L. Blackwood).
M 19	1–10	Riggins 1 run middle (Betters).
M 18	2–9	Harmon run off right tackle, no gain (Baumhower).
M 18	3–9	Theismann rollout left, 9 pass to Brown (Small).
M 9	1–goal	Riggins 3 run off left tackle (L. Blackwood).
M 6	2–goal	Riggins run left, no gain (Den Herder). Two–Minute Warning.
M 6	3–goal	Theismann rollout right, 6 pass to Brown, touchdown (1:55). Moseley kicked extra point.
	Washington scoring drive: 41 yards, 12 plays, 6:54. Washington 27, Miami 17
Miami (1:55) Hayes kick 1 yard into end zone, F. Walker 36 return (Williams).
M 35	1–10	Vigorito 4 run around right end (McGee).
M 39	2–6	Strock pass to Cefalo broken up (Peters).
M 39	3–6	Strock pass to Vigorito broken up (Milot).
M 39	4–6	Strock pass to Harris overthrown (Lavender), incomplete.
Washington (1:12)
M 39	1–10	Harmon 3 run left (Den Herder). Miami–second time out (1:06).
M 36	2–7	Harmon 4 run left (Gordon). Miami–third time out (:59).
M 32	3–3	Harmon 4 run left (Rhone).
M 28	1–10	Theismann knelt down, loss of 2.
	FINAL SCORE: Washington 27, Miami 17
	FINAL RECORDS: Washington 12–1, Miami 10–3

Super Bowl XVII Boxscore

                           SCORING
Miami                                       7 10  0  0 -- 17
Washington                                  0 10  3 14 -- 27

MIA- Cefalo 76 pass from Woodley (Von Schamann kick), 6:49 1st

WAS- FG Moseley 31,  0:21 2nd
MIA- FG Von Schamann 20,  9:00 2nd
WAS- Garrett 4 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick), 13:09 2nd
MIA- Walker 98 kick return  (Von Schamann kick), 13:22 2nd

WAS- FG Moseley 20,  6:51 3rd

WAS- Riggins 43 run  (Moseley kick),  4:59 4th
WAS- Brown 6 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick), 13:05 4th


TEAM STATISTICS                          Miami          Wash.
Total First Downs                           9             24
  Rushing                                   7             14
  Passing                                   2              9
  Penalty                                   0              1
Total Net Yardage                         176            400
Total Offensive Plays                      47             78
  Average Gain per Offensive Play           3.7            5.1
Rushes                                     29             52
  Yards Gained Rushing (Net)               96            276
  Average Yards per Rush                    3.3            5.3
Passes Attempted                           17             23
  Passes Completed                          4             15
  Had Intercepted                           1              2
  Tackled Attempting to Pass                1              3
  Yards Lost Attempting to Pass            17             19
  Yards Gained Passing (Net)               80            124
Punts                                       6              4
  Average Distance                         37.8           42.0
Punt Returns                                2              6
  Punt Return Yardage                      22             52
Kickoff Returns                             6              3
  Kickoff Return Yardage                  222             57
Interception Return Yardage                 0              0
Fumbles                                     2              0
  Own Fumbles Recovered                     1              0
  Opponent Fumbles Recovered                0              1
Penalties                                   4              5
  Yards Penalized                          55             36
Total Points Scored                        17             27
Touchdowns                                  2              3
  Rushing                                   0              1
  Passing                                   1              2
  Returns                                   1              0
Extra Points                                2              3
Field Goals                                 1              2
  Field Goals Attempted                     1              2
Safeties                                    0              0
Third-Down Efficiency                    3/11          11/18
Fourth-Down Efficiency                    0/1            1/1
Time of Possession                      23:45          36:15

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Miami                             No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Franklin                          16        49       9     0
Nathan                             7        26      12     0
Woodley                            4        16       7     0
Vigorito                           1         4       4     0
Harris                             1         1       1     0
Washington                        No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Riggins                           38       166      43t    1
Garrett                            1        44      44     0
Harmon                             9        40      12     0
Theismann                          3        20      12     0
Walker                             1         6       6     0

Passing
Miami                        Att.   Comp.    Yds.   TD   Int.
Woodley                       14       4      97     1     1
Strock                         3       0       0     0     0
Washington                   Att.   Comp.    Yds.   TD   Int.
Theismann                     23      15     143     2     2

Receiving
Miami                             No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Cefalo                             2        82      76t    1
Harris                             2        15       8     0
Washington                        No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Brown                              6        60      26     1
Warren                             5        28      10     0
Garrett                            2        13       9     1
Walker                             1        27      27     0
Riggins                            1        15      15     0

Interceptions
Miami                             No.      Yds.     LG    TD
L. Blackwood                       1         0       0     0
Duhe                               1         0       0     0
Washington                        No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Murphy                             1         0       0     0

Punting
Miami                             No.      Avg.     LG   Blk.
Orosz                              6        37.8    46     0
Washington                        No.      Avg.     LG   Blk.
Hayes                              4        42.0    54     0

Punt Returns
Miami                            No.   FC     Yds.   LG   TD
Vigorito                          2     1      22    12    0
Washington                       No.   FC     Yds.   LG   TD
Nelms                             6     0      52    12    0

Kickoff Returns
Miami                             No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Walker                             4       190      98t    1
L. Blackwood                       2        32      17     0
Washington                        No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Nelms                              2        44      24     0
Wonsley                            1        13      13     0


   Miami Dolphins              Washington Redskins
  
                   ==  Offense  ==                     
Stephenson, Dwight      C    Bostic, Jeff            C 
Kuechenberg, Bob        G    Dean, Fred              G 
Toews, Jeff             G    Grimm, Russ             G 
Giesler, Jon            T    Jacoby, Joe             T 
Laasko, Eric            T    Starke, George          T 
Hardy, Bruce            TE   Walker, Rick            TE
Cefalo, Jimmy           WR   Warren, Don             TE
Harris, Duriel          WR   Brown, Charlie          WR
Nathan, Tony            RB   Garrett, Alvin          WR
Franklin, Andra         FB   Riggins, John           FB
Woodley, David          QB   Theismann, Joe          QB

                   ==  Defense  ==                      
Baumhower, Bob          NT   Butz, Dave              DT 
Betters, Doug           DE   Grant, Darryl           DT 
Bokamper, Kim           DE   Manley, Dexter          DE 
Brudzinski, Bob         OLB  Mendenhall, Mat         DE 
Gordon, Larry           OLB  Kaufman, Mel            OLB
Duhe, A. J.             ILB  Milot, Rich             OLB
Rhone, Ernie            ILB  Olkewicz, Neal          MLB
McNeal, Don             CB   Dean, Vernon            CB 
Small, Gerald           CB   White, Jeris            CB 
Blackwood, Lyle         FS   Murphy, Mark H.         FS 
Blackwood, Glenn        SS   Peters, Tony            SS 

                  ==  Substitute  ==                    
Bennett, Woody               Brooks, Perry              
Bowser, Charles              Coleman, Monte             
Den Herder, Vern             Cronan, Pete               
Dennard, Mark                Didier, Clint              
Diana, Rich                  Giaquinto, Nick            
Foster, Roy                  Harmon, Clarence           
Green, Cleveland             Hayes, Jeff                
Heflin, Vince                Jackson, Wilbur            
Hester, Ron                  Jordan, Curtis             
Hill, Eddie                  Kubin, Larry               
Jensen, Jim                  Laster, Don                
Judson, William              Lavender, Joe              
Kozlowski, Mike              Liebenstein, Todd          
Lankford, Paul               Lowry, Quentin             
Lee, Ronnie                  May, Mark                  
Moore, Nat                   McDaniel, Lecharls         
Orosz, Tom                   McGee, Tony                
Potter, Steve                Moseley, Mark              
Rose, Joe                    Nelms, Mike                
Shull, Steve                 Seay, Virgil               
Strock, Don                  Williams, Greg             
Vigorito, Tom                Wonsley, Otis              
Von Schamann, Uwe          
Walker, Fulton             


   

                  ==  Did Not Play  ==                   
Bishop, Richard               Caster, Rich               
Clark, Steve                  Holly, Bob                 
Duper, Mark                   Owen, Tom
                              Puetz, Garry
                              Washington, Joe

Super Bowl XVII Recap

Fullback John Riggins churned out a Super Bowl-record 166 yards on 38 carries to spark the Redskins to a come-from-behind, 27-17 win over the Dolphins.

John Riggins

John Riggins carried Washington to victory in Super Bowl XVII. (AP)

For Riggins, who was voted the game's most valuable player, it was his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game during the playoffs, also a record Riggins gave the Redksins their first lead with 10:01 remaining in the game when he ran 43 yards off left tackle for a touchdown on a fourth-and-one situation.

THE DOLPHINS HAD BUILT A 17-10 HALFTIME LEAD on a 76-yard touchdown pass from quarterback David Woodley to wide receiver Jim Cefalo in the first quarter, a 20-yard field goal by Uwe von Schamann midway throught the second period, and a Super Bowl-record 98-yard kickoff return by Fulton Walker just before halftime.

The Redkskins had tied the score at 10 on a four-yard TD pass from Joe Theismann to wide receiver Alvin Garrett. Mark Moseley, who started the Redskins' scoring with a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter, cut the Miami lead to 17-13 with a 20-yard field goal in the third period.

After Riggins' run put the Redskins on top, Theismann capped the scoring with a six-yard TD pass to wide receiver Charlie Brown with 1:55 left. The Dolphins gained only 176 yards, and only 34 in the second half. The victory gave the Redskins their first NFL title since 1942.

Super Bowl XVII Photos

Super Bowl XVII MVP John Riggins (44).

(Associated Press Photo)

Super Bowl XVII MVP John Riggins (44).

(Associated Press Photo)

Super Bowl XVII MVP John Riggins (44).

(Allsport Photo)

Super Bowl Index:

Super Bowl XVII Washington 27, Miami 17 MVP: RB John Riggins, Washington

Super Bowl XVII Drive Charts and Play-by-Play

Super Bowl XVII Boxscore

Super Bowl XVII Recap

Super Bowl XVII Photos

Super Bowl XVII
Washington 27, Miami 17
MVP: RB John Riggins, Washington