1977 Washington Redskins season

The 1977 Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 46th season overall, and would be the last under Hall of Fame head coach George Allen. The season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–4 record from 1976, but they would finish 9-5 and fail to qualify for postseason play.

1977 Washington Redskins season
Owner	Edward Bennett Williams
General manager	George Allen
President	Edward Bennett Williams
Head coach	George Allen
Offensive coordinator	Charlie Waller
Defensive coordinator	LaVern Torgeson
Home field	RFK Stadium
Results
Record	9–5
Division place	2nd NFC East
Playoff finish	Did not qualify

Additionally; this would also mark the last season for several longtime Redskins stars in future Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Charley Taylor, tight end Jerry Smith, center Len Hauss, defensive tackle Bill Brundige and safety Brig Owens; all of whom retired after the season.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1977 NFL draft

1977 Washington Redskins Draft

Round	Selection	Player	Position	College
4	97	Duncan McColl	Defensive end	Stanford
7	190	Reggie Haynes	Tight end	UNLV
9	246	Mike Northington	Running back	Purdue
10	273	James Sykes	Running back	Rice
11	300	Don Harris	Defensive back	Rutgers
12	327	Curtis Kirkland	Defensive end	Missouri

Roster

1977 Washington Redskins roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 17 Billy Kilmer  7 Joe Theismann Running backs (RB) 38 Clarence Harmon FB 35 Calvin Hill 30 Jim Kiick 36 Eddie Moss 22 Mike Thomas Wide receivers (WR) 88 Danny Buggs 46 Frank Grant 21 Larry Jones 42 Charley Taylor Tight ends (TE) 84 Jean Fugett 87 Jerry Smith

Offensive linemen (OL) 56 Len Hauss C 66 Ted Fritsch C 75 Terry Hermeling T 54 Bob Kuziel C 62 Dan Nugent G 64 Ron Saul G 74 George Starke T 76 Tim Stokes T Defensive linemen (DL) 65 Dave Butz DT 77 Bill Brundige DT 78 Dallas Hickman DE 71 Karl Lorch DE 79 Ron McDole DE 72 Diron Talbert DT

Linebackers (LB) 32 Mike Curtis 59 Brad Dusek 55 Chris Hanburger 53 Harold McLinton 67 Rusty Tillman Defensive backs (DB) 25 Eddie Brown FS 37 Pat Fischer CB 27 Ken Houston SS 20 Joe Lavender CB 23 Brig Owens SS 13 Jake Scott FS 45 Gerard Williams CB Special teams  4 Mike Bragg P  3 Mark Moseley K

Reserve -- Greg Hartle LB (IR) -- Reggie Haynes TE (IR) 61 Dennis Johnson DE (IR) -- Duncan McColl DE (IR) 44 John Riggins FB (IR) 70 Will Wynn DE (IR) Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap
1	September 18	at New York Giants	L 17–20	0–1	Giants Stadium	76,086	Recap
2	September 25	Atlanta Falcons	W 10–6	1–1	RFK Stadium	55,031	Recap
3	October 2	St. Louis Cardinals	W 24–14	2–1	RFK Stadium	55,031	Recap
4	October 9	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 10–0	3–1	Tampa Stadium	58,571	Recap
5	October 16	at Dallas Cowboys	L 16–34	3–2	Texas Stadium	62,115	Recap
6	October 23	New York Giants	L 6–17	3–3	RFK Stadium	53,903	Recap
7	October 30	Philadelphia Eagles	W 23–17	4–3	RFK Stadium	55,031	Recap
8	November 7	at Baltimore Colts	L 3–10	4–4	Memorial Stadium	57,740	Recap
9	November 13	at Philadelphia Eagles	W 17–14	5–4	Veterans Stadium	60,702	Recap
10	November 21	Green Bay Packers	W 10–9	6–4	RFK Stadium	51,498	Recap
11	November 27	Dallas Cowboys	L 7–14	6–5	RFK Stadium	55,031	Recap
12	December 4	at Buffalo Bills	W 10–0	7–5	Rich Stadium	22,975	Recap
13	December 10	at St. Louis Cardinals	W 26–20	8–5	Busch Memorial Stadium	36,067	Recap
14	December 17	Los Angeles Rams	W 17–14	9–5	RFK Stadium	54,208	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 2

• TV Network: CBS
• Announcers: Vin Scully, Sonny Jurgensen

In front of a sell out crowd, Billy Kilmer lobbed a two-yard scoring pass to Mike Thomas in the third period and Atlanta failed to capitalize on several opportunities for touchdowns as Washington beats Atlanta. Despite the touchdown pass, Kilmer drew the ire of Washington's fans by throwing two interceptions and fumbling in Atlanta's territory.

Week 4

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers try to win their first ever game as they their proud defense held the Redskins to just 10 points and only 118 passing yards allowed but still they lost to the Redskins. All of the Redskins 10 points we're scored in the first period. Kicker Mark Moseley kicked a 44-yard field goal and Mike Thomas 6-yard td run were the only scores of the game for both teams. The Redskins limited the Bucs offense to minus 1 yard in the first half and never look back. Redskins Bill Brundige said it best about the Bucs when he said "I leave Tampa admiring their defense. It's a winner but the offense... coach John McKay is going to have to learn that the I-formation isn't going to work. He isn't at USC anymore playing Stanford.

Week 7

• TV Network: CBS
• Announcers: Don Criqui and Sonny Jurgensen

Joe Theismann started at quarterback for Washington and early on he was on his game as he threw two early touchdown passes and Mark Moseley kicked three field goals, Theismann replaced 38-yard-old Billy Kilmer, hit tight end Jean Fugett with a pair of 15-yard touchdown passes on Washington's first two possessions while Moseley kicked field goals of 46 and 30 yards. Moseley added a third one from 51 yards in the third quarter. The Eagles ran out of time in a bid to win, getting as close to the Redskins' 20-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 41 seconds to play. The Eagles though gave it a battle as Ron Jaworski tossed a 48-yard touchdown pass to Harold Carmichael, a 16-run touchdown by James Betterson and a 44-yard field goal made this a good game involving these two teams.

Week 9

• TV Network: CBS
• Announcers: Don Criqui and Sonny Jurgensen

In a rematch from two weeks ago, the Eagles opened up scoring with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Ron Jaworski to Tom Sullivan in the only score of the first half. The Redskins tied the score in the third period on a 6-play 65-yard drive and ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Joe Theismann to Frank Grant. The Eagles untied it in the fourth period as Jaworski scored from one yard. The Redskins then came back first Dallas Hickman blocked an Eagles punt and advanced it to the Philadelphia 19. A 10-yard unsportsmanlike conduct foul moved the Skins to the 9 where Theismann and Calvin Hill each ran for 2 yards then Theismann hit Danny Buggs for 5 yards to tie the game. Later the Redskins' Mark Moseley kicked a 54-yard field goal to put the Skins ahead by 3, but back came the Eagles where they drove from their own 14 to the Washington 14 where after 3 incomplete passes. Horst Muhlmann came on and with 18 seconds to play miss an easy 31-yard field goal to seal an Redskins win.

Week 13

• TV Network: CBS
• Announcers: Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshier

It was a key game for both teams. Washington drew first blood as the well rested Billy Kilmer tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Hill and later a 40-yard field goal by Mark Moseley. But back came the Cardinals, knowing that they need to win to stay in the playoff hunt, as they got a 32-yard field goal by Jim Bakken and later a 1-yard touchdown run by Steve Jones. Moseley then kicked a 23-yard field goal with 34 seconds left to give the Redskins a 13-10 halftime lead. Then Brad Dusek intercept a Hart pass in the second half at the Cardinals' 47 to set up Moseley's 42-yard field goal and the Redskins lead. Moseley also kicked a 37-yard field goal. The Redskins then added another touchdown as Mike Thomas scored from the 4 to give the Redskins a 26–13 lead. The Cardinals tried to muster their famed come from behind victories that was their trademark from 1974 to 1976, as quarterback Jim Hart hit Terry Metcalf for a 68-yard touchdown strike. Late in the game the Cardinals rallied to try to take the lead. Their first attempt ended on downs and then in their final fateful drive it ended with an interception by Eddie Brown to seal the Redskins win and with that loss The Cardinals we're out of the playoff picture.

Week 14

1 2 3 4 Total Rams 0 0 0 14 14 • Redskins 14 0 3 0 17 Date: December 17 Location: RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C); wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h) TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshier

Scoring summary Q1 WSH Frank Grant 59 yard pass from Kilmer (Moseley kick) WSH 7–0 Q1 WSH Fugett 3 yard pass from Kilmer (Moseley kick) WSH 14–0 Q3 WSH Moseley 45 yard field goal WSH 17–0 Q4 LA Nelson 17 yard pass from Ferragamo (Septien kick) WSH 17–7 Q4 LA Jodat 2 yard pass from Ferragamo (Septien kick) WSH 17–14

Standings

NFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Dallas Cowboys(1)	12	2	0	.857	7–1	11–1	345	212	W4
Washington Redskins	9	5	0	.643	4–4	8–4	196	189	W3
St. Louis Cardinals	7	7	0	.500	4–4	7–5	272	287	L4
Philadelphia Eagles	5	9	0	.357	2–6	4–8	220	207	W2
New York Giants	5	9	0	.357	3–5	5–7	181	265	L2