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1976 Washington Redskins season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Washington Redskins

| year = 1976

| record = 10–4

| division_place = 2nd NFC East

| owner = Edward Bennett Williams

| president = Edward Bennett Williams

| off_coach = Charlie Waller

| def_coach = LaVern Torgeson

| general_manager = George Allen

| coach = George Allen

| stadium = RFK Stadium

| playoffs = Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Vikings) 20–35

| shortnavlink = Redskins seasons

}}

The 1976 Washington Redskins season was the franchise’s 45th overall and 40th in Washington, D.C. The season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–6 record from 1975, which they did, finishing 10–4, second in the NFC East behind the Dallas Cowboys. They would be eliminated from the NFL playoffs by the Minnesota Vikings by the score of 35–20. This was the first season as a Redskin for Hall of Fame running back John Riggins, signed as a free agent after spending the first five seasons of his career with the New York Jets. This was also the last season in which the Redskins would make the playoffs under Hall of Fame head coach George Allen.

Offseason

=NFL Draft=

{{main article|1976 NFL Draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1976

| teamname = Washington Redskins

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 148

| player = Mike Hughes

| position = Guard

| college = Baylor

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 179

| player = Tommy Marvaso

| position = Safety

| college = Cincinnati

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 234

| player = Brian Fryer

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Alberta

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 254

| player = Curtis Akins

| position = Guard

| college = Hawaii

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 272

| player = Paul Strohmeier

| position = Linebacker

| college = Washington

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 308

| player = Dean Gissler

| position = Defensive end

| college = Nebraska

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 12

| pick = 342

| player = Walter Tullis

| position = Defensive back

| college = Delaware State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 13

| pick = 364

| player = Wayman Britt

| position = Defensive back

| college = Michigan

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 14

| pick = 393

| player = Quinn Buckner

| position = Defensive back

| college = Indiana

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 15

| pick = 426

| player = John Monroe

| position = Running back

| college = Bluefield State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 17

| pick = 476

| player = Chuck Wills

| position = Defensive back

| college = Oregon

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| probowl = no

| hof = no

}}{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1976_draft.htm | title=1976 Washington Redskins Draftees | website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }}

Roster

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1976

| team = Washington Redskins

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|17|Billy Kilmer}}

{{NFLplayer| 7|Joe Theismann}}

| running_backs =

{{NFLplayer|43|Larry Brown|d=running back}}

{{NFLplayer|35|Calvin Hill}}

{{NFLplayer|44|John Riggins|FB}}

{{NFLplayer|22|Mike Thomas|d=running back}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|88|Danny Buggs}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Brian Fryer|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|46|Frank Grant|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|80|Roy Jefferson}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Doug Winslow}}

| tight_ends =

{{NFLplayer|84|Jean Fugett}}

{{NFLplayer|87|Jerry Smith|d=tight end}}

| offensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|66|Ted Fritsch|d2=Jr.|G}}

{{NFLplayer|56|Len Hauss|C}}

{{NFLplayer|75|Terry Hermeling|G}}

{{NFLplayer|54|Bob Kuziel|C}}

{{NFLplayer|62|Dan Nugent|G}}

{{NFLplayer|62|Ray Schoenke|T}}

{{NFLplayer|74|George Starke|T}}

{{NFLplayer|76|Tim Stokes|T}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|77|Bill Brundige|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|65|Dave Butz|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|61|Dennis Johnson|d=defensive tackle|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|79|Ron McDole|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Diron Talbert|DT}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|59|Brad Dusek}}

{{NFLplayer|55|Chris Hanburger}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Harold McLinton}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Stu O'Dell}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Rusty Tillman}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|37|Pat Fischer|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|27|Ken Houston|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Joe Lavender|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|23|Brig Owens|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Bryant Salter|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|13|Jake Scott|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|45|Gerard Williams|d=American football|CB}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer| 4|Mike Bragg|P}}

{{NFLplayer| 3|Mark Moseley|K}}

| reserve_lists =

{{NFLplayer|54|Curtis Akins|rookie=y|DE|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|--|Ernie Janet|G|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|21|Larry Jones|d=wide receiver|WR|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Paul Laaveg|G|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|--|Pete Solverson|rookie=y|T|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|--|David Thomas|d=defensive back|rookie=y|DB|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|--|James Thompson|d=American football|rookie=y|WR|IR}}

| practice_squad =

}}

Regular season

=Schedule=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background:#cfc"

! 1

| {{dow tooltip|September 12, 1976}}

| New York Giants

| W 19–17

| 1–0

| RFK Stadium

| 54,245

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609120was.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 2

| September 19

| Seattle Seahawks

| W 31–7

| 2–0

| RFK Stadium

| 53,174

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609190was.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 3

| {{dow tooltip|September 27, 1976}}

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| W 20–17

| 3–0

| Veterans Stadium

| 66,005

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609270phi.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| October 3

| at Chicago Bears

| L 7–33

| 3–1

| Soldier Field

| 52,105

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610030chi.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 5

| October 10

| Kansas City Chiefs

| L 30–33

| 3–2

| RFK Stadium

| 53,060

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610100was.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 6

| October 17

| Detroit Lions

| W 20–7

| 4–2

| RFK Stadium

| 45,908

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610170was.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 7

| {{dow tooltip|October 25, 1976}}

| St. Louis Cardinals

| W 20–10

| 5–2

| RFK Stadium

| 48,325

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610250was.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 8

| October 31

| Dallas Cowboys

| L 7–20

| 5–3

| RFK Stadium

| 55,004

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610310was.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 9

| November 7

| at San Francisco 49ers

| W 24–21

| 6–3

| Candlestick Park

| 56,134

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611070sfo.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 10

| November 14

| at New York Giants

| L 9–12

| 6–4

| Giants Stadium

| 72,975

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611140nyg.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 11

| November 21

| at St. Louis Cardinals

| W 16–10

| 7–4

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 49,833

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611210crd.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 12

| November 28

| Philadelphia Eagles

| W 24–0

| 8–4

| RFK Stadium

| 54,292

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611280was.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 13

| December 5

| at New York Jets

| W 37–16

| 9–4

| Shea Stadium

| 46,638

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612050nyj.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 14

| December 12

| at Dallas Cowboys

| W 27–14

| 10–4

| Texas Stadium

| 59,916

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612120dal.htm Recap]

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"

|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1976.htm|title=1976 Washington Redskins Statistics & Players|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}

=Week 1 (Sunday, September 12, 1976): vs. [[1976 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]=

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week 1: New York Giants 17 at Washington Redskins 19 – Game summary

|date=September 12, 1976

|time=1:00 p.m. EDT

|road=Giants (0–1)

|R1=3 |R2=7 |R3=0 |R4=7

|home=Redskins (1–0)

|H1=0 |H2=3 |H3=9 |H4=7

|stadium=RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

|attendance=54,245

|weather=

|referee=Ben Dreith

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Don Criqui (play-by-play) and Sonny Jurgenson (color commentator)

|reference=Pro Football Reference; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609120was.htm New York Giants at Washington Redskins – September 12, 1976]

}}

{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers

| Float = right

| Visitor = New York Giants

| VisitorDisplay = NYG

| Home = Washington Redskins

| HomeDisplay = WAS

| VisPasser = Craig Morton

| VisPassStats = 13/26, 228 YDS, 2 TDs, 4 INTs

| VisRusher = Larry Csonka

| VisRushStats = 23 CAR, 78 YDS

| VisReceiver = Walker Gillette

| VisReceivingStats = 5 REC, 105 YDS, 1 TD

| HomePasser = Billy Kilmer

| HomePassStats = 17/35, 257 YDS, 2 TDs, 1 INT

| HomeRusher = Mike Thomas

| HomeRushStats = 17 CAR, 56 YDS

| HomeReceiver = Mike Thomas

| HomeReceivingStats = 5 REC, 54 YDS, 1 TD

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=NYG|HomeName=WAS|state=collapsed}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=1

| Time=

| Team=Giants

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=20

| Kicker=Danelo

| Visitor=3

| Home=0

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=Redskins

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=22

| Kicker=Moseley

| Visitor=3

| Home=3

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=Giants

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Rhodes

| QB=Morton

| yards=63

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Danelo

| Visitor=10

| Home=3

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Redskins

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=SafetyTackle

| Player=Morton

| Def=McDole

| Visitor=10

| Home=5

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Redskins

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Grant

| QB=Kilmer

| yards=53

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Moseley

| Visitor=10

| Home=12

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Giants

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Gillette

| QB=Morton

| yards=62

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Danelo

| Visitor=17

| Home=12

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Redskins

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Thomas

| QB=Kilmer

| yards=5

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Moseley

| Visitor=17

| Home=19

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=17|Home=19}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
style="width:30%;" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|year=1976|border=2}}"|Giants

! style="width:40%;"|Game Statistics

! style="width:30%;" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"|Redskins

style="text-align:right;"|14

! First downs

| 17

style="text-align:right;"|40–96

! Rushes–yards

| 31–89

style="text-align:right;"|228

! Passing yards

| 257

style="text-align:right;"|13–26–4

! {{Abbr|Passes|Completions–Attempts–Interceptions}}

| 17–36–1

style="text-align:right;"|2–7

! Sacked–yards

| 3–24

style="text-align:right;"|221

! Net passing yards

| 233

style="text-align:right;"|317

! Total yards

| 322

style="text-align:right;"|52

! Return yards

| 208

style="text-align:right;"|7–48.9

! {{Abbr|Punts|Number–Average yardage}}

| 10–39.6

style="text-align:right;"|1–0

! Fumbles–lost

| 3–2

style="text-align:right;"|6–55

! Penalties–yards

| 13–120

=Week 2=

=Week 3=

=Week 4=

=Week 5=

=Week 6=

=Week 7=

=Week 8=

=Week 9=

=Week 10=

=Week 11=

=Week 12=

=Week 13=

=Week 14=

Playoffs

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Round

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Opponent (seed)

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Washington Redskins|year=1976|border=2}}"| Game
recap

style="background:#fcc"

! Divisional

| December 18

| at Minnesota Vikings (1)

| L 20–35

| Metropolitan Stadium

| 47,221

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612180min.htm Recap]

=Divisional=

Standings

{{1976 NFC East standings}}

Awards, records, and honors

{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Washington Commanders}}

{{Washington Commanders seasons}}

{{1976 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1976 Washington Redskins Season}}

Washington

Category:Washington Redskins seasons

Washing

Category:Long stubs with short prose

{{WashingtonCommanders-season-stub}}