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Super Bowl XVII took place on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
The final result was Washington Redskins 27, Miami Dolphins 17.
Redskins running back John Riggins scored the winning touchdown, and was named Super Bowl MVP.
NBC televised the game in the United States, with announcers Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen.
This game came at the end of a season that was shortened by a players' strike. As a result, each team only played nine regular season games. Also, a special playoff format was used, where the top eight teams in each conference played in a four-round tournament.
The Game
Although the Dolphins entered the game with the league's top-rated defense, the Redskins posted 400 total yards of offense and John Riggins rushed for 166 yards -- both Super Bowl records.
Miami scored first on their second possession with a 76-yard touchdown pass from quarterback David Woodley to receiver Jimmy Cefalo. Then Woodley's fumble late in the first quarter led to a Redskins field goal to cut the score 7-3.
Midway through the second quarter, the Dolphins added a field goal to increase their lead 10-3. Then on their next drive, Washington went 80 yards in 11 plays, ending with quarterback Joe Theismann's 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver Alvin Garrett to tie the game.
But on the next kickoff, Fulton Walker returned the ball 98 yards to give the Dolphins back the lead, 17-10.
Miami was shutout in the second half. But the Redskins could only get a field goal in the third quarter to cut the score 17-13.
Faced with fourth down and a yard to go at Miami's 43-yard line with a little more than 10 minutes remaining in the game, Riggins took the ball and ran away for a touchdown to give the Redskins their first lead of the game 20-17.
Theismann then sealed the victory 27-17 with two minutes to go with a 6-yard touchdown pass to receiver Charlie Brown.
Scoring Summary
MIA- Cefalo 76 pass from Woodley (Von Schamann kick)
WAS- FG Moseley 31
MIA- FG Von Schamann 20
WAS- Garrett 4 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick)
MIA- Walker 98 kick return (Von Schamann kick)
WAS- FG Moseley 20
WAS- Riggins 43 run (Moseley kick)
WAS- Brown 6 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick)
Playoffs
Because a players' strike reduced the regular season to nine games, the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year. Division standings were ignored. Eight teams from each conference were seeded 1-8 based on their regular season records.
First Round
January 8, 1983
January 9, 1983
Second Round
December 15, 1983
- AFC: N.Y. Jets 17, L.A. Raiders 14
- NFC: Minnesota 7, Washington 21
December 16, 1983
- AFC: San Diego 13, Miami 34
- NFC: Green Bay 26, Dallas 37
Conference Championships
January 23, 1983
- AFC: N.Y. Jets 0, Miami 14
- NFC: Dallas 17, Washington 31
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