Super Bowl XVII

Date: January 30, 1983

Venue: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)

Attendance: 103,667

Result: Washington Redskins def. Miami Dolphins, 27-17

MVP: John Riggins (RB, Washington)

Recap: The Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Redskins, 14-to-7 in Super Bowl VII. Ten years later, the Dolphins and Redskins meet again in the championship game, this time after a shortened regular season due to a player’s strike in 1982.

The Dolphins started the scoring with a 76-yard touchdown, added a field goal, then before the half ended, returned a kick for 98 yards for another TD to have a 17-10 lead over the Redskins at the half. After the break, however, it was all Redskins as they recorded a field goal and 2 more TDs for a final score of 27-to-17. Washington running back John Riggins was named Super Bowl XVII MVP and finished with 166 yards for 38 carries with a TD.  Riggins had rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the Redskins’ playoff appearance. Washington quarterback Joe Theismann completed 15-of-23 passes for 143 yards and 2 TDs.