Joe Gibbs' inaugural season began with the team seeming to search for an identity, and ended with a surge of wins that provided hope that the young coach could lead the team to success. Some of the key pieces of future powerhouse teams, including John Riggins, were in place, but Gibbs spent much of the first part of the season experimenting with pass-oriented schemes. 1981 ended with a 7-2 run, but a 3-5 division record and up-and-down performances left plenty of open questions and only hints of what was to come.