Anticipation had built among Redskins fans after the strong end to the 1990 season, and in the ESPN Sunday Night 1991 opener the Skins met and exceeded expectations.

Washington had control of the game from the start, opening the contest with a long drive culminating in a Riggs TD run. The Skins scored again quickly after a Darrell Green interception, and after Detroit's next possession Brian Mitchell returned a punt for a TD. The Redskins led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The Skins added two more TDs in the second quarter, a Ricky Sanders catch and a Byner run. At 35-0, the game was effectively over at halftime.

The lead opened to 42-0 in the third quarter following a Clark TD catch, and a fourth quarter FG netted the final, the largest shutout victory in franchise history.