The Redskins marched to their first Super Bowl championship in what was a bizzare year for the league. The season was shortened from 16 games to 9 due to a 57 day players' strike.

Despite the shortened season, 1982 is cemented as a favorite in many Redskins' fans memories. The team took on the ball-control personality that would come to define Gibbs' squads, and the playoffs were a coming out party for the outstanding offensive line nicknamed the Hogs. The Hogs controlled the line of scrimage in the playoffs, paving the way for a record-breaking yardage count for Riggins in two blowouts against the Lions and Vikings.

Hated division rival Dallas came to RFK for the NFC Championship game, in which Dallas stayed close for the much of the game until the Skins pulled away in the fourth behind a smothering defense and more ball-control. This put the Redskins into the Super Bowl against Miami, and they came from behind to win the game in a second half capped by Riggins' famous TD run on fourth-and-one.

Although this season is remembered as the beginning of the glory years for Gibbs' Redskins, the team was far from dominant until late in the season. A mid-season loss to Dallas and two consecutive games where the team won despite not scoring a touchdown left plenty of question marks and drama leading into the playoffs.