Super Bowl XVIII

Super Bowl XVIII was the championship game of the National Football League (NFL) for the 1983 NFL season, played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Los Angeles Raiders and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins. The game was held on January 22, 1984, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida, and was attended by Jack Kemp, Ronald Reagan, and other notable figures such as Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, and Don Meredith. The Los Angeles Raiders were led by coach Tom Flores, Howie Long, and Marcus Allen, while the Washington Redskins were led by coach Joe Gibbs, Joe Theismann, and John Riggins.

Game Summary

The Los Angeles Raiders dominated the game, winning 38-9 against the Washington Redskins. The Raiders' Marcus Allen rushed for 191 yards and scored two touchdowns, while the Redskins' John Riggins was held to just 64 yards rushing. The Raiders' Howie Long and Lyle Alzado led the team's defense, which held the Redskins to just 283 total yards. The game was broadcast on CBS with commentators Pat Summerall and John Madden, and was watched by an estimated Super Bowl record audience of 77.62 million viewers, including fans of Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers. Notable attendees included Elvis Presley's friend, Tom Jones, and Muhammad Ali, who was a fan of the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers.

Background

The Los Angeles Raiders finished the 1983 NFL season with a 12-4 record, winning the AFC West division title. They defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs to advance to the Super Bowl. The Washington Redskins finished the season with a 14-2 record, winning the NFC East division title. They defeated the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs to advance to the Super Bowl. The game was played at Tampa Stadium, which was also the home stadium of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was attended by fans of Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos. The National Football League (NFL) was led by Pete Rozelle, who worked with Art Modell and Al Davis to promote the game.

Box Score

The box score for the game is as follows: Los Angeles Raiders - 38, Washington Redskins - 9. The Raiders' scoring plays included a 74-yard touchdown run by Marcus Allen, a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jim Plunkett to Malcolm Barnwell, and a 42-yard field goal by Chris Bahr. The Redskins' scoring plays included a 35-yard field goal by Mark Moseley and a 4-yard touchdown pass from Joe Theismann to Charlie Brown. The game was officiated by Gene Barth, who worked with Jerry Markbreit and Bob McElwee to ensure a fair game.

Aftermath

The Los Angeles Raiders' victory in the game marked their third Super Bowl championship, and their first since moving to Los Angeles from Oakland, California. The team was led by coach Tom Flores, who became the first Hispanic head coach to win a Super Bowl. The Washington Redskins' loss marked their second consecutive Super Bowl defeat, after losing to the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. The game was also notable for the performance of Marcus Allen, who was named the Super Bowl MVP and went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans. The National Football League (NFL) used the game to promote its brand, working with ABC, NBC, and CBS to broadcast the game to a wide audience, including fans of Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings.

Game Statistics

The game statistics for the game are as follows: Los Angeles Raiders - 26 first downs, 424 total yards, 231 rushing yards, 193 passing yards. Washington Redskins - 19 first downs, 283 total yards, 104 rushing yards, 179 passing yards. The Raiders' Marcus Allen rushed for 191 yards, while the Redskins' John Riggins rushed for 64 yards. The Raiders' Jim Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards, while the Redskins' Joe Theismann completed 16 of 35 passes for 160 yards. The game was played in front of a crowd of 72,920, including fans of Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints, and was watched by an estimated Super Bowl record audience of 77.62 million viewers, including fans of Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers.