RFK Stadium - “I had a feeling it wouldn’t be pretty”, said Joe Gibbs after this game and, as usual, he was right. Washington needed an unforced error by the Falcons’ backup quarterback to retake the lead after an Atlanta rally had tied the game and then held on for the win.

Mike Moroski had come in for an injured Steve Bartkowski and rallied the Falcons from a two-touchdown deficit to a 14-all tie. After deadlocking the game, Atlanta was on the move again when, without a hand being laid on him, Moroski fumbled the ball. Neil Olkewicz fell on it at the Atlanta 32. Theismann threw to Calvin Muhammad for a first down at the 19 and then it was Riggins five straight times, the last a one-yard scoring run. The Falcons’ rally was over.