Top 10 Moments of the Last 10 Years for the Washington Redskins

Let's be frank: It hasn't been the smoothest decade for the Washington Redskins.  Since winning the division in 1999, it's been a downhill struggle for the once-proud franchise.

But that doesn't mean the last 10 years have been completely deprived of moments that made us cheer.  Here's a look back at the top 10 moments for the Redskins in the last 10 years.  Hopefully, there are more to come in the near future.

Redskins Beat the 49ers by 35

October 23, 2005

In an era where blowouts were few and far between, the Redskins were able to treat the fans at FedEx Field to a truly dominant win in one particular game. 

The Redskins defeated the San Francisco 49ers 52-17, a game made less laughable only by a few late scores in junk time by San Fran.  This game was 52-7 at one point, an effort so dominant that you could see 49ers defenders getting visibly frustrated on TV.

The best part was what happened afterwards: Papa Johns gives fans one free topping per touchdown the Redskins score, and double it if they win.  The Redskins scored seven touchdowns.

Fourteen-topping pizza, anyone?

The Blocked-Field-Goal Game

November 5, 2006

This game was between two teams who were having equally disappointing seasons.  What made it so great?

It ended in a way you had to see to believe.

The Redskins' Nick Novak lined up for a field goal to break a 19-19 tie with 35 seconds left, but missed.  The Cowboys drove down the field and set up for a short field goal with six seconds left.

Troy Vincent blocked the kick for the Redskins and Sean Taylor picked up the ball, returning it several yards and drawing a facemask penalty.  

The clock had run out but since the game can't end on a penalty, the Redskins were awarded the 15 yards and Novak proceeded to shock Dallas with a game-winning field goal.

Clinton Portis' 64-Yard Touchdown on the First Play of the 2004 Season

September 12, 2004

Yes, the Redskins finished the season 6-10.  It was very disappointing and didn't live up to expectations in any way.

But in Joe Gibbs' first game back as coach of the team, something magical happened.  Redskins fans had reason to hope that the glory days were back.

Newly acquired running back Clinton Portis took the first handoff of the game against Tampa Bay.  The lane he was supposed to run through got clogged, so he cut it back and ran 64 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the year.

For a brief moment, Redskins fans could rejoice.  Gibbs was back.

DeAngelo Hall Gives Jay Cutler Four Times the Nightmares

October 24, 2010

It was an ugly game that day at Soldier Field.  Each team seemed determined to lose in the most horrendous way possible.

The Redskins pulled out a 17-14 slugfest thanks to the superhuman efforts of DeAngelo Hall, who picked off Bears QB Jay Cutler an NFL record-tying four times.  

For his third pick, Hall drifted into the flat and made a spectacular one-handed catch before taking it 92 yards to the house.

It was a legendary game for an otherwise un-legendary player, but it will always be remembered.

Starting 2008 6-2

September 4 to October 26, 2008

It was a match made in heaven.  Jim Zorn, the quirky quarterbacks-coach-turned-head-coach, was leading a ragtag team of Redskins on a successful journey through the season.

At least for a while.

Thought it only lasted a glorious eight weeks, the 2008 version of the Redskins gave fans hope during the first half of the season with a superb run in which they won six games and beat formidable opponents.

Beating Dallas and Philadelphia on the road highlighted one of the most successful starts to a season in franchise history.

A 23-6 Monday Night Football beatdown at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers started a downhill slide, but the stunning start was not lost on fans despite the disappointing 8-8 finish.

The Monday Night Miracle: Redskins 14, Cowboys 13

September 19, 2005

Monday night.  National television.

Cowboys 13, Redskins 0.

It was as uninspiring a performance as the Redskins had ever produced in Dallas, but it was about to change.  First, Mark Brunell found Santana Moss for a 39-yard touchdown on 4th-and-15.

Score: 13-7.  Dallas punts.

Brunell hooks up with Moss minutes later, this time covering 70 yards and shocking the Dallas faithful.

Redskins 14, Cowboys 13.  It was as swift as it was unpredictable, and it sent Redskins fans into a tizzy everywhere.   

Redskins Beat the Eagles To Make the Playoffs

January 1, 2006

They had won four games in a row and needed to win in Philadelphia against a 6-9 Eagles team in order to make the playoffs.  While they struggled early, the Redskins won 31-20, with the late Sean Taylor returning a fumble for a touchdown in the final minutes to seal the victory.

If you are a true Redskins fan, you remember this like it was yesterday.  Seeing Sean Taylor return that fumble made my spine chill knowing that my favorite team had finally made the playoffs.

Of note: Clinton Portis set the franchise's single-season record for rushing yards and Santana Moss set the franchise's single-season record for receiving yards in this game.

Redskins Win Their First Playoff Game Since 1999

January 7, 2006

It wasn't pretty.  The Redskins set an NFL record for fewest yards gained in a playoff win and needed a lucky Tampa Bay drop in the final minutes to pull it out, but it finally happened.  

It was the complete opposite of an earlier matchup in the regular season, in which neither team could stop the other in a 36-35 Buccaneers win.

The win allowed the Redskins to move on to Seattle, where they played well but ultimately lost 20-10.

Todd Collins Leads the Way

December 6 to December 30, 2007

Jason Campbell was down and the Redskins' playoff hopes were shot.  Who could possibly be positive when all their hopes rested on the shoulders of a journeyman quarterback who hadn't thrown an NFL pass in several years?

Todd Collins didn't care.  He led the 'Skins to four straight victories, including an emotional 27-6 win in the finale over Dallas that put Washington in the playoffs.  The final margin of victory, 21, seemed symbolic of the team's dedication of the season to their fallen teammate, Sean Taylor.

Though the Redskins lost a much-closer-than-the-score-indicates playoff game in Seattle 35-14, Collins' incredible performance down the stretch will remain in the annals of Redskins lore.

Redskins Destroy Dallas 35-7

December 18, 2005

True happiness is hard to find.  On this day, Redskins fans experienced it.

This game wasn't even close when it was 0-0.  The Redskins were in a must-win situation and absolutely annihilated Dallas into oblivion.  At one point, it was 28-0 and Chris Cooley had three touchdowns in the first half.

Phillip Daniels had a career day with four sacks and the Redskins laid waste to their longtime rivals, the biggest win in the history of the matchup.

It was heaven on a football field.