In honor of Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders Josh Harris announcing a deal to bring the team home and activate 180 acres of opportunity at the RFK campus, Commanders.com is looking back at some of the team's greatest moments at its former stadium. Today, we're highlighting Darrell Green's game-sealing overtime interception against the Detroit Lions during the 1995 season.
More than 50,000 fans filled RFK Stadium to watch Washington take on the Detroit Lions. Both teams were looking to get their seasons back on track; the Lions had won two of their previous three games but started 0-3, while Washington had won one of its previous five.
So, it was bound to be a close contest, but the afternoon started slowly for both squads. Things began with a 26-yard field goal from Washington kicker Eddie Murray. The Lions responded with a field goal of their own, but Washington squeezed in another before the end of the first quarter to go ahead, 6-3.
The score was tied at 13 at halftime, and Detroit finally took the lead early in the third quarter thanks to a seven-yard touchdown to Johnnie Morton from Scott Mitchell. Washington responded with 45 seconds left in the quarter on a two-yard touchdown from running back Terry Allen.
From there, Detroit and Washington exchanged the lead three times. Although Detroit struck first with a 48-yard field goal, Washington retook the lead a few minutes later when quarterback Gus Frerotte found wide receiver Henry Ellard for a 13-yard touchdown. But just five plays later, a 51-yard score by Brett Perriman put the Lions back in front.
With the game on the line, Murray kept Washington's hopes alive with a 39-yard field goal that tied the score at 30 and forced overtime. That's when one of the best defenders in Washington history made a huge play.
Washington was forced to punt, putting all the pressure on its defense. Detroit quarterback Scott Mitchell took the snap at his own four-yard line but cracked under the pressure, throwing the ball directly to Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green. With the help of linebacker Rod Stephens, who helped Green up after he stumbled at the 5-yard line, Green crossed the goal line to give Washington the walk-off victory.
While the 36-30 win only improved Washington's record to 3-5, it marked the 17th straight time it had defeated Detroit -- a streak that lasted until 1999. It was a strong day for several of Washington's players; Frerotte threw for 245 yards and a touchdown, while Allen rushed for 110 as well as two scores and Ellard had 112 on six catches.
But when the team needed the win, of course the team's eventual Hall of Famer rose to the occasion.
