Top 30 plays in NFL history

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 30: Running back John Riggins #44 of the Washington Redskins runs 43 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as tight end Clint Didier #86 of the Redskins and defensive back Glenn Blackwood #47 of the Miami Dolphins pursue the play during Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl on January 30, 1983 in Pasadena, California. The Redskins defeated the Dolphins 27-17. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 30: Running back John Riggins #44 of the Washington Redskins runs 43 yards for a touchdown as defensive back Lyle Blackwood #42 of the Miami Dolphins pursues the play during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl on January 30, 1983 in Pasadena, California. The Redskins defeated the Dolphins 27-17. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

16. John Riggins touchdown run in Super Bowl XVII

The Diesel carried Washington to the Super Bowl in 1982, both literally and figuratively.

The game started off with the Dolphins scoring on a long touchdown pass, and Washington answering with a Mark Moseley field goal. The Dolphins made it a 10-3 game with a field goal of their own in the second quarter, before Washington tied it with a touchdown pass from Joe Theismann to Alvin Garrett.

In the fourth quarter, Washington trailed 17-14 on a fourth down and one. Head coach Joe Gibbs decided to go for it. He called upon Riggins, who broke the tackle of Don McNeal and raced 43 yards for a Washington touchdown. Washington would score one more insurance touchdown to extend their lead to 27-17, and would go on to win the game with the same score.

Riggins carried the ball 38 times in the game for 166 yards and the game-sealing score on the fourth down run. His stiff-arm on McNeal and shaking him to the turf is one of the most iconic shots in the history of NFL Films. He was by and large the Washington offense throughout the season, and they rode him to their first Super Bowl victory.

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