NFC
Washington Redskins, professional football team and one of four teams in the East Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL). The Redskins play at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, and wear uniforms of burgundy, gold, and white.
George Preston Marshall founded the Redskins franchise in 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves, sharing Braves Field with the Boston Braves baseball team. A year later, Marshall moved his team to Fenway Park and changed the team’s name to the Redskins. The Redskins were not profitable, and even an Eastern Division championship in 1936 failed to excite Boston fans, so in 1937 Marshall moved the club to Washington, D.C.
The team found success in its new home. From 1936 to 1942 head coach Ray Flaherty led the Redskins to seven consecutive winning records and three appearances in the NFL Championship Game. Washington faced the Chicago Bears in all three contests, posting narrow victories in 1937 and 1942 and suffering a 73-0 defeat in 1940. During the 1937 title match Flaherty introduced the screen pass. In such a pass, the offensive linemen run downfield in front of the running back instead of blocking for the quarterback. The quarterback then throws a short pass to the running back and the linemen form a screen, blocking downfield to gain yardage. This strategy has since become a standard offensive play.
Flaherty’s talented offensive unit boasted four future Hall of Fame members—halfback Cliff Battles, quarterback Sammy Baugh, tackle Turk Edwards, and end Wayne Millner. In addition to his six passing crowns, the versatile Baugh also led the league in punting five times and interceptions once. His career punting average of 45.1 yards is the highest ever compiled in NFL history.
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