The Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 55th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 51st in Washington, D.C. The team improved on their 10âÂÂ6 record from 1985 and returned to the playoffs after missing them the previous year, finishing with a 12âÂÂ4 record, a second place finish in the NFC East, and qualified for the playoffs as a wild card. They defeated the Los Angeles Rams 19âÂÂ7 in the NFC Wild Card Game at RFK Stadium, then upset the defending champion Chicago Bears 27âÂÂ13 in the Divisional Playoffs. The season came to an end in the NFC Championship Game when the Redskins were defeated by their division rivals, the New York Giants 17âÂÂ0.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
In knocking off the defending Super Bowl champion Bears, the Redskins scored their first road playoff win under Joe Gibbs. It would not be the Gibbs-led Redskins' last road playoff win, though, as they scored wins in 1987 at Chicago, in 1990 at Philadelphia, in 1992 at Minnesota, and in 2005 at Tampa.