Super Bowl XVIII was played on Jan. 22, 1984, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Washington Redskins, champions of the NFC, faced off against the Los Angeles Raiders, champions of the AFC.
The Redskins had another strong regular season on their way to Super Bowl XVIII, finishing 14-2. They won their division and then defeated the Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs to reach the Super Bowl. Quarterback Joe Theismann led the team's offense, and the defense was led by defensive end Dexter Manley and linebacker Monte Coleman.
The Raiders, 12-4 in the regular season, won their division and then defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs to advance to Super Bowl XVIII. Quarterback Jim Plunkett led the team's offense, alongside second-year running back Marcus Allen, and the defense was led by defensive end Howie Long and safety Vann McElroy.
The game was a one-sided affair, with the Raiders dominating throughout. They jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, winning 38-9. Plunkett threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns, but Allen won MVP after rushing for 191 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.
Super Bowl XVIII was a game that featured the dominant Raiders against the game, but overmatched, Redskins. The Raiders came into the game as favorites and lived up to that status.
The game was not as close as some of the previous Super Bowls, but it was still a great showcase of the Raiders' talent during that era. It was the Raiders' third Super Bowl victory in eight years, cementing their place among the greatest teams of all time.
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