Twenty years ago, the NFL players went on strike and the team owners decided to go with replacements.

The replacements came to play, braced for the abuse often heaped upon those who brave the picket lines.

They came with hopes of landing a roster spot, taking their ticket to a long-shot lottery. Most went home after the three-game strike was over.

Darrick Brilz stayed.

A former offensive lineman at Oregon State, Brilz made it to the final cut of training camp with the Washington Redskins that season. He was among a group of three or four players that just missed out, but the Redskins’ brass knew a strike was imminent and signed Brilz to a bonus to join the team if he was needed.

“I thought it was a chance for me to prove I could play,” Brilz said. “In the NFL, they watch a lot of film to evaluate talent, so you get exposure and you might catch on with someone.”

Breaking the strike wasn’t easy at first. Brilz knew the players he practiced with during the summer months weren’t pleased with the new players.

Conflicts were avoided by busing the players between the practice complex and a hotel. Armed police officers were on hand to quell any trouble.

“At first they were angry,” Brilz said. “I understand why they went on strike. They were there the first week, after that it was only union guys. I thought there would be some kind of recourse, but the bottom line was we won three games for them and that probably helped.”

The Redskins replacements defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 28-21 and then took a 38-12 win over the New York Giants.

The team chemistry was immediately evident. Personalities blended and the players clicked on and off the field.

The strike was settled by the third game. Some of the teams had their regulars back, but the Redskins had to go with their replacements one last time because none of their starters had broken the strike and were not yet declared eligible.

Across the field from the Redskins that Monday night game in Dallas were players such as Tony Dorsett, Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Danny White.

Brilz was matched up against Randy White, a tough all-pro defensive lineman known for a nasty streak.

“Going into the game I was kind of nervous,” Brilz said. “Our offensive line coach talked to me told me about Randy White, how he was like everyone told me about him.”

Dallas struggled to move the ball and Washington led 3-0 at the half. Cowboys fans expecting to enjoy a blowout suddenly found themselves hoping for a win.

Dorsett fumbled twice and the Redskins swarmed Danny White, sacking him six times. The Redskins never let up and left with a 13-7 win.

“It obviously was an extreme upset,” Brilz said. “I know all our players out on strike, they were totally excited that we won that game. It’s a big rivalry. I think (the coaches) did a fabulous job as far as getting us ready.”

The three wins weren’t just for show. They counted in the standings and kept the Redskins on pace for the playoffs.

They made it, took wins over the Bears and Vikings and found themselves in the Super Bowl, where they defeated Denver, 42-10.

“It was awesome,” Brilz said. “I thought to myself, ‘I don’t have to play in another game after this.’ It was incredible.”

Brilz played in San Diego in 1988, then spent five years in Seattle and five in Cincinnati before retiring in 1998. He never played in a playoff game again.

“The only year I went to the playoffs was that first year,” he said. “It was frustrating for me. That’s what you shoot for, that’s your goal. It was very frustrating at times, but a lot of guys never get to the playoffs in their career and I got there and the Super Bowl in the first year.”

Brilz didn’t leave the game. He lives in Fort Mitchell, Kent., where he coaches the offensive line and running game at Beechwood High. He is also teaching math while working on his certification and pursuing a masters degree at Northern Kentucky University.

He gets to Bengals games with his son every now and then and has followed the careers of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He follows football on TV.

Nothing Brilz sees today will match the experience of the Super Bowl season and the upset of the Cowboys. Brilz said he ran into Joe Gibbs when the Seahawks were playing in Giants Stadium and Gibbs brought up that Monday Night win.

“He said, ‘You know, that was probably one of my greatest football experiences ever, was winning down in Dallas,’ ” Brilz said.