2007: Eagles Edge Giants in Wild Card Playoff Game

Two NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, met in a NFC Wild Card playoff game at Philadelphia on January 7, 2007. Coached by Andy Reid for the eighth season, the Eagles were two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance but had stumbled thereafter. They were at 5-6 and without injured starting QB Donovan McNabb before, with backup QB Jeff Garcia behind center, they reeled off five straight wins to top the NFC East with a 10-6 record. RB Brian Westbrook (pictured above), adept at both running the ball and catching it out of the backfield, was a key to the club’s success, and wide receivers Reggie Brown and Donte Stallworth were capable. The attacking defense had problems against the run but was at its best in the backfield, led by FS Brian Dawkins.

The Giants were in their third year under Head Coach Tom Coughlin and finished third in the division at 8-8, following a 6-2 start, grabbing the second Wild Card slot. QB Eli Manning was inconsistent but teamed well with WR Plaxico Burress. RB Tiki Barber was coming off of a season in which he gained 2127 yards from scrimmage at age 31. Injuries to DEs Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora were damaging to the underperforming defense. The teams split their regular season meetings, each winning in the other club’s home venue.

There were 69,094 fans in attendance at Lincoln Financial Field. The Giants had the first possession and, on the initial play from scrimmage, Eli Manning passed to Plaxico Burress for a gain of 29 yards. New York kept the ball on the ground as Tiki Barber (pictured below) carried three times for 25 yards and short-yardage QB Jared Lorenzen gained two yards to convert a third down. Finally, it was Manning to Burress once again for a 17-yard touchdown. Jay Feely added the extra point and the visitors had the early 7-0 lead.

The teams exchanged punts with the Giants winning the battle for field position and keeping the Eagles pinned back deep in their own territory. With less than two minutes remaining in the opening period, Philadelphia commenced a seven-play, 84-yard drive that stretched into the second quarter. Jeff Garcia completed passes to Reggie Brown for nine yards and Brian Westbrook for six to start things off, but following a four-yard carry by Westbrook and a long incompletion, the Eagles faced third-and-six at their 35. Garcia ran up the middle for seven yards and a first down to finish out the first quarter and a short toss to Donte Stallworth gained four yards before Westbrook broke away in spectacular fashion for a 49-yard TD. David Akers converted to tie the score at 7-7.

On New York’s next series, Manning fired a long pass on third down that was intended for Burress but was intercepted by CB Sheldon Brown, who returned it seven yards to the New York 37. Westbrook took off for 22 yards on first down and carries by RB Correll Buckhalter picked up another 11. The drive bogged down at that point but the Eagles took the lead on a 19-yard Akers field goal.

The Giants came back with a long drive that started from their 20. Manning completed three passes, two of them to TE Jeremy Shockey, and Barber had a 41-yard run to the Philadelphia three. But the Eagles held at that point as two Manning throws were incomplete and a run by Barber picked up a yard. New York was forced to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Feely that knotted the score at 10-10 with 4:47 remaining in the first half.

The Eagles responded with an 80-yard possession that took ten plays. Garcia completed six passes along the way, the last to Stallworth for a 28-yard touchdown. Akers added the point after and Philadelphia took a 17-10 lead into halftime.

The teams resumed trading punts to start the third quarter before the Eagles, starting from their 25 after an apparent 65-yard punt return by Westbrook was nullified by a clipping penalty, put together a scoring drive. Garcia completed a nine-yard pass to Reggie Brown on a third-and-eight play and Brown picked up another 13 yards on a reverse. Garcia threw to Brown again for 15 yards and to Buckhalter for three and, while the advance was stopped at the New York 30, Akers kicked a 48-yard field goal that extended the home team’s lead to 20-10.

In a series that extended into the fourth quarter, the Giants advanced to a score, helped along by a 47-yard pass interference penalty called on Sheldon Brown defending Burress. They reached the Philadelphia six before having to settle for a 24-yard Feely field goal that narrowed the margin to 20-13.

The Eagles had to punt following their next possession and New York drove 80 yards in 12 plays. Barber ran for 13 yards on first down and Manning completed six passes along the way. The last three were to Burress, for gains of 18, 14, and finally 11 yards and a TD. Feely tied the score at 20-20 with 5:08 left in regulation.

New York never got the ball back as Philadelphia put together a long, methodical series. Westbrook ran effectively and Garcia completed two short passes to keep the possession alive and the ball away from the Giants. Finally, with the clock down to three seconds, Akers booted a 38-yard field goal and the Eagles came away winners by a final score of 23-20.

Philadelphia led in total yards (323 to 305) and first downs (19 to 17). Both teams ran the ball well, with the Eagles picking up 185 yards to New York’s 151. The Giants suffered the game’s only turnover but were penalized nine times to six flags thrown on Philadelphia.

Jeff Garcia completed 17 of 31 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown with none intercepted. Brian Westbrook rushed for 141 yards on 20 carries that included a TD and Reggie Brown (pictured at right) led the Philadelphia receivers with 7 catches for 73 yards.

For the Giants, Eli Manning was successful on 16 of 27 throws for 161 yards and two TDs with one interception. Tiki Barber, playing in the final game of his career, gained 137 yards on 26 rushing attempts and caught two passes for 15 more yards. Plaxico Burress topped the receivers with 5 catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns.    

The Eagles advanced to the NFC Divisional round and lost a close contest at New Orleans. They dropped to 8-8 and missed the playoffs in 2007. New York came back to claim another Wild Card spot in ’07 and advanced to a Super Bowl upset of the undefeated New England Patriots.

The loss in Philadelphia marked the last game for Tiki Barber, who had already announced that the 2006 season would be his last. He retired as the franchise’s career rushing leader (10,449 yards) as well as ranking second in pass receptions (586). Barber gained 475 yards on the ground in seven playoff games, with the 137 yards against the Eagles his high for a single contest.  

2007: McAllister Stars as Saints Edge Eagles in Divisional Playoff Game

The New Orleans Saints, just a year removed from being a team without a home on the way to a miserable 3-13 record, hosted the Philadelphia Eagles in a NFC Divisional Playoff contest on January 13, 2007. The Saints had a new head coach in Sean Payton and were back in the refurbished Louisiana Superdome, which had been badly damaged along with much of the rest of the city during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The offense was the NFL’s most productive, directed by QB Drew Brees. Power-running RB Deuce McAllister (pictured above) had come back from a knee injury in ’05 to form an excellent tandem with flashy first draft choice RB Reggie Bush. The less-known WR Marques Colston, a seventh round draft pick, also proved to be a valuable addition (70 catches, 1038 yards, 8 TDs). The defense had a bend-but-not-break quality and was strongest on the line that was anchored by ends Will Smith and Charles Grant. New Orleans topped the NFC South with a 10-6 record and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. They had beaten Philadelphia during the regular season.

The Eagles were in the playoffs for the sixth time in Head Coach Andy Reid’s eight-year tenure, having dipped to 6-10 in 2005 after reaching the Super Bowl in ’04. After getting off to a 5-6 start, they managed to win six games in a row to place first in the NFC East, also with a 10-6 tally, despite losing starting QB Donovan McNabb. Veteran backup QB Jeff Garcia performed capably in relief, however, and all-purpose RB Brian Westbrook gained 1916 yards from scrimmage while wide receivers Reggie Brown and Donte’ Stallworth were productive. The aggressive defense was especially strong in the backfield that featured FS Brian Dawkins. Philadelphia defeated the Giants in the Wild Card round to advance to the Divisional level.

There were 70,000 excited fans present at the Louisiana Superdome. The teams exchanged punts to start the game, with Reggie Bush taking a huge hit from Eagles CB Sheldon Brown on the second play from scrimmage that sent him briefly to the sidelines. The second possession for the Saints started off with Deuce McAllister running for a gain of 28 yards from midfield to the Philadelphia 22 and, after reaching the 15, John Carney kicked a 33-yard field goal.

The clubs resumed trading punts until, starting from their own 36 late in the opening period, the Saints again commenced a series with a long run. This time it was Bush reversing field and going around left end for 25 yards, and Drew Brees followed up with a pass to WR Devery Henderson that gained another 35 yards to the Philadelphia four. However, as the game moved into the second quarter, New Orleans lost a net total of a yard in the next three plays and settled for another Carney field goal, this time from 23 yards.

Down 6-0, the Eagles struck back three plays into their next series when Jeff Garcia threw to WR Donte’ Stallworth for a 75-yard touchdown (pictured at left). David Akers kicked the extra point to put the visitors in front by 7-6.

The Saints responded with a long drive of 78 yards in 14 plays. Brees threw to Marques Colston for 14 yards and McAllister ran three straight times for a total of 15 yards. After Bush was tackled by MLB Jeremiah Trotter for a loss of six yards to set up third-and-11, Brees connected with Bush for 14 yards to keep the drive going and then to Colston for another five. Bush lost two yards but then ran for the needed seven yards on third down and another third down at the Philadelphia 28 resulted in a Brees throw to Colston for 19 yards. Two plays later, Bush ran four yards for a TD and, with Carney’s conversion, New Orleans was ahead by 13-7.

The Eagles put together a long possession of their own, covering 80 yards in 11 plays. Garcia completed a pass to WR Reggie Brown (pictured below) for 32 yards to convert a third-and-11 situation and a third-and-six pass to WR Hank Baskett picked up 25 yards to the New Orleans 20. Garcia completed two more passes, to RB Correll Buckhalter for eight yards and TE L.J. Smith for another eight, and Brian Westbrook scored on a one-yard touchdown dive. Akers kicked the point after to put Philadelphia up by 14-13 with 54 seconds remaining in the first half, and that remained the score at halftime when a final-play throw into the end zone by Brees was pulled away from Colston by CB William James.

The Eagles had the first possession in the third quarter and struck quickly when Westbrook broke away for a 62-yard TD on the third play from scrimmage. Akers extended the lead to 21-13 with the PAT. Following a 36-yard kickoff return by WR Michael Lewis, the Saints responded with a seven-play, 63-yard drive. McAllister ran effectively and Brees completed passes to TE Billy Miller for 15 and 29 yards. McAllister ran for a five-yard touchdown and Carney’s extra point put New Orleans just a point behind at 21-20.

On the ensuing kickoff, RB Reno Mahe returned 11 yards and then lateraled to WR Jason Avant for another 28 yards to give the Eagles good starting field position at their 46. Westbrook had a run for 18 yards, but Garcia was unsuccessful on all three of his passes, forcing a punt. Starting from their 16, the Saints advanced methodically. Brees completed passes to McAllister for 10 yards and Miller for 13 and, when Bush fumbled following a 10-yard carry, WR Terrance Copper recovered at the Philadelphia 49. Brees threw to TE John Owens for 21 yards and, after a gain by Bush was negated by a holding penalty, a sack by DE Trent Cole was also nullified due to illegal contact. With a first down at the 34, McAllister ran for a 23-yard gain and that set up a Brees throw to McAllister for an 11-yard TD. Carney converted and New Orleans was back in the lead by a 27-21 score.

Garcia closed out the period with pass completions to Smith for 15 yards and Stallworth for 11 and, after a holding penalty backed the Eagles up to start the fourth quarter, he connected with Brown for a gain of 24 yards to the New Orleans 28. Westbrook carried twice for 24 yards to give Philadelphia second-and-one at the four. But in a pivotal set of plays, Westbrook was stopped for no gain and a pass to FB Thomas Tapeh lost two yards. The Eagles were forced to settle for a 24-yard Akers field goal.

The Saints punted following their next series and Philadelphia went three-and-out and did likewise. On a drive that consisted primarily of McAllister running the ball, New Orleans advanced to the Philadelphia 32, but Bush couldn’t handle a high pitchout from Brees and the loose ball was recovered by DE Darren Howard to give the Eagles possession at their 44 with 3:18 remaining on the clock.

Once again the visitors were unable to move the ball on offense and opted to punt after three plays. They never regained possession as, with all of Philadelphia’s timeouts expended, McAllister ran for five yards on a third-and-one play with 1:37 left. New Orleans won by a final score of 27-24.  

The Saints led in total yards (435 to 355) and first downs (27 to 14), with 208 of their yards coming on the ground. New Orleans also suffered the only turnover and the Eagles recorded three sacks, to one by the Saints. 

Deuce McAllister became the first player in franchise history to run for over a hundred yards in a postseason game as he gained 143 yards on 21 carries. He also caught four passes for 20 yards and scored a touchdown apiece by running and receiving. Drew Brees completed 20 of 32 passes for 243 yards and a TD with no interceptions. Reggie Bush (pictured below) contributed 52 yards on 12 rushing attempts that included a score and gained another 22 yards on three catches. Marques Colston had 5 pass receptions for 55 yards and Billy Miller accumulated 64 yards on his four catches.

For the Eagles, Jeff Garcia was successful on 15 of 30 throws for 240 yards and a touchdown while giving up no interceptions. Brian Westbrook rushed for 116 yards on 13 attempts that included two TDs. Donte’ Stallworth gained 100 yards on three catches that included the one long touchdown and Reggie Brown had 76 yards on his three receptions. On defense, DT Darwin Walker recorded two of the team’s sacks.

“Deuce was fantastic tonight and they weren’t going to stop him,” said Coach Sean Payton of McAllister’s performance. “He ran his heart out.”

New Orleans reached the NFC Championship game for the first time ever, but lost to the Chicago Bears by a 39-14 score. With heightened expectations, the Saints dropped to 7-9 in 2007 and didn’t reach the playoffs again until 2009, although with better results. The Eagles dropped to 8-8 in ‘07 but returned to the playoffs in 2008, advancing to the NFC Championship game. 

2009: Cards Overcome Rally & Defeat Eagles for NFC Championship

The NFC Championship game on January 18, 2009 featured two teams that had won fewer than ten games during the regular season and were hardly expected to get so far. The Arizona Cardinals, winners of the mediocre NFC West with a 9-7 record, which made them the fourth-seeded team in the conference, hosted the Philadelphia Eagles, who were the sixth-seeded team after finishing second in the NFC East and qualifying as a Wild Card at 9-6-1.

Under Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, the Cardinals were a pass-oriented team on offense with QB Kurt Warner (pictured above) throwing to wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston, all three of whom reached a thousand receiving yards. RB Edgerrin James, once an outstanding runner with the Colts, was on the downside at age 30. The defense was suspect and ranked 28^th in points allowed. The Cards had been long-time underachievers and, after getting off to a 7-3 start, seemed to revert to form as they lost four of their last six games. Some of those defeats had been by lopsided scores, including a 48-20 blowout at the hands of the Eagles when they met on Thanksgiving night in Philadelphia. However, with expectations low as the postseason commenced, Arizona defeated the Falcons in the Wild Card round and then dominated the 12-4 Panthers on the road at the Divisional level to advance to the NFC title game.

The Eagles, under Head Coach Andy Reid, had been inconsistent and were 5-5-1 after being routed by the Ravens before winning four of five to make it into the playoffs. QB Donovan McNabb passed for a career-high 3916 yards, but was benched during the second half of the loss to Baltimore and not as much the running threat he had been in his early years. RB Brian Westbrook was an outstanding all-purpose back and rookie WR DeSean Jackson was developing into a big-play receiver. The heart of the defense was still FS Brian Dawkins, who had been joined in the backfield by Pro Bowl CB Asante Samuel. Philadelphia defeated the Vikings in the Wild Card round and then the top-seeded Giants at the Meadowlands and was back in the conference championship game for the fifth time under Coach Reid.

There were 70,650 fans present at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. While the weather was pleasant, the stadium’s retractable roof was closed in order to amplify the sound of the partisan crowd. The Cardinals took the opening kickoff and drove 79 yards in nine plays. Kurt Warner completed his first three passes, two of them to Anquan Boldin for a total of 16 yards and one to Larry Fitzgerald (pictured at right) for 19. Edgerrin James then ran three straight times, the last two for 16 and 12 yards to the Philadelphia 12 yard line. A short gain by RB Tim Hightower was followed by a Warner throw to Fitzgerald for a nine-yard touchdown. Neil Rackers added the extra point and Arizona had the early 7-0 lead.

The Eagles came right back with a long drive of their own that covered 33 yards in eight plays. Starting at their own 40 after Rackers kicked off out of bounds, Donovan McNabb scrambled for 21 yards to the Arizona 39. Short passes by McNabb interspersed with carries by Brian Westbrook got the ball to the 22, but with the crowd roaring, a five-yard penalty for a false start backed the Eagles up five yards to force third-and-nine and, after McNabb threw an incomplete pass, David Akers kicked a 45-yard field goal.

The Cards went three-and-out on their next series and the Eagles, following the punt, regained possession at their 33. Facing third-and-10 after two incomplete passes, McNabb’s next throw was intercepted by FS Aaron Francisco, but he fumbled at the end of a 27-yard return and OT Jon Runyan recovered for Philadelphia. Given a reprieve, the Eagles moved into Arizona territory as McNabb threw to WR Hank Baskett for 14 yards, Westbrook had a 14-yard run, and RB Correll Buckhalter carried twice for 12 yards to the Arizona 35. Now into the second quarter, the drive finally stalled at the 29, but this time Akers was wide on a 47-yard field goal try and the visitors came up empty.

On the next play, Warner went long for Fitzgerald on a flea-flicker and it was good for a 62-yard touchdown.  Rackers added the extra point for a 14-3 lead. Philadelphia came back with a seven-play, 65-yard series. A third down sack was negated by defensive holding and McNabb then threw to WR Kevin Curtis for a 47-yard gain to the Arizona 19. Once again, the visitors couldn’t reach the end zone, but this time Akers was successful on a field goal attempt from 33 yards.

The Cardinals started off their next drive with James running for 22 yards up the middle to his own 49. Warner completed passes to RB J.J. Arrington for 16 yards, TE Leonard Pope for 12, and Steve Breaston for 10 yards, with running plays interspersed, to reach the Philadelphia four. Warner connected with Fitzgerald for a third TD, this time from a yard out as the wide receiver outmaneuvered CB Sheldon Brown in the corner of the end zone. Arizona was ahead by 21-6.

The Eagles had to punt following their next series and the Cards again drove to a score, going 80 yards in nine plays. A Warner pass to Boldin that was initially ruled complete for a 32-yard gain was overturned following a challenge, but the Cardinals managed to overcome a third-and-15 situation as Warner threw complete to WR Jerheme Urban for 18 yards to the Arizona 49. A pass to Fitzgerald picked up 14 yards but DE Trent Cole sacked Warner two plays later and the Cards settled for a 49-yard Rackers field goal. Still, they went into halftime with a commanding 24-6 lead.

Philadelphia came out throwing to start the third quarter. McNabb had completions of 20 yards to FB Dan Klecko, 14 yards to WR Jason Avant, and 8 to DeSean Jackson to reach the Arizona 49. But on third down, McNabb fumbled the ball away when sacked and DE Bertrand Berry recovered at the Philadelphia 43. The Cards were unable to move, however, and punted, seemingly pinning the visitors down at their 10 yard line.

The Eagles drove 90 yards in 13 plays, converting three third downs along the way. Short passes interspersed with runs by Westbrook got the ball to the Philadelphia 39, but after SS Adrian Wilson sacked McNabb for an eight-yard loss, the Eagles faced a third-and-18 situation. McNabb went deep for Curtis, who made the catch for a 50-yard gain to the Arizona 19. The possession ended with McNabb connecting with TE Brent Celek for a six-yard touchdown and, with Akers adding the PAT, Arizona’s lead was narrowed to 24-13.

The Cardinals went three-and-out on their next series, and following the punt the Eagles drove to another score. McNabb threw to Curtis for 14 yards and, on a third-and-six play, tossed to Jackson for nine yards to the Arizona 34. McNabb completed another touchdown pass to Celek, this time covering 31 yards, and while Akers missed the extra point, the Eagles were down by just five points heading into the fourth quarter.

Arizona’s seemingly unstoppable offense of the first half was unable to move effectively thus far in the second, and the Cards punted the ball back to the Eagles early in the final period. It took Philadelphia just four plays to score again. Starting at their 14, McNabb threw to Buckhalter for 12 yards and Avant for nine before Westbrook carried for three yards up the middle. McNabb then went long for Jackson, who was covered by CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The cornerback tipped the ball as he fell down, but Jackson was able to make the catch and proceed to the end zone for a 62-yard TD (pictured above). The Eagles tried for two points, but McNabb’s pass failed. Still, the Eagles were ahead by a score of 25-24 with just under eleven minutes remaining on the clock.

Breaston returned the ensuing kickoff 29 yards to his 28 yard line. Warner threw to Fitzgerald for 15 yards and Pope for nine before James lost a yard on a running play. Hightower gained the yard back, but the Cards now faced fourth-and-one at the Philadelphia 49. They converted when Hightower ran for six yards around right end. After a short carry by James, Warner connected with Fitzgerald for 18 yards to the 23. A three-yard run by James was followed by Fitzgerald catching a pass for six yards and, on third-and-one, Hightower came through again with a five-yard carry. Runs by James and Hightower netted a yard and it was third-and-goal at the eight. With his receivers spread out, Warner threw to Hightower out of the backfield for a touchdown. The Cards went for two and converted as Warner connected with TE Ben Patrick, putting Arizona back in front by seven points.

Taking over at their 20 with 2:53 remaining, the Eagles drove to the Arizona 47 as McNabb completed three straight passes, the longest to Westbrook for 19 yards. But that was as far as they got. The next four passes fell incomplete and the Cardinals took over on downs, effectively ending the game. Arizona was the winner by a final score of 32-25.

The Eagles had the edge in total yards (454 to 369) and first downs (22 to 21). However, Philadelphia also turned the ball over three times, to one suffered by the Cardinals. The Eagles also were penalized seven times, at a cost of 64 yards, to just three flags thrown on Arizona, for 15 yards.

Kurt Warner completed 21 of 28 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Larry Fitzgerald had 9 catches for 152 yards and three TDs. Edgerrin James ran for 73 yards on 16 carries and Tim Hightower (pictured below) contributed 33 yards on 11 attempts as well as the game-winning touchdown on his lone pass reception. Defensively, Adrian Wilson recorded both of Arizona’s sacks.

For the Eagles, Donovan McNabb came on strong in the second half comeback and was successful on 28 of 47 throws for 375 yards and three TDs with one interception. Brent Celek had 10 pass receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns while Kevin Curtis gained 122 yards on four catches and DeSean Jackson added 6 receptions for 92 yards and a score. Brian Westbrook was the team’s top rusher with 45 yards on 12 carries.

The Cardinals went on to lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a close Super Bowl battle. They had a 10-6 record in 2009, again topping the NFC West but losing to the Saints in the Divisional playoff round. Philadelphia also had a better record in ’09, going 11-5 and qualifying as a Wild Card after placing second in the NFC East. The Eagles lost to Dallas in the first round. 

2006: Eagles Clinch Playoff Berth with Win Over Cowboys

The Philadelphia Eagles were looking to secure a playoff berth as they took on the division-leading Dallas Cowboys in a Christmas encounter on December 25, 2006. The Eagles, coached for the eighth season by Andy Reid, were stumbling along at 5-6 and appeared to be in more trouble when star QB Donovan McNabb went down with a torn ACL. But with veteran backup QB Jeff Garcia (pictured above) behind center and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg taking over the play-calling duties, Philadelphia won three straight games and was at 8-6 coming into the contest against the Cowboys.

Dallas, which had beaten the Eagles earlier in the season in Philadelphia, also started slowly but was 9-5 and leading the NFC East with six wins in its last eight games following the replacement of veteran QB Drew Bledsoe by unheralded Tony Romo, a 26-year-old backup who had been undrafted as a rookie in 2003. The offense was productive with the two-back tandem of Julius Jones and Marion Barber and an explosive receiving corps with wide receivers Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn plus TE Jamie Witten.

There were 62,839 fans in attendance for the Monday holiday game at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys had the game’s first possession but, after reaching the Philadelphia 40, had to punt. The Eagles started off with the ball at their own 11 and proceeded to put together a 13-play, 89-yard drive. Philadelphia converted four third downs along the way. Jeff Garcia completed a pass to WR Greg Lewis for 13 yards in a third-and-11 situation and RB Brian Westbrook had three straight runs for a total of 25 yards, the last a 16-yard gain on third-and-one. Garcia connected with TE L.J. Smith for 12 yards to the Dallas 37 on third-and-seven. Finally, after RB Correll Buckhalter converted a third-and-one with a three-yard carry, Garcia fired deep to TE Matt Schobel (pictured below) for a 25-yard touchdown. David Akers added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Eagles immediately got the ball back on the ensuing kickoff when WR Miles Austin, making the return, fumbled and CB Roderick Hood recovered at the Dallas 40. But three plays later CB Anthony Henry intercepted a Garcia pass and ran it back 37 yards to the Philadelphia 32. Tony Romo threw to WR Patrick Crayton for a 17-yard gain on a fourth-and-two play at the end of the period to give the Cowboys first-and-goal at the seven and, on the first play of the second quarter, Romo connected with TE Anthony Fasano for six yards to the one. But two straight plunges into the line by Marion Barber were stopped for no gain, and when Barber took a pitchout and tried to get around end on fourth-and-one, he was stopped for a three-yard loss by safety Quentin Mikell.

The Eagles responded to the successful goal line stand by driving 89 yards in 12 plays. Garcia immediately passed to WR Donte Stallworth for 35 yards and, with Buckhalter and Westbrook running the ball while Garcia completed three more passes, they ended up with an Akers field goal from 25 yards.

Down 10-0 with just over five minutes to play in the first half, the Cowboys put together a long scoring drive of their own that covered 81 yards in 10 plays. Romo completed five passes and scrambled for 16 yards along the way. The last completion was to Terrell Owens for a 14-yard TD. Martin Gramatica’s extra point made it a 10-7 contest with 36 seconds remaining on the clock.

The Eagles weren’t done, however, and following a 25-yard kickoff return by RB Reno Mahe, Westbrook ran for nine yards and Garcia gained an additional nine to the Dallas 47. A Garcia completion to Lewis for 16 yards set up a 45-yard Akers field goal on the last play before halftime and extended Philadelphia’s lead to 13-7.

The Eagles had the first possession in the third quarter and added to their lead, going 77 yards in seven plays. The highlight was a third-and-seven pass from Garcia to L.J. Smith down the middle that gained 65 yards to the Dallas 12. The Cowboys were able to keep the visitors out of the end zone, but Akers kicked another field goal, this time from 21 yards out, to make it 16-7.

The teams traded punts for the remainder of the period. Early in the fourth quarter, FS Brian Dawkins intercepted a long Romo pass in the end zone to snuff out a potential Dallas threat. The Eagles responded by driving 80 yards in 12 plays. Garcia completed short passes and scrambled twice for 23 yards and Westbrook and Buckhalter ran the ball effectively.  Buckhalter gained the last yard for a touchdown and Akers added the PAT. The Eagles were ahead by 16 points with under seven minutes remaining to play.

The game was effectively over. Romo immediately threw an interception on the Cowboys’ next play from scrimmage, and a last possession ended with Hood sacking Romo on a fourth-and-nine play in Dallas territory. Philadelphia won by a final score of 23-7 to nail down a spot in the postseason and take the lead in the NFC East.

The Eagles easily outdistanced Dallas in total yards (426 to 201) and had the edge in first downs (20 to 16). Philadelphia’s offensive production was well balanced, with 204 yards on the ground and 222 through the air. The Cowboys turned the ball over three times, to one suffered by the Eagles. The offensive output, both in terms of points and yardage, was the lowest of the season for Dallas.

Jeff Garcia completed 15 of 23 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown with one interception, and also ran for 43 yards on seven carries. Brian Westbrook (pictured at right) gained 122 yards on 26 rushing attempts while Correll Buckhalter added 38 yards and a TD on his 8 carries. Donte Stallworth and WR Reggie Brown each had three catches, for 51 and 27 yards, respectively, while L.J. Smith, with the one long gain, had 77 yards on his two receptions.

For the Cowboys, Tony Romo had a rough outing and was successful on 14 of 29 throws for 142 yards and a TD while tossing two interceptions and was the team’s leading rusher with 43 yards on three carries. TE Jason Witten caught 6 passes for 50 yards and RB Julius Jones ran for 38 yards on 10 attempts.

“There’s nothing good to say,” summed up Coach Parcells afterward. “We just didn’t make any plays at all, either side of the ball. Just awful.”

Despite the bad feelings engendered by the loss, followed by a defeat against Detroit in the season finale, the Cowboys still reached the postseason as a Wild Card by placing second in the NFC East with a 9-7 record. They lost to Seattle in the opening round. Philadelphia topped the division at 10-6 and defeated the Giants in the first round, but lost at New Orleans in a close Divisional contest.

Versatile Brian Westbrook gained a total of 1916 yards from scrimmage and scored 11 touchdowns. He rushed for 1217 yards on 240 carries (5.1 avg.) with seven TDs and caught a team-leading 77 passes, for 699 yards and four more scores.

Jeff Garcia completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1309 yards and 10 touchdowns while tossing just two interceptions. His record as the starting quarterback was 5-1 to finish out the regular season, and he was 1-1 in the playoffs. Garcia moved on to Tampa Bay in the offseason.

Tony Romo showed great promise and earned selection to the Pro Bowl, although, as was evident in the game against the Eagles, his inexperience also was apparent as he had difficulties down the stretch. He completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 2903 yards with 19 TDs against 13 interceptions – eight of which came in the last five contests.

2005: Patriots Defeat Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX for Third Title in Four Years

The New England Patriots were coming off of a championship in 2003, and two in a three-year period, as they entered the 2004 NFL season. It was more of the same as Head Coach Bill Belichick’s team again went 14-2 and defeated the Colts and Steelers to advance to the Super Bowl. Ever-improving QB Tom Brady was joined in the backfield by eighth-year veteran RB Corey Dillon, who rushed for 1635 yards. WR Deion Branch (pictured at right) missed several games due to injury but was back healthy in the playoffs. The tough and savvy defense was anchored by DE Richard Seymour, linebackers Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi, and SS Rodney Harrison.

Their opponents in the Super Bowl on February 6, 2005 were the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, in their sixth year under Head Coach Andy Reid, had finally broken through after losing three straight NFC title games. A fundamentally sound club on both sides of the ball, the Eagles had made major free agent signings in bringing in WR Terrell Owens and DE Jevon Kearse. QB Donovan McNabb had his best year as he passed for 3875 yards and 31 touchdowns. Owens contributed 77 catches for 1200 yards and 14 TDs before going down with a major ankle injury – he was back in action for the Super Bowl after a seven-week layoff with a metal plate and two screws in his right ankle. RB Brian Westbrook was an outstanding all-purpose back. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson employed an attacking, blitz-heavy scheme that benefited from the addition of Kearse and included Pro Bowlers in MLB Jeremiah Trotter, CB Lito Sheppard, SS Michael Lewis, and FS Brian Dawkins. The Eagles went 13-3 in topping the NFC East and had gotten by the Vikings in the Divisional round of the playoffs and Falcons for the conference title. They came into the Super Bowl as seven-point underdogs against the defending champs.

There were 78,125 fans in attendance at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, plus a huge television viewing audience. The teams traded punts until midway through the first quarter when the Eagles finally put a solid drive together. In a third-and-seven situation at the New England 47, McNabb threw to Owens on a crossing pattern that picked up 30 yards and a roughing penalty added an additional nine yards. However, a sack of McNabb by Mike Vrabel cost Philadelphia 16 yards. McNabb’s poorly-thrown pass into the end zone was then intercepted by CB Asante Samuel, but the Eagles got a break when LB Roman Phifer was penalized for illegal contact. But McNabb followed up with another bad pass that was picked off by Rodney Harrison, and this time the play stood.

The Patriots were unable to move on offense and punted with the Eagles getting the ball back in good field position at the New England 45. Once again they turned the ball over when, three plays later, TE L.J. Smith fumbled after being hit by CB Randall Gay and Samuel recovered for the Patriots.

Again the Philadelphia defense held and, with the scoreless game now early in the second quarter, the Eagles got the ball back at their 19. This time they went 81 yards in nine plays highlighted by McNabb completions to WR Todd Pinkston (pictured at left) that covered 17 and 40 yards. On a third-and-six play, McNabb threw to Smith for a touchdown.

The Patriots came alive on offense, spurred by Brady passes to Corey Dillon for 13 and 16 yards to start off the next series. They advanced deep into Philadelphia territory, but Brady fumbled and DT Darwin Walker recovered at the 13.

The Eagles had to punt after the resulting short possession, with Dirk Johnson getting off a 29-yard kick that allowed New England to start the next series at the Philadelphia 37. The Patriots took seven plays in driving to the tying score, with Brady completing all five of his passes. The last was to WR David Givens in the right corner of the end zone for a four-yard TD. The score was 7-7 at the half.

In the third quarter, the Patriots advanced 69 yards in nine plays despite facing a heavy blitz. Deion Branch caught four passes along the way, the last for a 21-yard gain to the Philadelphia two. From there, Vrabel, used as a short-yardage pass receiver on offense, caught a touchdown pass to put New England back in front at 14-7.

The teams again traded punts until the Eagles responded with a 74-yard drive in 10 plays - eight of them passes - that ended with McNabb firing a throw down the middle to Brian Westbrook for a 10-yard TD.

As the period wound down and the contest entered the fourth quarter, the Patriots were methodically driving down the field against a tiring Eagles defense. RB Kevin Faulk had two catches on screen passes, the second for 14 yards to set up a two-yard Dillon scoring run that put the Patriots back in the lead.

The Eagles had to punt following their next series and the Patriots again drove to a score. On second down, Brady (pictured below) threw to Branch for a 19-yard gain and a roughing the passer penalty on DT Corey Simon moved the ball to the Philadelphia 16. Two runs by Dillon advanced the ball to the four and, while the defense held, Adam Vinatieri kicked a 22-yard field goal to put New England up by ten points.

On the next Eagles possession, McNabb was intercepted by Tedy Bruschi, but the resulting New England series was a short one and Philadelphia got the ball back with 5:40 left to play. The Eagles showed a surprising lack of urgency on the next drive as they moved methodically down the field, huddling after each play and using up a great deal of time. McNabb completed eight passes during the 13-play series that covered 79 yards. He tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass to WR Greg Lewis, but there was just 1:48 remaining in the game.

An onside kick was recovered by New England. Using all of their timeouts as the Patriots ran the ball three times and punted, the Eagles got the ball back at their four yard line with 46 seconds left. It was too much to overcome - Rodney Harrison’s second interception with nine seconds remaining on the clock clinched the 24-21 win for the Patriots.

The Eagles gained the most yards (369 to 331) and had more first downs (24 to 21). However, the vast majority of those yards came through the air as they were only able to run for 45 yards on 17 carries against the New England defense. Philadelphia also turned the ball over four times, to one suffered by the Patriots, and McNabb was sacked on four occasions while the Eagles got to Brady twice.

Deion Branch tied the Super Bowl record for pass receptions as he had 11 catches for 133 yards and was the game’s MVP. Tom Brady completed 23 of 33 passes for 236 yards with two touchdowns and none intercepted. Corey Dillon ran for 75 yards on 18 carries that included a TD.

For the Eagles, Donovan McNabb was successful on 30 of 51 throws for 357 yards and three TDs but also tossed three interceptions. Terrell Owens (pictured below) caught 9 of those passes for 122 yards. Brian Westbrook had just 44 rushing yards on 15 attempts but also had 7 pass receptions for 60 yards and a TD. Todd Pinkston contributed four receptions for 82 yards.

“I was proud of the effort and they battled, but we came up just short – too many turnovers,” said Andy Reid in defeat. “And against such a tough football team you can’t do that.”

With three championships in four years, the Patriots received many accolades and the word dynasty was liberally employed. “We’ve never really self-proclaimed ourselves anything,” said Tom Brady. “If you guys say we’re great, we’ll accept the compliment.”

New England still topped the AFC East in 2005, although with a lesser 10-6 record as they endured the offseason loss of both offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, and had to deal with a spate of injuries during the regular season. The effort to win a third straight NFL title ended with a loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional playoff round. They would next return to the Super Bowl following the 2007 season.

For Philadelphia, the Super Bowl defeat led to a difficult offseason in which several players became embroiled in contract squabbles – most notably Terrell Owens, who publicly questioned Donovan McNabb’s performance during the slow-moving fourth quarter drive. Owens returned to the club but was eventually suspended during the season, McNabb (pictured below) was lost in the 10th game, and the Eagles dropped to the bottom of the NFC East with a 6-10 record. They bounced back to win the division in ’06 – with Owens gone to Dallas and Jeff Garcia spelling an injured McNabb. 

2005: Eagles Overcome Injury to Kicker to Edge Raiders

The health of its placekicker is only occasionally a concern for a NFL team. On September 25, 2005 it became a major issue for the Philadelphia Eagles in their game against the Oakland Raiders.

David Akers (pictured above) had been an outstanding placekicker for the Eagles since joining the club in 1999, first just handling kickoffs and long field goal attempts, and in 2000 taking the job over completely. From that time through the 2004 season, he had booted 139 field goals to make him the franchise’s career leader in that category and his 83.2 percent success rate put him among the all-time leaders in NFL history up to that point. The left-footed Akers had been selected to the Pro Bowl on three occasions.

Coming into the Week 3 contest against the Raiders, however, the star placekicker was having hamstring problems and the Eagles had taken the precaution of signing PK Todd France to the practice squad. They did not activate him, however, when Akers appeared to be healthy during pre-game warmups.

The Eagles, NFC Champions in 2004 and 1-1 thus far in ’05, had players other than Akers battling injuries. Most significantly, star QB Donovan McNabb was suffering from chest and groin injuries. And while there had been off-field controversies in the offseason, Philadelphia, under seventh-year Head Coach Andy Reid, still had a fundamentally sound team that included RB Brian Westbrook and flamboyant WR Terrell Owens on offense and a tough defense anchored by MLB Jeremiah Trotter and FS Brian Dawkins.

As for the visiting Raiders, coached by Norv Turner for the second year, they were coming off of two straight losing seasons – including a 5-11 record in ’04 – after having been AFC Champions in 2002. Their major offseason moves were to acquire talented but controversial WR Randy Moss and RB LaMont Jordan, as well as pass-rushing DE Derrick Burgess, who was signed away from the Eagles. Still, they were 0-2 after two weeks of play.

There were 67,735 fans in attendance at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, and what they saw initially was not promising. The Eagles kicked off to start the game, and upon booting the ball Akers crumpled to the ground in obvious pain. Philadelphia was flagged for being offside and Akers had to kick off again, with the same result – including an offside penalty on the Eagles. After the placekicker was helped to the sideline, backup TE and long snapper Mike Bartrum finally got off a successful kickoff, but it was short and, following a 21-yard return by CB Chris Carr the Raiders had outstanding field position at the 50 yard line.

It didn’t take long for Oakland to make the most of it. In four plays, most notably a 36-yard pass completion from QB Kerry Collins to TE Courtney Anderson, the Raiders scored a touchdown on an eight-yard Collins throw to Jordan. Following a three-and-out possession by the Eagles, the Raiders again moved into scoring position, with the biggest play being a Collins pass to Moss for 22 yards. However, a 49-yard field goal attempt by Sebastian Janikowski hit the left upright and was unsuccessful.

The teams traded punts, but the Eagles offense finally came alive as McNabb completed five consecutive passes, including 23 yards to WR Greg Lewis and 13 yards to Owens. But on a first down play at the Oakland 17, McNabb was intercepted by DT Warren Sapp to end the threat. The first quarter ended with the Raiders leading by 7-0.

That was how it remained until midway through the second quarter when the Eagles, taking over at the Oakland 49 following a punt, drove to a touchdown on an 18-yard run by Brian Westbrook in six plays. With Akers unavailable, LB Mark Simoneau came in to attempt the extra point, but the low kick was blocked (it actually struck one of the Philadelphia linemen) and the visitors remained in front at 7-6.

Following another Bartrum kickoff, the Raiders proceeded on a long 10-play drive that covered 51 yards. Janikowski was successful on a 28-yard field goal try with under a minute remaining in the half, and Oakland took a 10-6 lead into halftime.

The Eagles put together an 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive to start the third quarter. McNabb (pictured below), who had been clearly struggling with his injuries in the first half, was in rhythm as he completed seven short passes, including a four-yard touchdown pass to Owens. Capping things off was Akers successfully kicking the extra point and the Eagles were in front by 13-10.

Later in the period Philadelphia put together another scoring possession. Starting deep in their own territory at the 10 yard line, the Eagles made a big play in a third-and-one situation as McNabb threw to Westbrook out of the backfield, who proceeded to gain 62 yards to the Oakland 19. Four plays later, McNabb connected with Westbrook again on a shovel pass for a five-yard TD and, with Akers again making the extra point, the Eagles stretched their lead to 20-10 heading into the fourth quarter.

Oakland’s offense, which had struggled during the third quarter, came alive when, on the first play of the final period, Collins threw to Anderson for a 32-yard gain to the Philadelphia 16. The Eagles were able to keep the Raiders out of the end zone, however, and Janikowski kicked a 26-yard field goal to make it a seven-point game.

It seemed as though Philadelphia might score again when McNabb threw to Westbrook for a 37-yard gain on the first play after the ensuing kickoff to move the ball into Oakland territory. But the Raiders got a break when TE L.J. Smith fumbled after catching a 17-yard pass. Safety Derrick Gibson recovered for Oakland at his own two and the Raiders proceeded to move the ball effectively down the field. Collins was successful on seven straight passes, with three of them to LaMont Jordan for 33 yards. But the drive stalled at the Philadelphia 19 and Janikowski was wide on a field goal attempt.

The Eagles were forced to punt following a short series and the Raiders, taking over at their 35, again moved into scoring territory, this time converting key third downs along the way. In a third-and-15 situation, Collins threw to Moss for 31 yards to get into Eagles territory and, facing a third-and-10 play, he connected with Anderson for 17. A 27-yard pass to WR Doug Gabriel was good for a touchdown, and following the extra point, the game was tied at 20-20 with 2:17 showing on the clock.

Taking over at his 20 following a touchback on the kickoff, McNabb completed back-to-back throws to Westbrook that totaled 30 yards to get to midfield. A 13-yard completion to Lewis converted a key third-and-nine situation. A 10-yard penalty backed the Eagles up, but McNabb went to Owens twice for 29 yards. After advancing to the five yard line, and with just 12 seconds left on the clock, Akers came out to attempt a 23-yard field goal. It was successful and he again fell to earth afterward, but there was celebration as Philadelphia came away with a 23-20 win.

The Eagles outgained Oakland (365 yards to 344) and had more first downs (26 to 18). They also turned the ball over twice, as opposed to no turnovers suffered by the Raiders, but Oakland was penalized 13 times at a cost of 94 yards while Philadelphia was flagged on 9 occasions for 70 yards. In addition, while effective through the air, the Raiders had more rushing attempts (22) than yards (21).

Donovan McNabb completed 30 of 52 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns with one intercepted. Brian Westbrook (pictured at right) gained 68 yards on 13 carries that included a TD and also accumulated 140 yards on 6 pass receptions, including another score. Terrell Owens caught 9 passes for 80 yards and a TD. Most significantly, David Akers was able to kick two second half extra points and the game-winning field goal.

For the Raiders, Kerry Collins was successful on 24 of 42 throws for 345 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Courtney Anderson caught 5 passes for 100 yards and Randy Moss had 5 receptions for 86 yards. LaMont Jordan was stifled by the Eagles defense, gaining just 19 yards on 16 carries, but he also pulled in 5 passes for 53 yards and a TD. WR Jerry Porter had 5 catches as well, for 40 yards.

“You know its going to hurt for one second and then the game is over,” said David Akers of the climactic field goal. “My whole leg hurts right now.”

Akers missed the next four games and Todd France filled in, connecting on six of seven field goal attempts and all five extra points. In 12 games, Akers was successful on 16 of 22 field goals and all 23 of his extra points. Akers remained with the Eagles for five more seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl twice more before moving on to the 49ers and more record-breaking performances.

The Eagles made it to 3-1 before faltering. Donovan McNabb was lost for the year after nine games and Terrell Owens was suspended after seven as injuries and controversy erupted. After reaching the NFC Championship game in the previous four seasons, and winning in ’04, Philadelphia sank to 6-10 and placed last in the NFC East. The Raiders failed to improve, ending up at the bottom of the AFC West with a 4-12 tally.

2003: Punchless Eagles Beat Giants on Stunning Punt Return by Westbrook

The Philadelphia Eagles had been to the NFC Championship game in 2001 and ‘02, but Head Coach Andy Reid’s team was off to a slow start in 2003. They were embarrassed 17-0 by the reigning champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in the opening game that was also their regular season debut at the new Lincoln Financial Field, and then lost badly to the Patriots the following week. QB Donovan McNabb had been struggling through the first five games due to a bruised right thumb and lingered at the bottom of the passing rankings. The team’s record stood at 2-3 as they traveled to Giants Stadium to take on the division rival New York Giants on October 19.

The Giants were also underachieving at 2-3 under Head Coach Jim Fassel. The club had scored a total of 16 points in the prior two games as QB Kerry Collins tossed seven interceptions and no touchdown passes.

Philadelphia got the early advantage in its second possession of the game, driving 89 yards in 11 plays and highlighted by McNabb throwing to TE L.J. Smith for a 25-yard gain. RB Brian Westbrook ran around end for the last six yards and a touchdown that gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

Neither team was able to move the ball effectively for the remainder of the half. A promising second quarter drive by the Giants ended with TE Jeremy Shockey fumbling the ball away at the Philadelphia 19 yard line after a nine-yard gain on a pass from Collins. However, three plays later McNabb was intercepted by CB Will Allen and the Giants had the ball at the Eagles’ 29 with 1:23 remaining in the half. Brett Conway kicked a 39-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 at the intermission.

New York went ahead 10-7 in the third quarter after a 12-play drive that went 62 yards and produced a one-yard TD pass from Collins to Shockey. It looked like that would be enough as the game moved through the fourth quarter and the Eagles offense remained stymied, ending five consecutive possessions with punts – all but one of them had been three-and-out.

Midway through the fourth quarter it appeared that the Giants would score again, but on a third-and-five play at the Philadelphia 10 yard line Collins fumbled after being hit by LB Mark Simoneau and DT Corey Simon recovered for the Eagles to end the threat.

With Philadelphia out of time outs and 1:34 remaining on the clock, the Giants entrusted their defense to finish the job and Jeff Feagles punted. Westbrook fielded the short, wobbly kick on the bounce and quickly blew through the wall of defenders. Running past the Giants’ bench, he flew past Feagles and then just stayed inbounds as he eluded one last tackler, TE Marcellus Rivers, before completing the 84-yard touchdown return (pictured at top).

78,883 fans sat in stunned silence as the play was reviewed by the officials, who ascertained that Westbrook had indeed not stepped out of bounds.

New York still had one last chance and, following the ensuing kickoff, Collins tossed a pass to WR Amani Toomer for a 20-yard gain to the Philadelphia 44 yard line with 1:12 now left to play. But four more passes netted just one more completion for six yards, and the last one on fourth-and-four was broken up by CB Bobby Taylor. The Eagles came away with a shocking 14-10 win.

The stunning nature of the victory was all the more evidenced by the statistics. The Eagles had gained just 134 total yards, to 339 for the Giants. A net of just 47 of those yards had come through the air (McNabb was sacked three times for a loss of 17 yards) while they had gained 87 yards on the ground. Philadelphia accumulated 9 first downs, while the Giants had 25.

Donovan McNabb completed only 9 of 23 passes for 64 yards with an interception. L.J. Smith’s one catch had made him the team’s receiving yardage leader with 25. Brian Westbrook led the team in rushing with 67 yards on 15 carries, caught three passes for another 11, and returned three kickoffs for 61 yards and the punt for 84 – the combined total came to 223 yards and included both of the team’s touchdowns.

In defeat, Kerry Collins was successful on 22 of 36 passes for 174 yards with one TD and none intercepted. RB Tiki Barber gained 79 yards on 19 carries and RB Dorsey Levens, playing in his first game for the Giants, contributed another 64 yards on 16 attempts. Barber and Jeremy Shockey each caught five passes (for 34 and 23 yards, respectively) while Amani Toomer was the receiving yardage leader with 54 yards on four catches.

For the Eagles, the dramatic result proved to be the turning point of the season as they proceeded to win nine straight and finished once again at the top of the NFC East with a 12-4 record. They made it to a third straight conference title game, but lost to Carolina. New York won its next two contests, but then lost the remaining eight to close out at 4-12 and at the bottom of the division. In the housecleaning that followed, both Coach Fassel and Collins were sent packing.

Donovan McNabb’s return to full health was a significant factor in Philadelphia’s second-half surge. He ended up passing for 3216 yards with 16 TDs and 11 interceptions and was named to his fourth of an eventual five straight Pro Bowls (six overall with the Eagles).


In his second season out of Villanova, Brian Westbrook (pictured at left) emerged as a major all-purpose talent. He returned a second punt for a touchdown during the season and ranked first in the NFC with a 15.3 average on 20 returns. Overall, he gained 1738 all-purpose yards with 613 rushing on 117 carries, 332 on 37 pass receptions, 487 on 23 kickoff returns, and 306 returning punts. While he would be used far less on punt returns in future seasons (and not at all on kickoff returns), his yards from rushing and pass receiving rose greatly.