2004 Philadelphia Eagles season
2004 Philadelphia Eagles season | |
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Owner | Jeffrey Lurie |
General manager | Andy Reid |
Head coach | Andy Reid |
Home field | Lincoln Financial Field |
Results | |
Record | 13–3 |
Division place | 1st NFC East |
Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Vikings) 27–14 Won NFC Championship (vs. Falcons) 27–10 Lost Super Bowl XXXIX (vs. Patriots) 21–24 |
Pro Bowlers | QB Donovan McNabb RB Brian Westbrook WR Terrell Owens OT Tra Thomas LB Jeremiah Trotter CB Lito Sheppard FS Brian Dawkins SS Michael Lewis K David Akers ST Ike Reese |
AP All-Pros | WR Terrell Owens (1st team) CB Lito Sheppard (1st team) FS Brian Dawkins (1st team) K David Akers (2nd team) |
The 2004 season was the Philadelphia Eagles' 72nd in the National Football League (NFL). The Eagles entered the season as back-to-back-to-back NFC runner ups and had been one of the most successful teams in the league after the Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb era began in 1999, making it to the playoffs for four straight seasons and to the NFC Championship Game in 2001, 2002, and 2003. However, the team could not reach the Super Bowl in any of those years, despite being favored in the latter two NFC title games. In the offseason, this already championship-level team was reinforced on both sides of the ball by the free agent additions of wide receiver Terrell Owens, defensive end Jevon Kearse and return of middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, their third-round draft pick in 1998.
Possessing a high-powered offense which featured McNabb, Owens, and Brian Westbrook, as well as a bruising defense led by Pro Bowlers Jeremiah Trotter, Brian Dawkins, Lito Sheppard and Michael Lewis, they won their way to a 13–1 start to the season. After resting starters for the final two games, the 13–3 Eagles soared past the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs, earning a trip to Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville against the defending champion New England Patriots. The Eagles fell 24–21, ending their season. This season was considered the franchise's most successful in the modern era until their Super Bowl LII-winning 2017 season–coincidentally, the Eagles also faced the Falcons, Vikings, and Patriots in the 2017 playoffs.
The 2004 Eagles are also the most recent NFC East squad to repeat as division champions, as the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and the Eagles themselves have failed to defend their respective titles in the subsequent season. The 2004 Eagles were also the last team to go 6–0 against NFC East rivals until the Dallas Cowboys in 2021. It would be the last season where the Eagles won their first seven games until 18 years later.
Offseason
Acquisitions
The Eagles signed defensive end Jevon Kearse, linebacker Dhani Jones and quarterback Jeff Blake in free agency. The Eagles also acquired wide receiver Terrell Owens in a trade.
The Eagles also brought back defensive end Hugh Douglas and middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter after they were released by their previous teams.
Departures
The Eagles traded guard
In free agency, the Eagles lost linebacker Carlos Emmons, cornerbacks Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, running back Duce Staley, defensive end Marco Coleman and guard Bobbie Williams.
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Philadelphia Eagles Draft
2004 Philadelphia Eagles draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
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1 | 16 | Shawn Andrews * | G
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Arkansas | |
3 | 90 | Matt Ware | FS | UCLA | |
4 | 129 | J. R. Reed | FS | South Florida | |
4 | 131 | Trey Darilek | G
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UTEP | |
5 | 162 | Thomas Tapeh | FB | Minnesota | |
6 | 185 | Andy Hall | QB | Delaware | |
6 | 192 | Dexter Wynn | CB | Colorado State | |
7 | 227 | Adrien Clarke | G
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Ohio State | |
7 | 242 | Bruce Perry | RB | Maryland | |
7 | 243 | Dominic Furio | C | UNLV
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Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Roster
Philadelphia Eagles 2004 final roster | ||||||||
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
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Preseason
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
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1 | August 13 | at New England Patriots | L 6–24 | 0–1 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
2 | August 20 | Baltimore Ravens | W 26–17 | 1–1 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
3 | August 26 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 21–27 | 1–2 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
4 | September 3 | at New York Jets | L 27–28 | 1–3 | Giants Stadium | Recap |
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
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1 | September 12 | New York Giants | W 31–17 | 1–0 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
2 | September 20 | Minnesota Vikings | W 27–16 | 2–0 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
3 | September 26 | at Detroit Lions | W 30–13 | 3–0 | Ford Field | Recap |
4 | October 3 | at Chicago Bears | W 19–9 | 4–0 | Soldier Field | Recap |
5 | Bye | |||||
6 | October 17 | Carolina Panthers | W 30–8 | 5–0 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
7 | October 24 | at Cleveland Browns | W 34–31 (OT) | 6–0 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
8 | October 31 | Baltimore Ravens | W 15–10 | 7–0 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
9 | November 7 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 3–27 | 7–1 | Heinz Field
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Recap |
10 | November 15 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 49–21 | 8–1 | Texas Stadium | Recap |
11 | November 21 | Washington Redskins | W 28–6 | 9–1 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
12 | November 28 | at New York Giants | W 27–6 | 10–1 | Giants Stadium | Recap |
13 | December 5 | Green Bay Packers | W 47–17 | 11–1 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
14 | December 12 | at Washington Redskins | W 17–14 | 12–1 | FedExField
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Recap |
15 | December 19 | Dallas Cowboys | W 12–7 | 13–1 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
16 | December 27 | at St. Louis Rams | L 7–20 | 13–2 | Edward Jones Dome
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Recap |
17 | January 2 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 10–38 | 13–3 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. New York Giants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Giants | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Eagles | 14 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
weather= 77 °F (25 °C) (Sunny) The highly anticipated Eagles' season began with a convincing rout of the division-rival
Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Vikings | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
Eagles | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
weather= 63 °F (17 °C) (Clear) A
Week 3: at Detroit Lions
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eagles | 14 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 30 |
Lions | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
With two home wins under their belt, the Eagles played their first away game of the year at Ford Field against the lowly Detroit Lions. The Eagles broke through during the first quarter when Donovan McNabb arced a 48-yard bomb to third receiver Freddie Mitchell setting up a first and goal. McNabb finished the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak. After recovering a Detroit fumble, McNabb hit Terrell Owens in stride for a 29-yard score. The next touchdown was scored by long-snapper/tight end Mike Bartrum on a 1-yard pass, his first touchdown since 2001, making it 21–0 Eagles. Emerging Detroit receiver Roy Williams had two touchdown receptions over the rest of the game, but three second half field goals by David Akers kept the score a lopsided 30–13. McNabb had 356 passing yards, with Owens owning 107 of those yards.
Week 4: at Chicago Bears
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Eagles | 3 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
Bears | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
Playing in extraordinarily windy conditions at Soldier Field, the Eagles air attack was somewhat hindered in its 19–9 win over the Chicago Bears. David Akers, facing his most challenging conditions of the season, connected on a 51-yard field goal in the first quarter. He made another field goal in the second quarter to double Philadelphia's lead to 6–0. Capitalizing on a turnover, Donovan McNabb hit his favorite target Terrell Owens for an 11-yard touchdown in the second quarter. With another Akers field goal, the Eagles led 16–0. The Bears got on the board with a field goal before the half ended, but Akers' fourth field goal made it 19–3. Akers missed his next two field goals in the increasingly windy conditions, but the Eagles hung on for the 19–9 victory. Brian Westbrook had a career-high 23 rushes for 115 yards and Owens caught his sixth touchdown in just four games. With the victory, the Eagles completed a four-game sweep of their schedule preceding their Week 5 bye.
Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
Eagles | 10 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 30 |
weather= 56 °F (13 °C) (Mostly Cloudy) Undefeated and fresh off of an early season bye, the Eagles sought to take revenge against a wounded
Week 7: at Cleveland Browns
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
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Eagles | 14 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 34 |
Browns | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
After five relatively easy wins, the Eagles were drawn into a dogfight against the
Week 8: vs. Baltimore Ravens
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Ravens | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Eagles | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 15 |
weather= 75 °F (24 °C) (Sunny) The Eagles put their undefeated record on the line at home against the
Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Eagles | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Steelers | 14 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
In a possible
Week 10: at Dallas Cowboys
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Eagles | 7 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
Cowboys | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
In a Monday Night Football game that is probably more remembered for a controversial pre-game promotion featuring Terrell Owens and Desperate Housewives actress Nicollette Sheridan, the Eagles avenged their loss to the Steelers by throttling the Dallas Cowboys in Texas Stadium 49–21. On the first play of their third possession, Donovan McNabb completed a pass over the middle to Owens. The two nearest Cowboy defenders ran into each other, freeing Owens to run for a 59-yard touchdown. A muffed punt put the Eagles in position to score their second touchdown on a 4-yard run by Dorsey Levens in the second quarter. A touchdown reception by Dallas tight end Jason Witten cut the Philadelphia lead to 14–7 as the game turned into a shootout. McNabb completed another touchdown to Owens, and then a 59-yarder to Todd Pinkston for Pinkston's first score of the season. Cowboys quarterback Vinny Testaverde found Witten again a few minutes later, making it 28–14 Philadelphia. On the next Eagles' possession, McNabb, in a famous play, scrambled for a record 14.1 seconds before launching a 60-yard bomb to Freddie Mitchell. The drive ended in a 1-yard Brian Westbrook run, padding the Eagles' lead to 35–14. Dallas running back Eddie George scored on the Cowboys' first possession of the third quarter, keeping Dallas in the game. But they would not score again, while McNabb and Owens hooked up for another touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Lito Sheppard intercepted Testaverde in the end zone and went the distance, returning the pick 101 yards for a touchdown as he outran Cowboy receiver Keyshawn Johnson. Owens had his biggest game as an Eagle, catching six passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns. McNabb's equally fantastic season continued with 345 passing yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The Eagles went to 8–1, with a division title already in sight.
Week 11: vs. Washington Redskins
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Redskins | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Eagles | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
weather= 54 °F (12 °C) (Cloudy) In Week 11, the Eagles faced the
Week 12: at New York Giants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Eagles | 0 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 27 |
Giants | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
The 9–1 Eagles travelled up the New Jersey Turnpike to take on the New York Giants on November 28, 2004. Eli Manning's 50-yard bomb to Jamaar Taylor allowed New York to take a first quarter lead after a field goal. Donovan McNabb took it in himself as the Eagles' answered with a touchdown. Steve Christie got another field goal in the second quarter, and it was a 7–6 game. McNabb was sacked and fumbled near midfield on the Eagles' next possession. Manning promptly arced another rocket to Taylor, putting the ball on the Philadelphia 3-yard line. On the next play, Manning underthrew a fade to the end zone and rookie Quintin Mikell made a clutch interception. The game was still tight as the second half began, but the Eagles defense would not allow the Giants to score again. Philadelphia used a 24-yard reception by Terrell Owens to set up a 47-yard David Akers field goal. Then, a Brian Dawkins interception of Manning led to another field goal, pushing the Philadelphia lead to 13–6. Later in the quarter, Jevon Kearse blocked a New York punt, and the offense was able to capitalize, with Brian Westbrook taking it in from 1-yard out, and putting the Eagles ahead 20–6. Early in the fourth quarter, Westbrook took a screen from McNabb and rumbled 34 yards to paydirt, breaking the game open at 27–6. Westbrook had 127 combined yards and both a rushing and receiving touchdown. The defense gave up 110 yards to Tiki Barber and two long Manning-Taylor passes, but otherwise kept the Giants muzzled, while making key interceptions. With the victory, the Eagles locked up an NFC East division title earlier than any team had before. They had also won their tenth game quicker than any team in franchise history.
Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Packers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
Eagles | 7 | 28 | 9 | 3 | 47 |
The Eagles turned in perhaps their best performance of the entire season when the 7–4
Week 14: at Washington Redskins
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Eagles | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
Redskins | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
A mere three weeks after pasting the
Week 15: vs. Dallas Cowboys
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Cowboys | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Eagles | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
weather= 39 °F (4 °C) (Light rain) After their scoring fest in Week 10, the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys played a defensive struggle in a Week 15 game that would mean home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if the Eagles were to win. The teams had long drives, but could not get into field goal range in the first quarter. In the second, the Eagles broke through with a drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb to Chad Lewis. David Akers missed the extra point, making it a 6–0 game. McNabb was later sacked and fumbled the ball away to Dallas, with Vinny Testaverde taking advantage by firing a 7-yard touchdown pass to Keyshawn Johnson. The missed extra point now seemed more critical as the Eagles trailed 7–6 going into halftime. On the opening drive of the third quarter, McNabb found his favorite target, Terrell Owens for a 20-yard gain, but Dallas safety Roy Williams, made a horse-collar tackle on Owens, breaking his ankle. The play would prompt a new NFL rule the next season, barring horse-collar tackles. McNabb was intercepted two plays later and again later in the quarter as neither offense could score. Cowboys kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter, giving the Eagles new life. McNabb, going back to one of his old tricks in the absence of Owens, made scrambles of 12 yards and 19 yards, setting up an eventual Dorsey Levens touchdown run from 2 yards out. The two-point conversion failed and it remained 12–7 Eagles. However, Lito Sheppard picked off Testaverde on the next series to end the game. Proving again that they could win a close game, the Eagles prevailed under adversity and in improving their record to 13–1, completed a sweep of their NFC East opponents while locking up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Unfortunately, the word after the game was that Owens, the Eagles' sharpest offensive weapon, would be out until at least the Super Bowl.
Week 16: at St. Louis Rams
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Rams | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
With nothing left to play for until the playoffs and in the wake of the disastrous injury to Terrell Owens, Eagles' head coach Andy Reid decided to only play his starters for one series in a Monday Night Football game against the St. Louis Rams. The Rams ran ten rushing plays, split between Steven Jackson and Marshall Faulk, in the opening drive as they scored a touchdown. The Eagles offense, also playing without Brian Westbrook who was a healthy scratch, efficiently marched down the field, with Freddie Mitchell, who was now a starter, receiving a 7-yard touchdown pass from McNabb. At that point, most of the Eagles' starters left the game. The second-string Philadelphia defense limited a St. Louis team that needed the game to help secure a playoff spot. The Rams offense only scored 20 points, but backup quarterbacks Koy Detmer and Jeff Blake could do little to score on St. Louis.
Week 17: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Bengals | 0 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
Eagles | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
weather= 45 °F (7 °C) (Cloudy) The 7–8 Cincinnati Bengals rolled over the Philadelphia reserve players. Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook were among the many starters that did not play for the Eagles, who were clearly preparing for a run to the Super Bowl. Koy Detmer and Jeff Blake were again mostly unimpressive while Bengals running back Rudi Johnson torched the Eagles' backup defense for three touchdowns to give Cincinnati a 38–3 lead by the middle of the fourth quarter. Blake was able to connect with Freddie Mitchell, who had six catches for 76 yards, for a touchdown late. Meanwhile, Terrell Owens continued to rehab his ankle, guaranteeing that if the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl, he would be ready to play in it. The Eagles, not trying to win their last two games, finished with a franchise best 13–3 record.
Standings
NFC East | |||||||||
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W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(1) Philadelphia Eagles | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 6–0 | 11–1 | 386 | 260 | L2 |
New York Giants | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3–3 | 5–7 | 303 | 347 | W1 |
Dallas Cowboys | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 5–7 | 293 | 405 | L1 |
Washington Redskins | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 1–5 | 6–6 | 240 | 265 | W1 |
Playoffs
Schedule
Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
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Wild Card | First-round bye | |||||
Divisional | January 16, 2005 | Minnesota Vikings (6) | W 27–14 | 1–0 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
NFC Championship | January 23, 2005 | Atlanta Falcons (2) | W 27–10 | 2–0 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
Super Bowl XXXIX | February 6, 2005 | vs. New England Patriots (A2) | L 21–24 | 2–1 | Alltel Stadium
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Recap |
Game summaries
Divisional Playoffs: vs. Minnesota Vikings
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Vikings | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Eagles | 7 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 27 |
weather= 32 °F (0 °C) (Sunny) With expectations high, the Eagles' playoff run began with the Minnesota Vikings coming to town. Minnesota had backed into the playoffs with an 8–8 record and losses in four of their final five regular season games, but they had upset the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round.
On the Eagles' second possession,
The Vikings got the ball to the Eagles' 4-yard line, but a botched fake field goal attempt left them with nothing to show for the drive and put a dent in their hopes. Interceptions by Ike Reese and Jeremiah Trotter in the third quarter kept Minnesota at bay, while Freddie Mitchell's luck was reversed when he fumbled a near-touchdown out of the end zone, resulting in a touchback. Two David Akers field goals in the fourth quarter put the game at 27–7 and out of reach. Culpepper added a 32-yard touchdown pass to Robinson, but the Eagles were going to their fourth straight NFC Championship Game. McNabb had 286 passing yards and two touchdowns, Westbrook had over 100 all-purpose yards, and Mitchell caught five balls and had two touchdowns filling in for Terrell Owens.
NFC Championship: vs. Atlanta Falcons
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Falcons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Eagles | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
weather= 12 °F (−11 °C) (Clear) The Eagles hoped that the fourth time would be a charm for them against the
The Eagles moved towards the end zone again, the big blow coming when Greg Lewis came back and hauled in a 45-yard pass from Donovan McNabb, setting up first and goal from the Falcons' four-yard line. Two plays later, McNabb passed in the corner of the end zone to veteran tight end Chad Lewis, with Lewis catching the pass while making a spectacular effort to stay in bounds. On Atlanta's next possession, in the middle of the second quarter, Vick went deep over the middle for tight end Alge Crumpler, who made the catch but was absolutely crushed by safety Brian Dawkins on the play. Dunn went in for the 10-yard score on the next play and it was 14–10 Eagles. Philadelphia took the kickoff in the third quarter and marched down the field, setting up a 31-yard field goal by David Akers in the wind. Defensive end Derrick Burgess had his first of two sacks on Vick to kill Atlanta's next drive. Later in the quarter, a low pass by Vick was intercepted by Dawkins, leading to another Akers field goal and increasing the Eagles' advantage to 20–10.
As the game moved into the fourth quarter and Atlanta's passing offense could do little against the Philadelphia secondary, a Super Bowl berth looked more and more likely. A six-and-a-half minute drive that ended in another short Chad Lewis touchdown reception kicked off the celebration in Philadelphia. Victorious by a score of 27–10, the Eagles were NFC Champions for the first time since 1980. McNabb threw for a modest 180 yards in the windy weather, but had two touchdowns and no interceptions. Westbrook came up with 96 yards on the ground, while Chad Lewis made two critical touchdown receptions. It was later learned that Lewis broke his ankle on the second touchdown catch, and he would be left off the Super Bowl roster. Meanwhile, the defense held Vick to 136 passing yards and 26 rushing yards, and kept Atlanta off the scoreboard in the second half.
Super Bowl XXXIX: vs. New England Patriots
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Patriots | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
Eagles | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
In their first
A third-down sack and subsequent fumble by Donovan McNabb on the Eagles' first possession nearly led to a turnover in Eagles' territory, but Andy Reid challenged the play and the Eagles were able to punt. Both offenses struggled in general until McNabb hit Owens on a 30-yard catch and run to inside the New England 10-yard line. Unfortunately, Patriot safety Rodney Harrison picked off McNabb's pass to the end zone. After a New England punt, the Eagles had good field position, but L. J. Smith was hit and fumbled after a completion, giving the ball back to the Patriots. New England's offense continued to struggle and the Eagles took back over, with McNabb finding maligned wide receiver Todd Pinkston for a 17-yard completion then a spectacular leaping 40-yard catch. On third and goal, McNabb hit Smith in the end zone and the Eagles had drawn first blood 7–0. Brady led the Patriots to the Eagles' 4-yard line, but he was sacked and fumbled, with Darwin Walker recovering for the Eagles. Things were looking good for Philadelphia, but they went three and out, giving New England the ball back at the Eagles' 37-yard line. Brady did not waste this opportunity, and led the Patriots to a touchdown with 1:21 left in the half, with David Givens catching a 4-yard scoring strike and celebrating by mocking Owens' wing flap celebration.
Brady connected with eventual game MVP Deion Branch four times on the opening drive of the third quarter. Mike Vrabel caught the short touchdown pass and New England had its first lead 14–7. In the middle of the third, the Eagles drove to the New England 10-yard line, before McNabb fired a bullet to Brian Westbrook between two Patriot defenders for a game-tying score. The Patriots answered back with a scoring drive capped by a two-yard touchdown rush by Corey Dillon early in the fourth quarter, giving New England the lead back 21–14. On their next possession, the Patriots got good field position and ended the drive with a short Adam Vinatieri field goal, pushing the lead to 24–14.
Tedy Bruschi intercepted McNabb on the next series and it looked like the Eagles might be finished. However, they forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with 5:40 to play. They drove down the field, but there was an alarming lack of urgency and the clock kept ticking. A sudden 30-yard touchdown pass from McNabb to Greg Lewis gave the Eagles new life, but less than two minutes remained. The Eagles failed to get the onside kick, then burned their timeouts on New England's possession. Philadelphia got the ball back at their 4-yard line with :46 seconds left down 24–21, but Rodney Harrison got his second interception of McNabb three plays later and the season was over. McNabb threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns, but his three interceptions were devastating. Owens had nine catches and 122 yards on his partially healed ankle, while Pinkston hauled in 82 receiving yards. The Eagles had done better than most expected and were in the game until the end, but they had made too many first half mistakes, when the Patriots were playing poorly, and left too many opportunities to score points on the field. Nevertheless, the 2004 Eagles had done better than any Eagles team had done since the 1960 NFL Championship. The Eagles would eventually win Super Bowl LII against New England in 2017.