The Eagles have compiled a 19-22 playoff record in the Super Bowl era, dating back to the 1966 NFL season.
They are 6-12 on the road during that span heading into Sunday’s wild-card round date with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Tampa, including 2-4 on the road in wild-card games.
Here are the Eagles’ top 4 road playoff wins in the Super Bowl era:
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4. Marching past the Saints
A 26-point fourth quarter resulted in a 36-20 wild-card win over the Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on Jan. 3, 1993. That marked the Eagles’ first playoff victory since the 1980 NFC championship game drubbing of the Cowboys.
Randall Cunningham threw a pair of touchdown passes to receiver Fred Barnett (57 and 35 yards) and running back Heath Sherman contributed 105 rushing yards on 21 carries and a TD. On the other side of the ball, cornerback Eric Allen returned his second interception of Bobby Hebert for a touchdown and Hall of Famer Reggie White recorded a sack for a safety in the fifth-seeded Eagles’ come-from-behind win.
“I’m happy for Randall,” said linebacker Seth Joyner. “I get sick of hearing our quarterback can’t win the big ones.”
The eventual Super Bowl champion Cowboys rolled past Rich Kotite’s Birds 34-10 one week later.
3. Double-doink delight
A 16-15 wild-card round win over the Bears on Jan. 6, 2019, ended in surreal fashion when Chicago kicker Cody Parkey’s potential winning 43-yard field goal bounced off of the left upright, crossbar and fell back onto the field of play as time expired.
“Obviously, we’re just hoping for a miss,” said Eagles quarterback Nick Foles.
Foles, who was the Super Bowl MVP the year before, connected with receiver Golden Tate for a 2-yard pass on fourth down with 56 seconds remaining for what turned out to be the deciding score at Soldier Field. Foles was 25 of 40 passing for 266 yards and two touchdowns, along with two interceptions.
Cornerback Rasul Douglas made eight tackles and linebacker Nigel Bradham had seven for Doug Pederson’s Eagles, who lost to the Saints 20-14 one week later at the Superdome.
2. Giant victory
The sixth-seeded Eagles, who earned the last conference playoff spot by winning four of their last five regular-season contests, advanced to the NFC championship game with a 23-11 victory over the Giants on Jan. 11, 2009.
Donovan McNabb scored one touchdown on a QB sneak and hit tight end Brent Celek for a 1-yard TD on the way to a sack-free day in which he was 22 of 40 passing for 217 yards.
“He is the best quarterback in the NFL,” said Eagles coach Andy Reid of McNabb.
Kicker David Akers contributed three field goals, while linebacker Stewart Bradley had 11 tackles and safety Brian Dawkins added 10 at Giants Stadium. One week earlier, the visiting Birds downed the Vikings 26-14 in the wild-card round.
The Eagles fell to the Cardinals 32-25 in the NFC championship game, which was McNabb’s fifth and final one in Philadelphia.
1. Besting the Bears
The Bears had allowed the fewest regular-season points in the NFL (203) on the way to a 13-3 record, but the Birds earned their first trip to the NFC championship game since 1980 by prevailing 33-19 on Jan. 19, 2002.
McNabb (26 of 40 for 2 yards) tossed touchdown passes to fullback Cecil Martin and running back Duce Staley, along with running 5 yards for a score and four Akers field goals sealed the deal at Soldier Field.
“McNabb just killed us,” said Bears offensive tackle Blake Brockermeyer. “We had him wrapped up many different times and the guy just made plays.”
Reid’s Birds (11-5 in the regular season) had handled the Buccaneers 31-9 in the wild-card round at Veterans Stadium.
The St. Louis Rams ousted the Eagles 29-24 to meet Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl, which New England won 20-17.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly
