PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles have played several memorable season finale games, whether it means something for their playoff chances, or if they’re simply wrapping up a deplorable season.
This year’s finale against the Giants on Sunday should be no different.
The intrigue centers around whether Jalen Hurts will return after missing the previous two games with a sprained shoulder. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday that Hurts is “day to day,” a good sign that he has a chance to play.
The Eagles held a walkthrough practice Wednesday, and Hurts was listed as “limited.” That’s an estimation, however. The Eagles return to the practice field on Thursday, which would be a more true indication of Hurts’ status. Last Wednesday, also a walkthrough, Hurts was listed not practicing. He was limited last Thursday and Friday.
“We’ll get a better idea here within the next couple of days,” Sirianni said.
Since 2006, the Eagles have been filled with intrigue in the regular-season finale. There was the famous “Nate Sudfeld” game from two years ago in a forgettable 4-11-1 season − except for the final 15 minutes.
There was the time they needed to beat the Dallas Cowboys, plus have two other teams lose, just so they could make the playoffs as the last wildcard team.
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What’s intriguing about this game against the Giants is that the Eagles (13-3), even with the NFL’s best record this season, have so much at stake. The Giants, meanwhile, are locked into the No. 6 seed, and seemingly have nothing to play for.
It appeared to be the opposite scenario just two weeks ago as the Eagles were 13-1, about to lock up the No.1 seed, while the Giants, (7-6-1 at the time), figured to be playing for a playoff berth.
Here, then, are the top 10 Eagles’ season finales going back to the 2006 season:
10. 2015: Eagles 35, Giants 30
Just six days before the game, the Eagles surprisingly fired head coach Chip Kelly, installing Pat Shurmur as the interim coach. The Eagles, after several weeks of lackluster play under Kelly, put together a solid game against the Giants.
“The season is done, and that’s not what we wanted,” running back DeMarco Murray said. “I don’t think anyone here is leaving with their heads held high.”
Shurmur didn’t get the permanent job; Doug Pederson did. And Murray, a big-ticket free agent, was unceremoniously traded after one disappointing season.
9. 2012: Giants 42, Eagles 7
Everybody knew, from fans, players and coaches, that Andy Reid would be fired the next day after 14 seasons, 5 NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl berth. The ending was another in a long line of embarrassing defeats as the Eagles lost 11 of their last 12 games to finish 4-12.
“He’s a great man, and I love him to death,” quarterback Michael Vick said. “I wish we weren’t having this conversation right now.”
8. 2018: Eagles 24, Washington 0
The Eagles needed a win and a Chicago Bears win over the Minnesota Vikings in order to make the playoffs. Nick Foles, revising his late-season hero role from the year before replacing the injured Carson Wentz, tied an NFL record with 25 straight completions. The Bears did their part, and the Eagles then went to Chicago the next week and upset the Bears 16-15 in the “double-doink” game. That was when the Bears’ last-second, game-winning field goal attempt hit off the upright, then the crossbar, then bounced out.
The Eagles’ magic ran out the next week in New Orleans.
7. 2017: Cowboys 6, Eagles 0
This game was memorable for all the wrong reasons. The Eagles had already clinched the No. 1 seed and home-field until the Super Bowl. And this was supposed to be a tuneup for Foles and the Eagles. Instead, Foles went 4-for-11 for 39 yards and an interception in the first quarter before he was taken out as planned. Later, one reporter (yes, really) asked Pederson if he was considering starting Sudfeld in the Eagles’ first playoff game.
Foles, of course, led the Eagles to the Super Bowl and was named the game’s MVP.
6. 2019: Eagles 34, Giants 17
This was Wentz’s best 4-game stretch since his torn ACL late in the 2017 season. The Eagles were 5-7 and had to win all four games to win the NFC East in order to make the playoffs. Wentz came through, posting a passer rating of 100.8 with 7 TDs and 0 interceptions.
But Wentz’s first (and only) playoff experience ended in the first quarter when he suffered a concussion.
5. 2013: Eagles 24, Cowboys 22
Kelly’s first season as the Eagles’ coach was a drastic turnaround from Reid’s 4-12 final season. But the Eagles still needed a win at Dallas in the final game to decide the NFC East title and playoff spot. Foles finished off a regular season in which he threw 27 TD passes against just 2 INTs. But it was Brandon Boykin’s interception with 1:43 left that sealed the victory. The Eagles’ run ended a week later in a loss to the Saints at home.
4. 2009: Cowboys 24, Eagles 0
The Eagles had won 6 straight to tie Dallas for the division lead heading into the last game of the season, at Dallas. The loser was already guaranteed a playoff spot. The Eagles not only missed a chance to host a first-round game, they had to return to Dallas the following week for the first-round playoff game.
“You’ve got to get some humble pie, you know?” wide receiver Jason Avant said.
The Eagles got even more the next week, as the Cowboys pummeled them again 34-14.
3. 2006: Eagles 24, Atlanta 17
The Eagles seemed done when Donovan McNabb tore his ACL in November and was replaced by Jeff Garcia. Garcia and the Eagles reeled off four straight wins to set up a must-win finale against the Falcons. Garcia was injured early in that game and replaced by A.J. Feeley, whose 89-yard TD pass to Hank Baskett in the fourth quarter gave the Eagles the win. The Eagles won their first playoff game over Giants, then lost to Saints.
2. 2020: Washington 20, Eagles 14
This will be forever known as “The Sudfeld Game.” The Eagles had no intentions of winning this game. They had already declared nine starters out with injuries and COVID-19, so Washington should have had no problem blasting the Eagles and winning the NFC East.
By losing, the Eagles would move up from No. 9 to No. 6 in the draft. Somehow, the Eagles only trailed 17-14 heading into the fourth quarter. That’s when Pederson pulled Hurts and inserted Sudfeld, even though Sudfeld had never gotten into a game that season. Sudfeld threw an interception, lost a fumble and was sacked twice.
Not only did the Eagles lose and get the better draft pick, which became DeVonta Smith, the Eagles cost the Giants (6-10) a playoff spot. Former Giants coach Joe Judge said the Eagles “disrespected the game.”
1. 2008: Eagles 44, Cowboys 6
Not only did the Eagles need a win over Cowboys, but first they needed the 4-11 Raiders to beat the Buccaneers and the Bears to lose to the Texans. The Raiders and Texans did their part just as the Eagles took the field for their game. And then the Eagles blasted the Cowboys in front of a raucous Lincoln Financial Field crowd.
“We didn’t expect it to happen,” Eagles offensive lineman Jon Runyan said. “Sometimes you do need some luck.”
The Eagles used that momentum to win two road playoff games, reaching the NFC Championship game. But they couldn’t pull off a third straight upset, losing to Arizona 32-25.
In other news
The Eagles opened the 21-day practice window for three players currently on injured reserve in S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (lacerated kidney), DE Robert Quinn (knee) and OL Brett Toth.
It’s possible that Quinn would be the only player activated, however. DE Josh Sweat didn’t practice Wednesday after suffering a neck injury against the Saints on Sunday. RT Lane Johnson (groin) and CB Avonte Maddox (toe) also were listed as not practicing, along with CB Zech McPhearson (illness).
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
