The Birds’ top upsets of the last 20 years
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Last week was easier. The Birds were 6.5-point underdogs against Chicago, a high number given that they had rediscovered their mojo on both sides of the ball.
Now the Eagles are 8-point dogs to the Saints, which is hardly surprising given the shellacking they suffered in the same venue in Week 11.
Still, there’s plenty of optimism surrounding the Birds. As of Wednesday afternoon, 64 percent of those betting on this game had taken the Eagles to cover the spread, per BetOnline.
The majority of bettors expect a high-scoring game. The over/under is 51, and 66 percent took the over.
If the Eagles pull off the upset, it would be their biggest of the postseason in the last 20 years, based on the point spread, and also would be among their biggest including the regular season.
Their biggest upset of the past two decades occurred in Week 15 of this season when as 13.5-point dogs they stunned the Los Angeles Rams, 30-23. Sunday’s upset of the Bears matches their eighth-largest upset.
Ready for a trip down memory lane? Here’s a look at their biggest upsets of the last 20 years — based on point spread, courtesy of BetOnline.
FYI, the Eagles were 5.5-point underdogs in Super Bowl LII.
Dec. 16, 2018: at L.A Rams, +13.5, 30-23: Nick Foles replaces Carson Wentz, hits Alshon Jeffery eight times for 160 yards, and the Eagles take a 30-13 lead and hang on for the W.
Dec. 16, 2007: at Dallas, +10, 10-6: The Eagles sack Tony Romo four times, pick him off three times and allow him to complete only 13 of 36 pass attempts. Donovan McNabb hits Reggie Brown from a yard out for game’s only TD.
Oct. 10, 1999: vs. Dallas, +10, 13-10: The Eagles trail 10-6 in the fourth, but Charles Johnson catches a TD pass from none other than … Doug Pederson for the game-winning score.
Dec. 6, 2015: at New England, +9, 35-28: Who can forget this one? The Pats go up 14-0, but Najee Goode returns a blocked punt 24 yards for a TD, Malcolm Jenkins returns an interception 99 yards for a TD, and Darren Sproles returns a punt 83 yards for a TD. The Eagles take a 35-14 lead early in the fourth, and you got the feeling if the game had been five minutes longer, the Pats would have completed the comeback.
Jan. 2, 2000: vs. St. Louis Rams, +8.5, 38-31: Two touchdowns by Marshall Faulk give the Rams an early 14-3 lead at the Vet, but Torrance Small catches a 63-yard TD from McNabb, and Mike Mamula and Al Harris both score on pick-6s. The win, in Andy Reid’s first season as head coach, is a sign of things to come. The Eagles make the playoffs in each of the next five seasons, reaching three straight conference championships and Super Bowl XXXIX.
Dec. 9, 2012: at Tampa, +8, 23-21: Down 21-10 in the fourth, the Eagles get two touchdown passes from Foles — to tight end Clay Harbor and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin — to win by two. Maclin had nine catches for 104 yards, and Jason Avant had seven for 133 — including a crazy one-hander.
Nov. 25, 2002: at San Francisco, +7, 38-17: Talk about backup quarterback heroes. Remember this one?
McNabb suffered a broken ankle a week earlier but still threw four touchdowns to beat Arizona. Koy Detmer starts on Monday Night Football and throws a pair of touchdowns before suffering a dislocated elbow. Enter A.J. Feeley, who goes 3 for 3, including a TD to Chad Lewis that puts the Eagles up 35-10.
The Eagles later traded Feeley to Miami for a second-round pick. They should ask the Dolphins about Foles.
Jan. 6, 2019: at Chicago, +6.5, 16-15: Double doink.
Dec. 7, 2008: at New York Giants, +6.5, 20-14: Brian Westbrook torches the G-Men for 203 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. Eli Manning completes just 13 of 27 passes for 123 yards. Dec. 25, 2006: at Dallas, +6.5, 23-7: Merry Christmas from Jeff Garcia, who throws for 238 yards and a TD. Westbrook runs for 122 yards, and Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard each pick off Romo, who is sacked three times and finishes with a passer rating of 45.5.
Nov. 26, 2000: at Washington, +6.5, 23-20: Remember this one? You will now. McNabb runs 11 times for 125 yards and one unforgettable touchdown in which he shaked-and-baked Mark Carrier and dragged Matt Stevens into the end zone for a 21-yard score.
McNabb also hurdled one defender on a 26-yard run and scrambled for a 54-yard run.
“He was so big, I don’t think they make Tylenol that big,” Redskins defensive end Marco Coleman said.
Nov. 14, 1999: vs. Washington, +6.5, 35-28: McNabb throws for a whopping 60 yards, but Duce Staley runs for 122 and a touchdown. Allen Rossum returns a punt 89 yards, and Eric Bieniemy scores the game-winning TD late in the fourth with an 11-yard run. It was the only touchdown of the season for Bieniemy, who rushed five times for 27 yards in the game and 12 times for 75 yards for the season.
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