The 2024-25 NFL season was special for our Philadelphia Eagles. It marked the ninth time they have advanced to the NFC Championship Game. What's even more impressive is this is their eighth trip to this round of the tournament since 2000.
There is no denying Eagles fans have been spoiled by this franchise's recent success. Some are unaware of that, but they are. That's what happens when something is so good for so long though. It can sometimes be taken for granted.
Comparisons are subjective, but it's hard to see your team play in one NFC Championship Game without thinking of those of years past. How does one rank one higher than another? Why wouldn't we try?
There are many stops that we can celebrate on this trip down memory lane. We rank every title game the Eagles have ever played in.
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8. January 19, 2003 - Buccaneers 27, Eagles 10
Everyone knows the story well enough. It was the final game at Veterans Stadium. The Eagles never really found their offensive mojo again after Donovan McNabb returned from injury. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers had caught fire.
Philly had been the best team in football that year and had a chance for one more win at an iconic stadium. This one would send them to the Super Bowl title. That didn't happen.
Honestly, the less we talk about this game, the better. Let's move on so as not to open any old wounds.
7. January 18, 2004 - Panthers 14, Eagles 3
The 2003 season was a roller coaster ride for the Eagles. They'd secure the NFC's number-one seed and host a third consecutive NFC title game.
This one was an absolute dud. Donovan McNabb was injured early but tried to continue playing. That didn't work out well. He was picked off three times... all by Ricky Manning.
It was later determined that McNabb couldn't continue, and he was replaced by Koy Detmer (yes, Ty's little brother). He didn't fare much better.
The Eagles were nearly shut out at home vs. a team they were better than. This was the third of three straight losses in the game played before the Super Bowl.
The Carolina Panthers didn't exactly set the world on fire themselves, but they were better than Philly on his day. That added to the overall frustration and still does years later.
6. January 18, 2009 - Cardinals 32, Eagles 25
Speaking of frustration... Welcome to our discussion about Philly's final game of the 2008-09 NFL season. The 2003 Eagles were again a roller coaster. The 2008 version felt like a team of destiny. They scratched and clawed their way to the NFC Championship for the fifth time in the Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb era.
Their opponent was the Arizona Cardinals. This one seemed easy enough. Besides, Philly served them up on a platter on Thanksgiving that season.
Unfortunately, and frustratingly, Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald went wild. Arizona got out to an early advantage. Philly rallied and took the lead themselves, but the Cards would mount a final go-ahead drive to become destiny's new darling.
5. January 27, 2002 - Rams 29, Eagles 24
The second NFC Championship Game the Eagles ever played doubled as their first loss there, but it's also the highest-rated loss. Philly played their hearts out in this one.
The 2001-02 Eagles were playing with house money. This squad surprised the football world by winning a playoff game in Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb's second year, but they didn't stop there. They shocked everyone by reaching the NFC Championship Game.
The shock and awe knew no end as they battled the Greatest Show on Turf tooth and nail. The Birds came up short, but this was a sign that better days were coming. This game proved Philly had arrived and could play with anyone.
4. January 29, 2023 - Eagles 31, 49ers 7
Truth be told, this game very easily could have ranked higher simply because of the controversy that followed. Some say that Philly "got lucky". Others said they "had the easiest road to the Super Bowl ever". The discourse took some of the steam away from the domination that had transpired.
The Eagles' near-record-setting pass knocked out both San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks. Somehow, the Niners still believe that's an excuse for losing.
The Eagles cruised to Super Bowl LVII. San Fran still believes they were robbed, and what's strange is no one views Philly's loss to Carolina similarly. The Eagles took the loss to the Panthers and moved on. Maybe the 'Whiners' should consider doing the same.
3. January 21, 2018 - Eagles 38, Vikings 7
This is one of the games that made Nick Foles a franchise legend in Philadelphia. This is where he stopped being Nick Foles and became 'Saint Nick'.
The Minnesota Vikings were fresh off the Minneapolis Miracle and beating the New Orleans Saints. Philly had just squeaked by the Atlanta Falcons.
Even now, we don't know what got into Nick that day. The visiting Vikings were favored. Philly eventually seized control and never relented.
Foles torched the Vikes with 352 yards passing and three TDs. Patrick Robinson's pick-six will forever live in infamy
2. January 23, 2005 - Eagles 27, Falcons 10
The monkey was finally removed from their backs. After three consecutive grueling losses in the NFC Championship Game (the last two being at home), an Eagles team without an injured Terrell Owens hosted Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons.
The game was never really in doubt during what was quite possibly the loudest Lincoln Financial Field has ever been. The Eagles FINALLY advanced to the Super Bowl, ending years of frustration. This one punched their ticket, and somewhere, Alge Crumpler's bell is probably still ringing.
1. January 11, 1981 - Eagles 20, Cowboys 7
This one tops our list, and there's one reason why it does. One only needs to say one name...
Dallas Cowboys...
The Cowboys were at the height of wearing the 'America's Team' moniker. They appeared in five Super Bowls during the 1970s and won two. The Eagles meanwhile, were digging themselves out of the abyss.
Philly hasn't done much during the dark period, one that stretched from the conclusion of the 1960 NFL Championship and the hiring of Dick Vermeil in 1976. Cowboys quarterback Danny White was in his first season and had taken over for Roger Staubach.
'Roger the Dodger' hung up his Hall of Fame cleats after the 1979 season. The Eagles were not kind to the heir-apparent, beating him to a pulp while Philly's offense notched 20 points.
Wilbert Montgomery's 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter set the tone and has become one of the most memorable touchdowns in franchise history.
The Philadelphia Eagles are comfortable playing in the NFC Championship Game. One thing is certain. Their involvement, one way or another, is always going to lead to fireworks.
Let's just hope those fireworks come after an Eagles victory.