There's nothing like seeing two iconic franchises tussle in a do-or-die situation. The January 2025 Philadelphia Eagles battle vs. the Green Bay Packers marks the fourth time these two iconic franchises have met on the field to play an NFL postseason game. That alone is a mouthful.
That game represents another milestone. It doubles as the Eagles' twentieth appearance in the NFL Playoffs' Wild Card Round. The previous 19 were all memorable in their own way. It sounds like an awesome time to rank them.
Also read: The 15 best pass rushers in Eagles history
19. January 15, 2024 - Buccaneers 32, Eagles 9
The Wild Card Playoff Round following the 2023 NFL season scrapes the bottom of the list. Yes, the wounds from this one will never heal.
This game is ranked at the bottom because the only real efforts we saw in this one came from DeVonta Smith and the old guys (Lane Johnson, Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, and Jason Kelce.
In what rather tragically turned out to be B.G. and Fletch's final game, their teammates took an extended lunch that extended through the night's action, resulting in one of the worst losses during the franchise's postseason history. It also doesn't help that this game was the last in an epic season collapse.
18. January 9, 2010 - Cowboys 34, Eagles 14
The above collapse is the only thing keeping this wet fart from finding its way to the bottom of our list. Why? Philly showed up to this one unprepared, and they laid an egg vs. the Dallas Cowboys of all teams.
This game put the capper on a 2009 NFL season where the Dallas Cowboys beat the Eagles three times with each game seemingly being more gut-wrenching than the last. This was also Donovan McNabb's final appearance in an Eagles jersey.
We are forced to remember the greatest quarterback in franchise history playing an air guitar while walking through the tunnel to begin the television broadcast. Not a great look... Not a great look at all.
17. January 5, 1991: Washington 20, Eagles 6
Do you see a theme growing here? Cue another bad loss to a team we don't care too much for. This was the final time Buddy Ryan would lead the Eagles as head coach.
One of the most beloved coaches in the team's history due to his hilariously brash nature and dominant defenses, Buddy was winless in three playoff game appearances. This flat outing at Veteran's Stadium vs. a division rival is a headscratcher, particularly because it followed the "Body Bag Game" that occurred on the same field a few weeks prior.
This gave Norman Braman all the fuel he needed to justify Buddy's firing.
16. January 16, 2022: Buccaneers 31, Eagles 15
If you haven't noticed, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make a few entries on this list. The worst Eagles Wild Card loss (2024) was preceded by another heartbreaker to close Nick Sirianni's first season as head coach. The worst part is we can't say the Eagles didn't show up. They most certainly did. The Bucs were just better. Nick's team was still trying to find its way and was exposed.
Jalen Hurts was still young and inexperienced. So was Nick Sirianni. It also didn't help that Tom Brady was standing on the other sideline and hadn't forgotten what had happened the last time he and the Birds met during the postseason.
15. December 27, 1981: Giants 27, Eagles: 21
This game was simply infuriating to watch. Ask your fathers and/or grandfathers. The Eagles were defending NFC Champions and looking to return to football's biggest game after losing to the Raiders in Super Bowl XV.
The division-rival New York Giants were the opponent. They were seen as upstarts. The Eagles began the season 9-2 but collapsed and lost all but one game the rest of the way.
Still, hopes were high as the Giants were without starting quarterback Phil Simms and linebacker and leader Brad Van Pelt. It didn't matter. Mistakes sunk the Eagles, and they lost to their hated rivals in Philadelphia.
14. December 29, 1996: 49ers 14, Eagles 0
This one is kind of a weird one. Ty Detmer was the Eagles' starting quarterback. He was knocked out of the game and replaced by Mark Rypien.
The game was played in a muddy quagmire of a field with swirling winds in San Francisco. There's nothing like a shutout loss, right? What's sad is the final score isn't indicative of how bad things went.
Steve Young, Jerry Rice, and the rest of the San Francisco 49ers were too much for the Eagles on that day.
13. December 31, 1989: Rams 21, Eagles 7
Buddy Ryan's second playoff loss came against the Los Angeles Rams. The offense failed to get much of anything going.
The legendary Eagles defense did everything they could to keep Philly in the game, but future Hall of Famer Kevin Greene and the rest of the Rams' defense did their part to make sure the Eagles' offense would slack.
Philly's O couldn't get anything going, and that would prove to be too much to overcome on that day. This one was tough to watch, and it's still tough to talk about years later.
12. 2019 Season: Seahawks 17, Eagles 9
This one was just so frustrating to sit through. Carson Wentz carried the 2019 Eagles on his back, whether Eagles fans want to admit that or not. Doing either is your prerogative but that's the truth.
Everyone was excited to see what he could do as he was finally starting a playoff game. Sadly, he would exit the game after nine plays. He was concussed by Jadeveon Clowney, and a 40-year old Josh McCown did all he could to win while playing on a bum knee.
It wasn't enough. Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf (who the Eagles passed on during that year's NFL Draft) put the game away. That was some sour icing on a very nasty cake.
11. December 24, 1978: Falcons 14, Eagles 13
The Eagles had awful kicking problems throughout the 1978 season, and it cost them in this game. Punter Mike Michel (yes, we're discussing a punter) missed an extra point and two field goals. The second field goal miss occurred with 13 seconds remaining (and, it would have won the game).
Still, the Eagles should have won. They had a 13-0 lead in the third quarter. There is a sliver lining, sort of.
This was the first postseason game played by the Eagles since winning the 1960 NFL Championship Game. That gave Philly something to smile about and a glimpse at a brighter future.
10. January 9, 2011: Packers 21, Eagles 16
Oh yeah! Michael Vick in an Eagles jersey... What a time... There's just one issue. Fans forget, maybe intentionally, that the Eagles blew their chance at a first-round bye thanks to a loss vs. the Joe Webb-led Minnesota Vikings.
David Akers, in what proved to be his final game in an Eagles uniform, missed two field goals in the Wild Card Round, and this one ended with a Michael Vick interception, one where he tried to fit an end zone pass into Riley Cooper. Unfortunately, that pass was picked off by Tramon Williams.
9. January 4, 2014: Saints 26, Eagles 24
How about a moment of silence for Chip Kelly's only playoff game as Eagles head coach? This game is often forgotten, but it featured a duel between fellow Westlake High School graduates, Drew Brees and Nick Foles. The Austin, Texas natives graduated ten years apart, but they shared the field in January of 2014 as opponents.
Foles played very well, arguably outplaying Brees in frigid conditions. He did enough to allow his team to win the game, but as you may have heard, Drew is pretty good too.
This was a classic 'whoever got the ball last was going to win' game. Brees marched the Saints into field goal range with minimal time remaining and won on a boot as time expired.
But hey, it gave us a glimpse of what Foles was capable of come playoff time, so there's that.
8. January 4, 2009: Eagles 26, Vikings 14
The magical 2008 season had the playoffs kick off in Minnesota, where the Eagles pretty much dominated the Minnesota Vikings from bell to bell. The signature play was the pick-six by Asante Samuel, which featured defensive end Chris Clemons pancaking quarterback Tavaris Jackson, which proved symbolic of the afternoon's mismatch despite the seeding.
7. December 23, 1979: Eagles 27, Bears 17
Finally! We get to talk about some wins! And, the first playoff 'W' for the Eagles since the 1960 NFL Championship came on a frigid day in the Windy City.
This convincing win against the Chicago Bears wasn't a huge deal at the time. It did, however, introduce the Eagles as one of that era's true contenders. Their next season concluded with the Eagles finding themselves in the Super Bowl.
6. January 12, 2012: Eagles 31, Buccaneers 9
Philly and the Bucs have crossed paths during the postseason six times. This was the most lopsided win Philly would enjoy.
For the second year in a row, the Eagles physically pummeled the Buccaneers, and they made a surprising NFC Championship Game appearance two weeks later, the first of five under Andy Reid.
5. December 31, 2000: Eagles 21, Buccaneers 3
Merrill Reese described this as the "loudest he had ever heard a crowd for an Eagles game" at The Vet. "They just blew the lights out of that place". They were rewarded with a dominating performance.
This was the first playoff game, and playoff win, for Andy Reid. He'd go on to win a few more. While the score wasn't as lopsided as in 2001, New Year's Eve in 2000 saw the Eagles defense pound the Bucs' offense. Fans were stoked about what was to come in this era of Eagles football, and rightfully so.
4. January 7, 2007: Eagles 23, Giants 20
The Jeff Garcia year baby... You honestly just had to be there. If you were, you'd understand this lofty ranking. Any win against the Giants is sweet, but this one capped by a David Akers field goal as the game clock expired. That was followed by arguably the greatest "IT'S GOOD!" call in Merrill Reese's legendary announcing career.
3. January 3, 1993: Eagles 36, Saints 20
Even though Buddy Ryan was gone, the core was still in tact (little did anyone know this would be the swan song) and this was the game where Reggie White, Randall Cunningham and company finally got that elusive playoff win. The 1992 New Orleans Saints, with four Pro Bowl linebackers (two of which are currently in Canton) were thoroughly dominated in the SuperDome in a game that a lot of Eagles fans still talk about today.
2. January 6, 2019: Eagles 16, Bears 15
Are we ranking this one too highly? Maybe... Perhaps we are emotional. This one is being written on the anniversary of the 'Double Goink Game'. This was a snoozer for the most part, but it carries one of the most memorable endings to an Eagles playoff game.
Games with names are graded on a curve, but how about that finish? The forever criminally underrated Cre'Von LeBlanc played a good game. Nick Foles led a go-ahead fourth quarter drive, one that was capped off by a touchdown pass to Golden Tate of all people on a 4th-and-goal attempt.
The 'Double Doink' would serve as delicious icing on a tasty cake. Did you see what we did there?
1. December 30, 1995: Eagles 58, Lions 37
It's pretty tough to imagine this one ever getting topped. Yes, despite the apparent efforts of the league and media to make us forget, there was NFL football played before 2000. And, it was good football at that!
Anyway, this is one you probably remember well. Detroit Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown guaranteed a Lions victory... at The Vet...
That was all the Eagles and their fans needed. A pick-six by Barry Wilburn was the point of no return. A Hail Mary touchdown pass by Rodney Peete to Rob Carpenter on the final play of the first half is one of the most memorable moments of the game.
Philly scored 31 points during the second quarter. That's STILL an Eagles postseason franchise record. The Birds led by a 51-7 margin during the third quarter before being taken out and allowing the backups to ride it out. Detroit scored some garbage time points to decrease the margin of victory, but the game's outcome had long been decided.
This was the greatest Wild Card Round win in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles and one of the shining moments of Ray Rhodes' coaching tenure.