Slaying the Dragon – Philadelphia Sports Nation

Twenty Years Ago, After Three Losing Attempts in the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles Used Defensive Brilliance to Advance to the First Super Bowl Since 1981.

The 13–3 Philadelphia Eagles arrived at a familiar position on January 23rd, 2005. In the three previous seasons, the Eagles had won the NFC East and advanced to the NFC Championship Game in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

An ND Kalu missed attempt on a blocked punt, a Ronde Barber pick-six to thwart a late Eagles rally, and a blanketing performance by Carolina Panthers’ cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. had prevented an Eagles team from competing for the first World Championship since 1960.

Today would be different.

Playing against dangerous and athletic Falcon’s quarterback Michael Vick (who would later join the Eagles under Andy Reid) Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson flipped his defensive ends moving Javon Kearse and Derek Burgess to opposite sides of the field and subsequently not allowing Vick to scramble out to his left.

On this day, Atlanta would finish with only have 99 yards rushing.

The scoring would open with a six-yard Dorsey Levens touchdown run with an injured Terrell Owens flapping his wings on the sideline. After a Sheldon Brown interception was negated by an Eagles holding penalty, McNabb found Chad Lewis for a four-yard score.

The signature play that will endure from the game was a bone-crushing hit by Brian Dawkins on Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler in the second quarter, which Dawkins followed up with a late third quarter interception.

A three-yard playaction touchdown pass from McNabb to Chad Lewis in the fourth quarter sealed the 27–10 win.

Two weeks later the Eagles would fall to the Patriots 27–24 in the Super Bowl. It would take them four years to return to another NFC Championship Game.

In 2018, the Eagles would get revenge by beating the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.