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Tag: Rich Kotite

  • The Comeback in Cleveland – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Comeback in Cleveland – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    By Mid-Afternoon — the Eagles Were Down 23–0 in Cleveland.
    By the Second Quarter — the Comeback Was In Full Effect.
    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles

    For a team that was predicted to be a Super Bowl contender in 1991- the season wasn’t going well for Philly by early November. The Eagles were 4–5 and had lost All-Pro Quarterback Randall Cunningham to a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the season. But Super Bowl Champion Jim McMahon was back, and the Eagles were in Cleveland on November 10th fighting for their playoff lives.

    For nearly two quarters, the league’s best defense was exploited by a 42-yard interception return by Eric Turner and Bernie Kosar’s two touchdown passes to put the Browns up 23–0. The Eagles began a furious comeback sparked by an eighteen-yard touchdown pass from McMahon to Keith Jackson. McMahon then connected with Fred Barnett on a seventy-yard touchdown pass. Eagles kicker Roger Ruzek made four field goals to pull the Eagles within 30–26.

    After a fourth-quarter Webster Slaughter fumble on a punt return while trying to come out of his end zone and Eagles recovery at the three-yard line — McMahon found Calvin Williams for a five-yard score to put the Eagle up 32–30 permanently.

    The win pulled the Eagles to a .500 record at 5–5. Despite finishing the 1991 season with a 5–1 record down the stretch and the #1 defense against the pass, the run, and yards allowed, the team would finish without making the playoffs. The comeback in Cleveland, however, orchestrated thanks in part to Jim McMahon’s 341 passing yards, wouldn’t just be a season highlight.

    It would be the second-largest comeback in franchise history to that point.

    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Showdown At the Superdome: A History of the Eagles and Saints – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Showdown At the Superdome: A History of the Eagles and Saints – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Eagles of the Late 80s and Early 90s Had Done Amazing Things On the Field.
    Winning a Playoff Game Hadn’t Been One of Them.

    For today’s Eagles faithful, it’s hard to envision a time when the Birds couldn’t maintain a top-10 NFL offense and hadn’t won a playoff game in over a decade. But that will be the long-standing legacy of Buddy Ryan and Rich Kotite in Philadelphia.

    Unfortunately, a record-setting defense and quarterback complete with acrobatic excellence does nothing if you don’t win. And if you call your boss “the guy in France,” you’d better win.

    Nearly 30 years ago, in Rich Kotite’s second season as Head Coach, the Eagles were in a wildcard game in New Orleans down on the Bayou. In 1988, the Eagles lost the Fog Bowl at Soldier Field in Chicago — a place that an NFL team from Philly hadn’t won since the Frankford Yellow Jackets beat the Bears in the final game of 1931. In 1989, the Eagles lost to Steve Everett and the LA Rams at home, and 1990 Body Bag Game #2 went to Washington.

     PHOTO: WikiCommons

    With an 11–5 record, the Eagles were in the playoffs once again. The beginning of this one seemed to unfold just as in previous contests. Down 20–7 in the third quarter, Randall Cunningham connected with Fred Barnett on a 35-yard touchdown pass. A six-yard Heath Sherman rushing touchdown gave the Eagles the lead. That proceeded a Reggie White safety in the end zone on Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert.

    Finally, an Eric Allen 18-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed the deal.

    The win would prove to be Kotite’s only one as Eagles Head Coach. The 1992 team would be Reggie White’s last as Eagles.
    The following week, the Eagles would be throttled by the eventual Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys, 34–10.  But even that couldn’t diminish the comeback at the Superdome.

    PHOTO: ClutchPoints

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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