The Eagles Were in the NFC Championship Game in 1981 Against the Elite Dallas Cowboys. Dallas Was Looking for a Decisive Victory. Wilbert Montgomery Changed All That.
The Eagles were focused on a championship in 1980. It had been twenty years since the Eagles had won it all at Franklin Field in 1960. Wilbert Montgomery, Ron Jaworski, Harold Carmichael, and Bill Bergey had helped to steer an Eagles team that had steadily improved since Dick Vermeil took over in the mid 1970’s.
The Eagles had their eye on the Cowboys for a long time. Tom Landry’s club had owned Philadelphia, and in 1979 had a home game in Texas Stadium.
The Eagles had never won in Texas Stadium previously.
At a team walkthrough the night before the game, Head Coach Dick Vermeil stood up and posed the question, “What is it going to take to beat the Dallas Cowboys? Just another 24 hours,” he then turned and walked out of the room.
In January of 1981, the Cowboys were in South Philadelphia. Success of recent years had helped to fuel the legend that Dallas was unbeatable in their away white jerseys.
On this day, the Eagles made them dawn their blue jerseys. Early in the game, Montgomery took a handoff and ran 42 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 194 yards on the ground.
Eagles fans celebrated in the frigid temperatures.
Dallas never recovered.
On the day that Wilbert Montgomery put the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
Michael Thomas Leibrandt
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