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Where Does “The Jordan Davis Game” Rank on the List of Eagles Comeback Wins?
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No doubt about it, that was one of the greatest comebacks in Philadelphia Eagles history. They erased a 19-point second half deficit and blocked a field goal at the death to win it and improve to 3-0 while unlocking the passing offense at the same time.
Beautiful!
Almost immediately, comparisons were made to the 2010 Miracle at the New Meadowlands, or Miracle at the Meadowlands II, however you’ve decided to title that game.
It was the probably the most memorable come-from-behind win in terms of deficit and time remaining, with the Birds pulling themselves out a 21 point hole with eight minutes on the clock. DeSean Jackson walked it off with a punt return and that was ballgame.
Going with the theme of deficit, I asked AI to run the numbers and find some of the other big gaps that the Eagles have wiped out in improbable wins. Here are some specific games, in no particular order:
- 2010 “Miracle at the New Meadowlands” vs. Giants: Down 21 with eight minutes, scored 28 unanswered to win 38 to 31.
- 1995 at Cowboys: Down 17 to 3 at halftime. I barely remember this game as a kid. Rodney Peete was under center for the Birds, who completely shut down Troy Aikman in the second half. Three Gary Anderson field goals and a Ricky Watters one-yard run won the game 20 to 17 for the Eagles.
- 1985 at Bills: This was a Jaws game. They were down 17-0 at halftime then scored three second-half touchdowns while pitching a shutout to win 21-17. Wes Hopkins had a pick-6.
- 2004 vs. Packers: This was the 4th and 26 game. Freddie Mitchell, Fred Ex. 1:12 on the clock and they completed a 28-yard pass to move the sticks and kick a game-tying field goal. They’d end up winning 20-17 in overtime despite going down 14-0 early.
- 1991 vs. Browns: The Birds were down 23-0 at one point and rallied to win 32 to 30. Jim McMahon threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns.
- 1959 vs. Chicago Cardinals: Erased a 24-point deficit to win this one 28 to 24. Big game from Tommy McDonald.
- 1946 vs. Redskins: Also won 28 to 24, wiping out the same deficit.
- 1989 vs. Redskins: Down 20 points in the second quarter, they rallied to win 42 to 37. Randall Cunningham threw for 5 touchdowns and 447 yards.
- 1988 vs. Cowboys: Also down 20 in the second quarter again, this time Anthony Toney scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to win it 24 to 23.
- 2005 at Chiefs: Donovan McNabb vs. Trent Green. They were down 17-0 and then Donovan went on an absolute heater to win it 37 to 31. They only ran the ball for 28 yards.
Some more modern games worth considering are the Giants in 2003, the Brian Westbrook punt return to win it. There was a Jeff Garcia game in 2006 when he engineered two late scoring drives, down 22 to 13 in the fourth quarter. Michael Vick hit D Jax for a 2010 bomb to win in Dallas, and the Double Doink game also featured a 4th quarter rally.
The Jordan Davis game has to be top 3 at the very least. Nothing tops Miracle II, but this one isn’t far behind.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com