1960 Philadelphia Eagles

[Shipley]

Easily one of the most interesting, unlikely NFL champions ever, and I'm glad to be the owner of a copy of the book written about them by PFRA's Robert Gordon. Fascinating story...discuss.

[nicefellow31]

Saw part of an interview where Sam Huff called the 1960 Eagles, "Loch Ness monster. They appeared one time and then they were gone." Didn't seem too happy when he said it. I would argue that the Eagles were pretty good in '61 too.

[Ronfitch]

The two teams to meet up for the 1960 title game - the Eagles and the Packers - had a combined record of 3-19-3 in 1958 and both finished at the bottom of their divisions.

[BD Sullivan]

What killed the Eagles in 1961 were two losses to the Giants, who they finished 1/2-game behind of with a 10-4 record. In addition a Week Three loss at home to the Cardinals came back to bite them. With 10 minutes left in the first half, Philly led St. Louis 17-0, but the Cardinals came back to win on a field goal with five seconds left. That FG had been set up after a Jurgensen interception just after the two minute warning.

Leading up to the second Giants loss in Week 13, the two teams were tied at 9-3 and the game was at Philly. In the second quarter, the Giants were floundering and behind 10-7 when Allie Sherman decided to put in Conerly in place of Tittle. Coneryl went on to throw three TD passes and the Giants clinched a tie with a 28-24 win.


In '60, the Giants were 1 1/2 games back, going into Week 9, when they faced the Eagles in back-to-back weeks. The first game in Yankee Stadium featured the lethal Bednarik hit on Gifford. The Eagles won both and New York was done.

In '57, the Giants were only 1/2 game back after Week 9, but they losses to end the season killed them. The first, at home against the Niners, saw them lose six fumbles, including one near the SF goal line. Then, they lost in a mudbath against the Steelers to give the Browns the conference.

That's what stood in the way of the Giants playing in eight straight championships.

[74_75_78_79_]

What killed the Eagles in 1961 were two losses to the Giants, who they finished 1/2-game behind of with a 10-4 record. In addition a Week Three loss at home to the Cardinals came back to bite them. With 10 minutes left in the first half, Philly led St. Louis 17-0, but the Cardinals came back to win on a field goal with five seconds left. That FG had been set up after a Jurgensen interception just after the two minute warning.

Leading up to the second Giants loss in Week 13, the two teams were tied at 9-3 and the game was at Philly. In the second quarter, the Giants were floundering and behind 10-7 when Allie Sherman decided to put in Conerly in place of Tittle. Coneryl went on to throw three TD passes and the Giants clinched a tie with a 28-24 win.


In '60, the Giants were 1 1/2 games back, going into Week 9, when they faced the Eagles in back-to-back weeks. The first game in Yankee Stadium featured the lethal Bednarik hit on Gifford. The Eagles won both and New York was done.

In '57, the Giants were only 1/2 game back after Week 9, but they losses to end the season killed them. The first, at home against the Niners, saw them lose six fumbles, including one near the SF goal line. Then, they lost in a mudbath against the Steelers to give the Browns the conference.

That's what stood in the way of the Giants playing in eight straight championships.

Yeah, Eagles were pretty darn close to returning to the Title Game in '61; showing a lot of promise with that 7-1 start. Different story all but likely had Philly made it there. They'd be up against a much stronger, no longer 'green' to post-season play Packer team not to mention this time being on the road. Had Buck Shaw been at helm in '61, would it have made a difference? Had Gifford not been knocked out a year prior, would we have had ourselves an 'extra' Giants/Pack early-'60s Title Game?