'74 Eagles

[74_75_78_79_]

Easy to forget that smack in the middle of Philly's putrid pre-Vermeil era, and smack in the middle of Landry's long winning run in Big D, that the Eagles actually started 4-1 while Dallas actually started 1-4. Philly's Week #2 MNF-win over them at the Vet was the highlight of this. Actually it was not too far from being 5-1 and 1-5 respectively. In the Eagles' next game vs Dallas - Week #6 - they were ahead 24-17 in the 3rd Q only for Staubach to tack another comeback on his resume, rallying the Boys to a 31-24 victory. The following week, in NO, Eagles blew a 3rd Q-lead as well losing 14-10. After getting clobbered in the 'Burgh the following week vs the Champs-to-be, 27-0 (now even at 4-4), they yet again blow a 3rd Q-lead at home to Washington next game. They were up 20-7, actually, until Hanburger recovers an endzone fumble and it was all Redskins from there with a final of 27-20. The Birds would lose yet another two more - and convincingly - to Cards & Wash, then win final three to even-it-up for the season.

Are they a squad that "should have" made the post-season in '74; or was their 4-1 start and three close losses a fluke in the first place? Thoughts?

[ChrisBabcock]

I say more of a fluke. Taking a peek at that season, that 4-1 start contained 3 games against Colts, Chargers and Giants... who finished a combined 9-33. So that 7-7 finish probably had more to do with a soft-ish schedule. Had another convincing win against the not very good Giants in December to pad the record a bit more. Went 0-4 against the both 10-4 Skins and Cards. Roman Gabriel certainly fell off a bit after his excellent 1973 season.

[BD Sullivan]

The NFC version of that year's Patriots, who started out 6-1, though the Pats were able to defeat both the Dolphins and Vikings

[JohnTurney]

The NFC version of that year's Patriots, who started out 6-1, though the Pats were able to defeat both the Dolphins and Vikings

Pats also beat Rams, lost to Bills twice by one point, kept the game with late-season Steelers close, at least on paper, but they were in game. 74 Pats were decent enough team... right there with Bills.

[Rupert Patrick]

The NFC version of that year's Patriots, who started out 6-1, though the Pats were able to defeat both the Dolphins and Vikings

Pats also beat Rams, lost to Bills twice by one point, kept the game with late-season Steelers close, at least on paper, but they were in game. 74 Pats were decent enough team... right there with Bills.

New England also blew a fourth quarter lead to Miami in Week 14. With a few breaks, they could have won both Buffalo games and beat Miami in week 14, they would have won the AFC East in a 10-4 tie with Miami by head to head sweep. That would have sent New England to Pittsburgh for the Divisional game and wild card Miami would have still gone to Oakland. The only thing about this timeline, is whether New England would have been so eager to have gotten rid of Jim Plunkett in favor of Steve Grogan after the 1975 season.

[rhickok1109]

The NFC version of that year's Patriots, who started out 6-1, though the Pats were able to defeat both the Dolphins and Vikings

Pats also beat Rams, lost to Bills twice by one point, kept the game with late-season Steelers close, at least on paper, but they were in game. 74 Pats were decent enough team... right there with Bills.

New England also blew a fourth quarter lead to Miami in Week 14. With a few breaks, they could have won both Buffalo games and beat Miami in week 14, they would have won the AFC East in a 10-4 tie with Miami by head to head sweep. That would have sent New England to Pittsburgh for the Divisional game and wild card Miami would have still gone to Oakland. The only thing about this timeline, is whether New England would have been so eager to have gotten rid of Jim Plunkett in favor of Steve Grogan after the 1975 season.

Actually, Plunkett was eager to get out of New England. He had chronic knee and shoulder problems that were exacerbated by Chuck Fairbanks' offense, which required him to run the ball on options two or three times a game, and he played only 5 games in 1995. After the season, he asked to be traded.

[BD Sullivan]

Two years later, the Pats made their move, while the Eagles were starting over with Vermeil. The Pats had drafted well to get to that point, whereas, Mike McCormick had gone for the quick fix and traded away five years worth of #1's: '74 and '75 for Gabriel, '76 for Mike Boryla, with '77 and '78 going to Cincy for Bergey.

[7DnBrnc53]

Two years later, the Pats made their move, while the Eagles were starting over with Vermeil. The Pats had drafted well to get to that point, whereas, Mike McCormick had gone for the quick fix and traded away five years worth of #1's: '74 and '75 for Gabriel, '76 for Mike Boryla, with '77 and '78 going to Cincy for Bergey.

I wonder why he didn't trade QB John Reaves away sooner (Philly's #1 pick in 72). It seems that McCormack never wanted to give him a chance.

Mike was going for the George Allen quick fix, and just like Swede Svare's attempt in SD, it was a failure.

[SixtiesFan]

Two years later, the Pats made their move, while the Eagles were starting over with Vermeil. The Pats had drafted well to get to that point, whereas, Mike McCormick had gone for the quick fix and traded away five years worth of #1's: '74 and '75 for Gabriel, '76 for Mike Boryla, with '77 and '78 going to Cincy for Bergey.

I wonder why he didn't trade QB John Reaves away sooner (Philly's #1 pick in 72). It seems that McCormack never wanted to give him a chance.

Mike was going for the George Allen quick fix, and just like Swede Svare's attempt in SD, it was a failure.

I recall reading a newspaper article about Mike McCormack's hiring. He said he was going to build the Eagles by George Allen's methods, trading draft choices for veterans.

[BD Sullivan]

Two years later, the Pats made their move, while the Eagles were starting over with Vermeil. The Pats had drafted well to get to that point, whereas, Mike McCormick had gone for the quick fix and traded away five years worth of #1's: '74 and '75 for Gabriel, '76 for Mike Boryla, with '77 and '78 going to Cincy for Bergey.

I wonder why he didn't trade QB John Reaves away sooner (Philly's #1 pick in 72). It seems that McCormack never wanted to give him a chance.

Mike was going for the George Allen quick fix, and just like Swede Svare's attempt in SD, it was a failure.

I recall reading a newspaper article about Mike McCormack's hiring. He said he was going to build the Eagles by George Allen's methods, trading draft choices for veterans.

McCormack had been hired off of Allen's staff, if I'm not mistaken.