Philadelphia Eagles in 1961 Part II
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2023 8:31 pm
After the 7-1 start, the Philadelphia Eagles went to Yankee Stadium to play the New York Giants. Rookie Glenn Amerson started at safety replacing Tom Brookshier. TB broke his leg in the 16 to 14 win over the Chicago Bears the previous week. The Giants went to work on the Eagles defense.
Y.A Tittle roasted the secondary going 18 for 24 for 307 yards and three touchdowns. Alex Webster carried 16 times for 100 yards. Del Schofner caught eight passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. On defense, the Giants were superb and showed the trademark of their dynasty. Defensive Halfback Dick Lynch had a career day with three interceptions. Linebacker Tom Scott returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown. New York won 38 to 21.
Matters were even worse the following week as the Eagles went into Cleveland. Jimmy Brown carried 34 times for 237 yards and four touchdowns. Milt Plum completed 16 of 21 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown. Cleveland destroyed the Eagles 45 to 24.
Sonny Jurgensen actually played very well in both games. Constantly coming from behind, however, does not give the Quarterback much support. The Eagles easily won their next two, defeating Dallas at Franklin Field, 35 to 13 and the Steelers at Forbes Field, 35 to 24. This set up the show down at Franklin Field with the New York Giants. Without question, this was the biggest loss of the decade and bad officiating cost them the game. Entering the game both teams were 9-3
Midway in the fourth quarter, the Eagles stopped the Giants on third down from the New York 35. New York was leading 24 to 21. The Giants had to punt and the momentum was shifting the Eagles way. Punter Don Chandler took the snap and kicked. Eagle Defensive End Leo Sugar just about brushed Chandler. Giving a performance worthy of an Oscar, Chandler dropped to the ground and one flag flew. The Giants retained possession and drove for touchdown for 28 to 17 score. Tenaciously, Philadelphia stormed back with a 61 yard touchdown pass from Jurgensen to Pete Retzlaff. Even so, they lost 28 to 24. Coach Schorich blasted the officials in the post game interview. NFL films, with Jim Lemming as narrator, did not show this play on its weekly program.
Despite the two losses to the Giants, the Eagles could have tied them on the final weekend. The Giants were to 10-3 to Philadelphia's 9-4. An Eagles win at Detroit and Browns over the Giants at Yankee Stadium had to happen; the following week there would be a playoff game, once again at Yankee Stadium, since the Giants had won both games. Sonny Jurgensen had a fantastic day at Detroit going 27 for 42 for 403 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles scored 10 points in the final five minutes. Faking a field goal attempt, Sonny passed 16 yards to Dick Lucas to tie the score at 24. Bobby Walston followed with 10 yard field. Philadelphia Eagles 27 Detroit Lions 24.
At New York, the results were not happy. Cleveland and the Giants played to a 7 to 7 tie. The Eagles at 10-4 were second in the Eastern Conference 1/2 game behind the Giants. The Lions finished 8-5-1 runner up to the Green Bay Packers in the West. The Lions and Eagles would play in the Runner Bowl in Miami in three weeks.
Y.A Tittle roasted the secondary going 18 for 24 for 307 yards and three touchdowns. Alex Webster carried 16 times for 100 yards. Del Schofner caught eight passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. On defense, the Giants were superb and showed the trademark of their dynasty. Defensive Halfback Dick Lynch had a career day with three interceptions. Linebacker Tom Scott returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown. New York won 38 to 21.
Matters were even worse the following week as the Eagles went into Cleveland. Jimmy Brown carried 34 times for 237 yards and four touchdowns. Milt Plum completed 16 of 21 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown. Cleveland destroyed the Eagles 45 to 24.
Sonny Jurgensen actually played very well in both games. Constantly coming from behind, however, does not give the Quarterback much support. The Eagles easily won their next two, defeating Dallas at Franklin Field, 35 to 13 and the Steelers at Forbes Field, 35 to 24. This set up the show down at Franklin Field with the New York Giants. Without question, this was the biggest loss of the decade and bad officiating cost them the game. Entering the game both teams were 9-3
Midway in the fourth quarter, the Eagles stopped the Giants on third down from the New York 35. New York was leading 24 to 21. The Giants had to punt and the momentum was shifting the Eagles way. Punter Don Chandler took the snap and kicked. Eagle Defensive End Leo Sugar just about brushed Chandler. Giving a performance worthy of an Oscar, Chandler dropped to the ground and one flag flew. The Giants retained possession and drove for touchdown for 28 to 17 score. Tenaciously, Philadelphia stormed back with a 61 yard touchdown pass from Jurgensen to Pete Retzlaff. Even so, they lost 28 to 24. Coach Schorich blasted the officials in the post game interview. NFL films, with Jim Lemming as narrator, did not show this play on its weekly program.
Despite the two losses to the Giants, the Eagles could have tied them on the final weekend. The Giants were to 10-3 to Philadelphia's 9-4. An Eagles win at Detroit and Browns over the Giants at Yankee Stadium had to happen; the following week there would be a playoff game, once again at Yankee Stadium, since the Giants had won both games. Sonny Jurgensen had a fantastic day at Detroit going 27 for 42 for 403 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles scored 10 points in the final five minutes. Faking a field goal attempt, Sonny passed 16 yards to Dick Lucas to tie the score at 24. Bobby Walston followed with 10 yard field. Philadelphia Eagles 27 Detroit Lions 24.
At New York, the results were not happy. Cleveland and the Giants played to a 7 to 7 tie. The Eagles at 10-4 were second in the Eastern Conference 1/2 game behind the Giants. The Lions finished 8-5-1 runner up to the Green Bay Packers in the West. The Lions and Eagles would play in the Runner Bowl in Miami in three weeks.