Past Great Opening Days

[LeonardRachiele]

1961-at Franklin Field vs the Cleveland Browns.

Timmy Brown, the first time he touched the ball as a pro, returned the opening kickoff 105 yards for touchdown.   Sonny Jurgensen stepped  in right where Norman Van Brocklin left off.  This turned out to be Philadelphia's biggest win of the season.  Eagles 27 Browns 20.

1964-at Franklin Field vs the New York Giants

This was the beginning of a new era for both teams.  For Philadelphia, Joe Kuharich was the new head coach and Norman Snead the new Quarterback.  The New York Giants saw their dynasty end and Y.A Title had a miserable season.  Eagles defensive back Don Burroughs introduced a new weapon-the safety blitz.  The Philadelphia defense got six sacks for 56 yards and four turnovers.  Snead passed for two touchdowns.  Pete Retzlaff caught six passes.   Very easy win 38 to 7.

1977 at Veterans Stadium vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Philadelphia Eagles won on opening day for the first time in ten years.  The defense got five sacks and gave up only 118 yards.  In his debut as an Eagle, Ron Jaworski threw two touchdown   passes. The Eagles won 13 to 3.  Newsmen said the game was dull but who cares.  I will take wins anyway especially the first game.

2008 at Lincoln Financial Field  vs. the St Louis Rams

Donovan McNabb was 21 for 33 for 363 yards and two touchdowns.  The biggest play was a 90 yard touchdown pass to Hank Baskett.  Our team's defense yielded only eight first downs and got four sacks for 28 yards.  Eagles 38 Rams 3.

2009 at Charlotte vs the Panthers

The Panthers got the opening kickoff moved steadily downfield for a touchdown and a 7 to 0 lead.  After that the Eagles, to say the least, slammed the door.  The Eagles got seven turnovers and five sacks for 55 yards.  DeSaun Jackson had an 85 yard punt return for a touchdown.  Eagles 38 Panthers 10.     

[PA Wingman]

The 1961 season opener was not the first time Timmy Brown touched the ball as a pro. He had 9 carries, 9 catches, 10 punt returns and 11 KO returns for the 1960 Eagles. Check Pro Football Reference.

[RichardBak]

The versatile Timmy Brown was always one of my favorites. But actually, he played one game for the Packers in 1959 though he didn't touch the ball.

[Brian wolf]

Not many great players got away from Vince Lombardi but like Abner Haynes in the AFL, Timmy Brown could have fumbling issues ...

[rhickok1109]

Not many great players got away from Vince Lombardi but like Abner Haynes in the AFL, Timmy Brown could have fumbling issues ...

Lombardi expected his backs to block for one another and Brown didn't want any part of that.

[Jay Z]

Not many great players got away from Vince Lombardi but like Abner Haynes in the AFL, Timmy Brown could have fumbling issues ...

Lombardi expected his backs to block for one another and Brown didn't want any part of that.

Timmy Brown was a better player than Moore or Pitts, the guys Lombardi wound up with. He just didn't fit what Lombardi wanted in a halfback.

The blocking would just be part of it. Lombardi could tolerate lesser blocking in the flanker, McGee and Dale. That was about it. The halfback needed to be able to block for the fullback, run the sweep, throw the option pass. None of this catered to Timmy Brown. Timmy Brown needed to be returning kicks and split out from time to time, get in open space. Timmy Brown was a common type, Bobby Mitchell, Lenny Moore to an extent, Terry Metcalf, Joe Washington were all similar players. Just not a good fit for Lombardi's system.