Painful Eagles NFC Title Losses-After Victories

[LeonardRachiele]

2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Won During the  Season 20 to 10-outgained Tampa 269 to 207; sacked Brad Johnson six times for 29 yards in losses; turnovers evened out.

Lost NFC Championship 27 to 10-much more complicated; Tampa went three and out on the first series;  Brian Mitchell returned a punt to Tampa 20; on the first offensive play, Duce Staley carried it for a touchdown; the Eagles started  inside the Tampa 40  on the next two series;  Mitchell made another great punt return and Bobby Taylor intercepted a pass; the Philadelphia Eagles failed even to get a first down on both tries; this early limp offense was the key to the game; the Eagles defense also put no pressure on Brad Johnson and did not record a single sack.

Turnovers, sacks, and not getting those two early scores made this a real glum day.

2003 Carolina Panthers

Won During the Season 25 to 16;  both sides moved the ball well;  the Eagles won due to bad placekicking; Panther kicker John Kasey has been one of the NFL's best placekickers through his career; the Eagles lucked out,  surviving Steve Davis' 123 yard rushing effort.   Kasey missed three field goals and an extra point.

Lost NFC Championship 14 to 3. The Panthers actually did not move the ball as well as they did during the season game;  but they did get enough first downs to  burn the clock; Carolina recorded five sacks and four interceptions on Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer; McNabb broke his ribs on a  cheap shot from a Panther lineman; this should have been a flag, ejection, and fine;  the Eagles did not get a single sack or turnovers.

Same old story.