Why I Love the 1995 Philadelphia Eagles

The call lives in Eagles lore.

They give it to Smith and they stop them again.

They stop them again.

And this time they can’t take it away.

When the Eagles beat the Cowboys on that cold December afternoon, that was it. I was hooked.

And all that was behind it: the rivalry, the fans, the players, coaches, uniforms, stadium, owners, announcers, weather; well, that’s what got me into football.

The 1995 Philadelphia Eagles were the first football team I followed. It was the last year of the classic Kelly Green uniforms. It was the first year of the Ray Rhodes era. It was the last year before Jeffery Lurie and Joe Banner would wipe away the team’s history and pretend everything that came before it didn’t exist and never happened.

So, let’s take a calm little stroll down memory lane and look back at all that transpired during that season.

Week One: vs. Tampa Bay (Sept. 3)

It was a disastrous start to the season as the spelling-challenged Errict Rhett rushed 26 times for 85 yards and one touchdown in a dominating Buccaneers victory. After making his Eagles debut with a less-than-stellar 17 carries for 39 yard effort, Ricky Watters uttered his famous “for who, for what” line when asked why he didn’t try and catch a ball over the middle. Joy.

Result: Loss, 21-3 (Record: 0-1)

Week Two: at Arizona (Sept. 10)

“Willie T” William Thomas started the game with a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown and the Eagles rolled to their first victory of the season.

Result: Win, 31-19 (1-1)

Week Three: vs. San Diego (Sept. 17)

The Eagles blew a 14-0 lead and lost to freakin’ Stan Humphries and the Chargers to lose their second straight home game.

I remember Rhodes cursed in the post-game press conference, something I’m pretty would get Andy Reid kicked out Mormonism.

Result: Loss, 27-21 (1-2)

Week Four: at Oakland (Sept. 24)

The Eagles jumped out to a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Then, as he’s been known to do, Jeff Hostetler unleashed his furry upon the unworthy opposition.

Or, things just kept getting worse.

Result: Loss, 48-17 (1-3)

Week Five: at New Orleans (Oct. 1)

Peete made his first start as an Eagle and Gary Anderson hit five field goals to get the Birds back in the win column.

Result: Win, 15-10 (2-3)

Week Six: vs. Washington (Oct. 8)

The Redskins battled back from a ten-point fourth quarter deficit, but in overtime, Anderson hit a 35-yard field goal to give the Eagles their second win in a row.

 Result: Win, 37-34 (3-3)

Week Seven: at New York Giants (Oct. 15)

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