The 2001 Philadelphia Eagles: My Favorite Team Of All Time.

Many people look at the 2000 season as the beginning of the so-called "Super Century" for the Philadelphia Eagles. But I look at the 2001 season as the team that made Eagles fans realize the potential of this team.

Unlike the 2000 team, the '01 Eagles did as expected, they played solid defense, utilized the athleticism of Donovan McNabb, all en route to winning their first NFC East title in 13 years.

Here's my tale of the 2001 Eagles.

Week one is here, I'm ten years old. I always followed the Eagles closely, but occasionally watched an entire game. Usually I would watch a couple of quarters then go outside and play football and pretend to be Brian Dawkins and rush in just in time for the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

But there is something different about this year. watching my Eagles fight valiantly with the St. Louis Rams, who boasted the leagues top offense, an offense I regard as the greatest of all-time.

The Eagles fought back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game, only to fall to the mighty Rams  20-17 in overtime. But it was then, when the entire league took notice, that these Eagles were a team to be reckoned with.

Two days later, tradegy struck the nation. The horrific terrorist attacks of September 11th caused an entire week's worth of NFL games to be canceled.

When the league resumed play, the Eagles returned by decimating the Seattle Seahawks on the road, 27-3. The following week, the Eagles returned home to roll over the Dallas Cowboys 40-18. The defense again wreaking havoc all over the field.

Three weeks later, the Eagles battled the Giants on Monday Night Football. They had lost their previous nine games to Big Blue. I was rarely allowed to stay up and watch the Monday Night games. But on this occasion I was given a free pass by my father.

I sat on the edge of my seat all night long, watching my team go toe-to-toe with the defending Conference Champions. Late in the fourth quarter with the Eagles trailing 9-3, Donovan McNabb rolled to his right, and hit a diving James Thrash in the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.

My entire house exploded. Me, my dad and my uncle went absolutely berserk. The Eagles forced a turnover on the Giants final drive to seal the deal and defeat their turnpike rivals for the first time since 1996. I remember not sleeping for nights due to that game.

There were many memorable moments in that 2001 season. There was the decimation of the Vikings in week nine, where Duce Staley ran for a season high-146 yards. then you have the grind it out victory over Washington in week 14.

That pivotal week 14 game happened to be the Sunday where all of my dad's brothers were over to watch the game. So there I was, in the middle of it all , amidst the screaming, as McNabb struggled through one of his worst games of the season, throwing three interceptions.

But it was one play that made this game one to never forget for me. A fake end-around by Donovan McNabb that turned into a 62-yard touchdown bomb to emerging star Todd Pinkston (we all remember him don't we?). That play sent everyone in to a frenzy. Five grown men and a measly four foot, three inch kid, screaming at a TV.

If you can not tell by now, my family is responsibly for my fanhood, rabid Philly fans they are.

The Eagles most gut-wrenching victory came against those hated Giants - again. What pops into my mind when thinking about that game, was what my dad said to my prior to the game, "If the Eagles don't win this game, there is a good chance they don't make the playoffs buddy, so i don't wanna see any tears this time."

In the 2001 Playoffs, when the Eagles were bounced by the Giants 20-10 at the Meadowlands, I was crushed, it was my first memory of the Eagles being in the Playoffs. A memory I've tried to erase from the mind.

But this time, there were no tears needed, this time the Eagles would be the one deflating the Giants balloon. The Eagles fought tooth and nail with the Giants and took a 24-21 lead with time left for one play from the Giants.

Tiki Barber took a pass across the middle, and proceeded to pitch it to receiver Ron Dixon on a hook and lateral play (the first time I had ever seen this play). Dixon proceeded to burst down the sideline, headed towards the end zone, I felt my hearth leap in to my throat, praying he would trip or fall.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?