Top Five Philadelphia Eagles Season Openers Under Andy Reid
For many fans, the opener is the game they have been waiting for since the end of the previous season. Openers often set the tone for teams, as all pre-conceived notions are either wiped away or supported, depending on the outcome of the game.
Most of the time, the media and fans overreact to Week 1 results, and their hope for a championship is never higher or lower than after the first game.
For this reason, most fans have strong memories of opening games. They become even more ingrained in our memories when you consider the "primacy/recency effect," which states that people most often remember the first and last items/events than any of the ones in between.
With opening weekend less than 72 hours away, the Philadelphia Eagles are preparing for their 12th season opener under Andy Reid and the notoriously passionate Philly fans are frothing at the mouth with anticipation.
With that, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the five most memorable openers under the Reid era.
5. STL Vs. PHI 2001
1 of 5
In 2001, the Eagles squared off against the potent Rams in what would be an early preview of their future NFC Championship game. The Rams made a concerted effort to improve their defense after they came up short the year before, and under new coordinator Lovie Smith, their adjustments would come to haunt the Eagles for a long time.
Having said that, this game is memorable for Eagles fans because it confirmed to them and the rest of the league that the Andy Reid era was real. They went toe to toe with the greatest show on turf and should have come away with a "W."
They spotted the Rams an early touchdown after Hank 'Bubba' Fraley and McNabb fumbled a snap on their own seven yard line. Then late in regulation time, Damon Moore intercepted Warner, giving the Eagles a chance to win. However, McNabb was sacked on the final play and the Rams went on to win 20-17 in OT.
"Not to take anything away from the Rams, but we had opportunities and we just didn't take advantage," McNabb said.
This quote summed up the season opener that season, and would be a theme Eagles fans would become very familiar with during McNabb's run in Philadelphia.
4. NYG Vs. PHI 2004
2 of 5
Over the last decade, the wide receiver position has been a sensitive topic for most Eagles fans. McNabb was throwing to marginal wide-outs for years, but in the summer of 2004, Philadelphia finally gave him a bona-fide number one guy.
For most fans in Philly, excitement was at a fever pitch. Training camp practices routinely saw 20,000+ fans on a regular basis as Terrell Owens brought his rock-star persona to the city of brotherly love.
T.O. made his entrance into the season opener in grand style, as he needed a police escort due to traffic just to get to the game on time. Those officers should be credited with an assist on what was a very memorable way to start the Super Bowl destined franchise.
Star-crossed lovers McNabb and T.O. hooked up for touchdowns on their first two connections, and would pave the way to a 31-17 win over the division rival Giants.
"This is what I expected. This is why I lobbied to get here," Owens said. "I'm loving it."
Owens finished the game with three TDs and McNabb threw for 330 yards. Fans will not soon forget when McNabb rolled to the right, did a stutter-step move to make Strahan trip over himself, and fired a pass across the body to Owens in the end zone.
Owens had all the headlines, but this opener also marked the first time in three seasons that Brian Westbrook rushed for over 100 yards.
3. PHI Vs CAR 2009
3 of 5
Last season, the opening game would foreshadow the fates of both the Panthers and the Eagles. Neither quarterback would finish the game and both are suiting up for different teams to start the 2010 season.
Most Eagles fans watched the game on television, but if you could see the look on their faces after Williams ran right through the Philly defense to start the game, it would not be a pretty sight.
There were many questions heading into the 2009 season. The late, great Jim Johnson had passed, and the defense was now under the control of first year coordinator Sean McDermott. The team had also signed the controversial lightning rod Michael Vick. Before the game, a handful of protesters held a sign with pictures of mistreated dogs that read "Forgive This?!"
Therefore, it's no wonder that Philly fans gave a huge sigh of relief after the team stormed back to demolish the lowly Panthers. Delhomme was yanked from the game, after going seven of 17 for 73 yards, four INTs and one fumble.
"Offensively, we just sucked. Let's be honest," receiver Steve Smith said.
McNabb also left the game with a cracked rib after being crunched by several tacklers on a short TD run.
It was also a chance for fans to see Kevin Kolb in action again. After he was fed to the wolves in Baltimore, fans held their breath as he was named the starter for the following two games.
Who knew at the time that this development would be a precursor of things to come?
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
2. TB Vs PHI 2003
4 of 5
Coming in the runner up spot is a memory Eagles fans would like to forget. In perhaps the biggest blown opportunity to win a Super Bowl, the Eagles laid an egg against the Bucs in the NFC Championship game the year before, and the defending champs were back in town to open up the new season.
It was a game most fans, players, and coaches were looking forward to all summer.
"It's kind of hard not to think about last year," McNabb admitted. "Everyone talks about it so much and then we had to wait until now to play the game."
McNabb might have wanted to play well against the team that crushed his dream, but he went 19 of 36 for a dismal 148 yards. The game finished 17-0, in a game that rubbed serious salt in an open wound.
"Philly fans will definitely remember us for a lot of years," Johnson said.
To add even more insult to injury, Warren Sapp made a 14 yard TD reception in the 4th quarter for his first career catch. Sapp rubbed it in and taunted the fans with a first-down signal.
It was definitely not how owner Jeff Lurie wanted to open the new $520 million stadium. The organization even brought out Sylvester Stallone in a Duce Staley jersey to rev up the fans before the opening kickoff.
Too bad for Philly fans there wasn't a plan B.
1. PHI Vs DAL 2000
5 of 5
It is no surprise that the "pickle juice" game tops the list of most memorable season openers under Andy Reid. It is not only one of the most memorable openers for Philly fans, but it might be one of the most memorable games in team history.
Andy Reid sent the message that he's not messing around anymore, and decided to call an onside kick to open the season. The Eagles recovered the ball and the Cowboys played catchup the rest of the way.
Temperatures going into the game were at ridiculous levels, so players were given pickle juice to ward off dehydration. Something else might have been in that juice, because the team never let up in a 41-14 rout.
The game marked the introduction of DT Corey Simon and OT Jon Runyan. On the Cowboys first play, Simon sacked Troy Aikmen, which led to a three-and-out. Duce Staley punched in another touchdown on a day when he would rush for over 200 yards.
Emmitt Smith was limited to 29 yards and Aikmen was eventually knocked out of the game with a concussion.
I think Jeff Lurie summed up the victory nicely when he stated, “We beat a team that Philadelphia loves to beat and we beat them convincingly.”
Will Sunday's matchup against the Packers be another memorable opener?
Fans in Philadelphia hope it will be, and for all the right reasons.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")