The Eagles NFC Championship history lends one to argue that the Philadelphia Eagles are the most successful NFC team since 2000: they’ve made 8 appearances in the NFC Championship. However, Get ‘Em Next Year exists for a reason: they’ve only won 3 of those games, resulting in one Lombardi trophy.
The early 2000s were a time of success for Andy Reid, Donovan McNabb, and the Philadelphia Eagles. In 4 straight seasons, from 2001 to 2004, there were Eagles NFC Championship games; bested by the Rams, Bucs, and Panthers before finally winning, beating the Falcons 27-10, and heading to their first Super Bowl in 24 years. We know how that story ends: leaving Philly hungry. Despite falling short during this period, it cemented McNabb as the most successful Philadelphia Eagles quarterback (as discussed on this week’s podcast).
The Eagles have found themselves in 3 more NFC Championship games since Super Bowl XXXIX, including this Sunday’s game against the Commanders. However, our quest for the Super Bowl began in 1980, with the first Eagles NFC Championship appearance.
Eagles NFC Championship vs Cowboys: January 11, 1981
Wilbert Montgomery set the tone early, breaking off a legendary 42-yard touchdown run that sent Veterans Stadium into a frenzy. In brutal, windy conditions, the Eagles’ defense absolutely smothered the Cowboys, holding their top-ranked offense to just 206 yards and forcing three fumbles. Meanwhile, Montgomery outclassed Tony Dorsett, racking up 194 yards to Dorsett’s 41, proving who the real star running back was that day.
The Eagles even played mind games, rocking their white jerseys at home and forcing Dallas into their dreaded blue uniforms—bad luck for them, great luck for us. The result? A 20-7 win that sent the Birds to their first Super Bowl.
Of course, that’s where things went south. Ron Jaworski threw three picks to linebacker Rod Martin, and the Raiders took down the Eagles 27-10 in Super Bowl XV. But that Eagles NFC Championship? Pure Philly dominance.
Eagles at Rams: January 27, 2002
The early 2000s Eagles were knocking on the door, but the “Greatest Show on Turf” slammed it shut. Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid had the Rams on the ropes, leading 17-13 at halftime, but Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, and that high-powered St. Louis offense proved too much, taking a 29-24 win at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Birds still had a shot late, but on a crucial fourth-and-7, Rams All-Pro corner Aeneas Williams picked off McNabb, sealing the Eagles’ fate and ending their Cinderella run.
And what happened next? The Rams rolled into the Super Bowl as heavy favorites, only to get taken down by a young Tom Brady and the underdog Patriots, 20-17. Years later, reports surfaced that the Pats may have, uh, done their homework a little too well, allegedly taping the Rams’ walkthrough the day before the game—kicking off the NFL’s 2008 “Spygate” scandal.
Eagles vs Buccaneers: January 19, 2003
The final game at the Vet? A disaster. The Eagles came in as heavy favorites, but Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had other plans, stunning Philly with a 27-10 win in the 2002 NFC Championship.
The game started with a bang—Brian Mitchell took the opening kickoff to the house—but that was about it for the Eagles’ highlights. The offense never found the end zone, and Tampa’s defense made life miserable for Donovan McNabb, forcing three turnovers. The dagger? A 92-yard pick-six by Ronde Barber with just over three minutes left, sending the Vet into stunned silence.
And what happened next? The Bucs rode that dominant defense straight to a Super Bowl blowout, returning three interceptions for touchdowns and embarrassing the Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Eagles vs Panthers: January 18, 2004
Another NFC Championship, another heartbreak. The Eagles’ 2003 season came to a crushing end as the Carolina Panthers walked into the Linc and shut down Donovan McNabb and company, winning 14-3.
McNabb had a nightmare of a game, throwing three picks to Ricky Manning Jr. before leaving with a rib injury. His backup, Koy Detmer, didn’t fare much better, tossing a fourth-quarter interception that sealed the Eagles’ fate. The defense did its job, holding Carolina to just 256 yards and 14 first downs, but the offense never showed up.
And what happened next? The Patriots won yet another Super Bowl, with Adam Vinatieri drilling a 41-yard game-winner in the final seconds to beat the Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Eagles NFC Championship vs Falcons: January 23, 2005
At long last, the Eagles broke through. After three straight Eagles NFC Championship heartbreaks, they finally punched their ticket to the Super Bowl with a dominant 27-10 win over the Falcons at the Linc.
Michael Vick? Completely shut down. The Eagles defense smothered him, holding him to just 136 passing yards and 26 on the ground. Brian Dawkins delivered an all-time hit on Alge Crumpler, and Chad Lewis hauled in two touchdowns to seal the deal. The Birds outgained Atlanta 326-202, leaving no doubt that this was their time.
And what happened next? The Patriots happened. Super Bowl XXXIX ended in heartbreak as a last-minute Eagles comeback attempt fell short, with Rodney Harrison picking off Donovan McNabb to secure a 24-21 New England win.
Eagles at Cardinals: January 18, 2009
Another Eagles NFC Championship, another gut-wrenching loss. The Eagles had their shot, but three turnovers and a brutal first half doomed them in a 32-25 loss to Kurt Warner and the Cardinals in Arizona.
Warner torched the Eagles early, throwing three first-half touchdowns to Larry Fitzgerald, putting Philly in a 24-6 hole. But they fought back. Donovan McNabb hit DeSean Jackson for a 62-yard go-ahead touchdown with 10:45 left, giving the Birds a 25-24 lead. It felt like destiny.
Then reality hit. Warner led a methodical drive, capping it off with an 8-yard TD pass to Tim Hightower. The Eagles got one last chance, but it ended on downs.
McNabb put up numbers—375 yards and three touchdowns—but his interception and fumble, along with Jackson’s own fumble, proved costly.
And what happened next? The Steelers edged out the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, with James Harrison’s legendary 100-yard pick-six and Santonio Holmes’ toe-tap TD sealing a 27-23 Pittsburgh win.
Eagles NFC Championship vs Vikings: January 21, 2018
Pure dominance. In a game that started with a little tension, Nick Foles and the Eagles absolutely dismantled the Vikings 38-7 in this Eagles NFC Championship to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LII.
Minnesota struck first with a Kyle Rudolph touchdown, but that was their only highlight. Patrick Robinson’s electric 50-yard pick-six evened things up, and from there, it was all Birds. LeGarrette Blount bulldozed his way into the end zone, and then Doug Pederson unleashed Foles.
The backup-turned-legend torched the Vikings’ top-ranked defense, tossing bombs to Alshon Jeffery (53 yards) and Torrey Smith (41 yards). Case Keenum and the Vikings crumbled, turning it over three times and failing to score in the final 55 minutes.
And what happened next? Oh, just the greatest moment in Philadelphia sports history—Super Bowl LII. Foles outdueled Tom Brady, the “Philly Special” became immortalized, and the Eagles hoisted their first Lombardi Trophy with a 41-33 win over the Patriots.
Eagles NFC Championship vs 49ers: January 29, 2023
Total domination. The Eagles steamrolled the 49ers 31-7 in this Eagles NFC Championship, punching their ticket to Super Bowl LVII.
Brock Purdy lasted all of four pass attempts before Haason Reddick wrecked his elbow, and from there, San Francisco never stood a chance. The Eagles defense forced three fumbles, and the offense bulldozed its way to four rushing touchdowns. Kenny Gainwell led the ground game, but it was a true team effort as the Birds imposed their will.
And then… heartbreak. The Eagles fell to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs 38-35 in the Super Bowl, undone by a second-half collapse and a brutal, controversial pass interference call on James Bradberry. Jalen Hurts was spectacular—374 total yards and four touchdowns—but it wasn’t enough to bring home the Lombardi.
Eagles NFC Championship vs Commanders: January 26th, 2025
Another Eagles NFC Championship game was total domination by the Birds. While the Commanders put up more of a fight than our two previous NFC Championship opponents, the Eagles set a record-scoring game beating the Commanders 55-23.
The Eagles let Jayden Daniels and the Commanders dink and dunk their way down the field to open the NFC Championship, chewing up seven minutes on an 18-play drive that ended in a field goal. A solid start for a rookie QB in enemy territory.
Then, the Eagles responded—with a single play.
Saquon Barkley took a pitch, found a wide-open lane, shook off two tacklers, and raced to the end zone. Just like that, the Commanders’ methodical approach was shattered by the Eagles’ signature brand of bully ball. Washington had their moments, but it wasn’t enough. A dominant 55-23 win punched the Eagles’ ticket to Super Bowl 59.
With their 9th appearance in the NFC Championship game and the most recent win, the Eagles have broken 500 and are now 5-4 with their Linc record moving to 4-1. The season isn’t over, the Birds have 1 more game: Super Bowl LIX against the Chiefs. Can the Philadelphia Eagles bring home their second Lombardi trophy? We’ll find out February 9th, 2025.
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