Flashback Friday: Eagles at Bears 2001 NFC Divisional Playoff Recap

Nothing cloudy here.

In the first playoff game at Soldier Field between the teams since they met in 1988’s Fog Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles exacted some revenge with a 33-19 win over the Chicago Bears in the 2001 NFC Divisional Playoffs.

I was originally going to cover the Fog Bowl, but you literally couldn’t see anything. Here’s a recap of the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bxF8-NY_kk

And here’s another recap of the game, with Harry Kalas narrating.

What the fog prevented was Philadelphia’s aerial passing attack and Randall Cunningham’s big arm. The players couldn’t see past 15 yards. The Bears prevailed 20-12.

On to the 2001 encounter.

Donovan McNabb threw for a pair of scores and ran for another in the victory. He was 26-of-40 for 262 yards, with 37 more coming on the ground for the Eagles, who at that time were making their first trip to the NFC Championship Game since 1980.

Not a bad homecoming in the Chicago-born’s first start inside Soldier Field.

Safety Brian Dawkins and defensive end Hugh Douglas provided huge lifts for Philadelphia’s defense. Douglas pressured the quarterbacks relentlessly.

Jim Miller and Shane Matthews were the quarterbacks for the Bears. Miller hurt his shoulder early in the game and was replaced by Matthews, who was meh. Both quarterbacks are meh. This Chicago team was somehow a two seed.

The Bears led 14-13 after scoring a gadget touchdown and another with their defense. Ahmad Merritt scampered in from 47 yards out on an end-around and Jerry Azumah’s 39-yard pick-six staked Chicago to a 14-13 edge early in the third.

Prior to these sticks of dynamite, Philadelphia had been controlling the game. The Eagles ran 18 of the game’s first 21 plays. They held a 230-88 advantage in total yards, 12-4 in first downs and a whopping 20-17-9:43 margin in time of possession.

Philadelphia went back in front during the middle stages of the third. Jeff Thomason hauled in a key 30-yard reception and Duce Staley made a diving 6-yard grab for the go-ahead score and a 20-14 margin.

The Eagles went on to score 13 of the game’s final 16 points.

Earlier, the elusive McNabb used his athleticism and made a couple plays with his feet to help the Birds to a pair of first-quarter field goals.

No. 5 then worked the two-minute drill to perfection and guided Philly down the field for a score and a 13-7 lead heading into the locker room.