1991 Philadelphia Eagles season

NFL team season December 2013 March 2026 August 2024 Philadelphia Eagles 1991 10–6 3rd NFC East Norman Braman Harry Gamble Rich Kotite Rich Kotite Bud Carson Veterans Stadium 180px Did not qualify Eagles seasons The 1991 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's fifty-ninth season in the National Football League. Despite having a 10–6 record and finishing with the top-ranked defense in the NFL, the Eagles failed to make the playoffs. During Week 1, quarterback Randall Cunningham was lost for the season with a knee injury. After the season, Rod Harris retired. Background Statistics site Football Outsiders ranks the 1991 Eagles, coordinated by Bud Carson, as the greatest defensive team in its ranking's history.Football Outsiders: 1991 DVOA Ratings and Commentary According to Football Outsiders: The 1991 Eagles completely lap the field in terms of defensive DVOA. Only the 2002 Bucs had a better pass defense, and only the 2000 Ravens had a better run defense, and the Eagles were much more balanced than either of those teams. It's crazy to imagine how few points the Eagles might have given up if they were playing with a halfway-decent offense instead of losing Randall Cunningham to a torn ACL in the first game of the season. The Eagles were lucky to have the lovable and fiercely competitive Jim McMahon for 11 starts, plus Jeff Kemp for two and Brad Goebel for two. McMahon was pretty terrific ... but the other two quarterbacks were awful, especially Goebel who had no touchdowns with six interceptions. And the running game was dreadful, with 3.1 yards per carry as a team. Still, the Eagles were fifth in the league in points allowed, and first in yards allowed by nearly 400 yards – and the team that was second in yards allowed is also on that top-ten defenses list, the 1991 New Orleans Saints. The Eagles allowed 3.9 yards per play, where no other team allowed fewer than 4.5. As bad as their running game was, their run defense was even better, allowing 3.0 yards per carry. Three-fourths of the starting defensive line was All-Pro (Reggie White, Jerome Brown, and Clyde Simmons). Linebacker Seth Joyner and cornerback Eric Allen made the Pro Bowl as well. Overview A "real" fresh start On January 8, team owner Norman Braman opted not to renew the contract of Buddy Ryan, the Eagles' head coach since 1986. On the same day, Braman promoted then-offensive coordinator Rich Kotite, making him the eighteenth head coach in the club's history. The team opened with a 3–1 mark, its best start since 1981, despite having lost Cunningham for the year due to a knee injury that was sustained in Green Bay thanks during an opening day-hit by Bryce Paup. After taking over and leading the Eagles to a solid start, backup QB Jim McMahon was also injured in Game 5 during a shutout loss to the Redskins. A winless October With McMahon sidelined, the Birds offense stalled completely during a stretch of eleven straight quarters without scoring a touchdown that culminated in a four-game skid. By mid-season, Philadelphia had used five different quarterbacks, including rookie Brad Goebel, former Jets backup Pat Ryan and former Niners third-stringer Jeff Kemp in eight games and saw its record sink to 3–5. Bleeding Green Nation ranked it as one of the worst Eagles backup QB seasons in the team's history, illustrating how the defense would have supported better quarterback play to several victories.Stolnis John 2019-08-20 These are the best (and worst) backup QB seasons in Eagles history https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2019/8/20/20813582/eagles-history-best-worst-backup-quarterback-seasons-qb-nick-foles-josh-mccown-philadelphia-garcia 2024-08-20 Bleeding Green Nation enStolnis John 2020-05-13 What if... Randall Cunningham never got hurt in 1991? https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2020/5/13/21256799/eagles-randall-cunningham-never-got-hurt-in-1991-what-if-quarterback-injury-season-philadelphia-nfl 2024-08-20 Bleeding Green Nation en A relatively healthy McMahon returns Week ten saw McMahon return to the lineup for a Monday night, 30–7 victory over the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants at Veterans Stadium; however, the following week at Municipal Stadium proved to be a tighter-scoring game. The Eagles won 32–30 as Philadelphia spotted Cleveland a 23–0 lead early in the second quarter, before staging a comeback behind a battered McMahon (passing for 341 yards and three touchdowns). Before the game, McMahon's elbow was so swollen, his roommate Ron Heller had to tie his ponytail for him, and then told his lineman he wouldn't be able to play. But Birds trainer Otho Davis used a concoction he calls "Grandma's Goop" on the elbow, enabling McMahon to play. These wins resurrected the season, and the Birds continued to surge into contention for a playoff berth with a six-game winning streak (the club's longest since the start of '81). This upped the team's record to 9–5. The signature win of the run was a 13–6 Monday night victory against the Oilers in Houston on December 2, later dubbed the "House of Pain" game for the Eagles' defense-punishing Warren Moon and his teammates. Heart of a champion "In '91, I broke five ribs off my sternum in New York and bruised my heart. I could've punctured it, but it just bruised." -Jim McMahon, 2014 The season-ending rib injury to McMahon in week fifteen (a 19–14 win against the Giants) made way for a devastating loss at home to Dallas in week sixteen, ending Philadelphia's playoff hopes; however, the season was saved by a 10–6 record, allowing the Eagles to join the 49ers as the only NFL clubs to post ten or more wins in each of the last four seasons. Both teams missed the postseason in 1991, despite winning ten games. A defense that rewrote the record books Philadelphia's defense finished the season ranked first in the NFL in fewest passing yards, rushing yards, and total yards allowed. As such, the Eagles became only the fifth club in NFL history and the first since 1975 to accomplish this rare triple. Five members of that defensive unit represented the Eagles in the Pro Bowl – DEs Reggie White and Clyde Simmons, DT Jerome Brown, and LB Seth Joyner were selected as starters while CB Eric Allen also made the NFC squad. The selection of White, Simmons, and Brown marked only the sixth time in NFL history that three defensive linemen from one team were elected to the Pro Bowl. In addition, the Eagles' defense led the NFL in sacks and fumble recoveries and tied for the league lead in takeaways. The Eagles' forty-eight defensive takeaways in 1991 tied for the highest number of defensive takeaways in the NFL during the 1990s.Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1990 to 1999, in the regular season, sorted by descending Takeaways, tied with the 1991 New Orleans Saints. Offseason NFL draft 1991 NFL draft The 1991 NFL draft was held on April 21 and 22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Manhattan, New York. The Eagles with a 10–6 record in 1990 had the nineteenth or twentieth picks in each round. They also held the number eight pick of the first round, choosing Antone Davis, an offensive tackle from the University of Tennessee. The team's first round pick at number nineteen was traded away earlier and acquired by the Green Bay Packers. Over the course of the twelve-round draft, Philadelphia made twelve selections. 1991 Philadelphia Eagles 1 8 Antone Davis Offensive tackle Tennessee Pick acquired from San Diego Chargers yes 2 48 Jesse Campbell Defensive back North Carolina State 3 75 Rob Selby Guard Auburn yes 4 104 William Thomas Linebacker Texas A&M yes yes 5 131 Craig Erickson Quarterback Miami (FL) 6 156 Andy Harmon Defensive tackle Kent State Pick acquired from Seattle Seahawks yes 7 187 James Joseph Running back Auburn yes 8 216 Scott Kowalkowski Linebacker Notre Dame yes 9 242 Chuck Weatherspoon Running back Houston 10 271 Eric Harmon Guard Clemson 11 298 Mike Flores Defensive end Louisville yes 12 327 Darrell Beavers Defensive back Morehead State no https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/1991_draft.htm 1991 Philadelphia Eagles draftees Pro-Football-Reference.com November 8, 2014 Other notable events Following the previous season, head coach Buddy Ryan was fired and replaced by their offensive coordinator Rich Kotite, a position Kotite would hold for the next four seasons. Personnel Staff / Coaches 1991 Philadelphia Eagles Owner – Norman Braman President/Chief Operating Officer – Harry Gamble Director of player personnel – Joe Woolley Head coach – Rich Kotite Quarterbacks – Zeke Bratkowski Running backs – Dick Wood Receivers – Lew Carpenter Offensive line – Dan Neal Offensive line – Bill Walsh Defensive coordinator/Secondary – Bud Carson Defensive line – Dale Haupt Linebackers – Jim Vechiarella Defensive assistant – Peter Giunta Special teams – Dave Atkins Special teams assistant – Peter Giunta Strength and conditioning – Jim Williams 1991 Philadelphia Eagles Media Guide 3–15 Roster 1991 Philadelphia Eagles 18 David Archer quarterback  8 Brad Goebel y 16 Jeff Kemp  9 Jim McMahon 41 Keith Byars 36 Robert Drummond gridiron football 32 James Joseph American football y 23 Heath Sherman 86 Fred Barnett 81 Roy Green 80 Rod Harris KR/PR 83 Kenny Jackson 89 Calvin Williams 88 Keith Jackson tight end 87 Maurice Johnson American football 72 David Alexander American football C 77 Antone Davis y T 73 Ron Heller offensive tackle T 62 Dennis McKnight G 75 Rob Selby y G 63 Daryle Smith T 66 Ron Solt G 99 Jerome Brown DT 95 Mike Flores y DE 90 Mike Golic DT 91 Andy Harmon y DE/DT 74 Mike Pitts DT 96 Clyde Simmons DE 92 Reggie White DE 56 Byron Evans MLB 54 Britt Hager MLB 59 Seth Joyner OLB 57 Scott Kowalkowski y OLB 55 Ken Rose gridiron football OLB 52 Jessie Small OLB 51 William Thomas linebacker y OLB 21 Eric Allen CB 42 John Booty CB/S 48 Wes Hopkins FS 46 Izel Jenkins CB 38 Rich Miano FS 29 Bruce Plummer SS 30 Otis Smith American football CB 20 Andre Waters SS  5 Jeff Feagles P 76 John Hudson American football LS  7 Roger Ruzek K 69 Bruce Collie G IR 12 Randall Cunningham QB IR 71 Cecil Gray American football T IR 84 Paul Kovell y TE PUP 35 Chris Mitchell defensive back y S PUP 45 Thomas Sanders American football RB IR 79 Mike Schad G IR 85 Mickey Shuler TE IR 26 Ben Smith cornerback CB IR 61 Ben Tamburello C/G IR 47 active, 10 inactive, 3 practice squad 37 Jesse Campbell American football y S 47 Ron Goetz LB 13 Melvin Patterson WR Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 July 28 vs. Buffalo Bills L 13–17 0–1 Wembley Stadium 50,474 2 August 3, 1991 at New York Jets W 24–10 1–1 Giants Stadium 31,577 3 August 10, 1991 at Cincinnati Bengals W 29–24 2–1 Riverfront Stadium 56,390 4 August 17, 1991 Pittsburgh Steelers W 21–20 3–1 Veterans Stadium 55,764 5 August 23, 1991 Indianapolis Colts W 23–21 4–1 Veterans Stadium 52,687https://www.profootballarchives.com/1991nflphi.html 1991 Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) Pro Football Archives November 11, 2023 Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 1 at Green Bay Packers W 20–3 1–0 Lambeau Field 58,991 2 September 8 Phoenix Cardinals L 10–26 1–1 Veterans Stadium 63,818 3 September 15 at Dallas Cowboys W 24–0 2–1 Texas Stadium 62,656 4 September 22 Pittsburgh Steelers W 23–14 3–1 Veterans Stadium 65,511 5 September 30, 1991 at Washington Redskins L 0–23 3–2 RFK Stadium 55,198 6 October 6 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 13–14 3–3 Tampa Stadium 41,219 7 October 13 New Orleans Saints L 6–13 3–4 Veterans Stadium 64,224 8 Bye 9 October 27 San Francisco 49ers L 7–23 3–5 Veterans Stadium 65,796 10 November 4, 1991 New York Giants W 30–7 4–5 Veterans Stadium 65,816 11 November 10 at Cleveland Browns W 32–30 5–5 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 72,086 12 November 17 Cincinnati Bengals W 17–10 6–5 Veterans Stadium 63,189 13 November 24 at Phoenix Cardinals W 34–14 7–5 Sun Devil Stadium 37,307 14 December 2, 1991 at Houston Oilers W 13–6 8–5 Astrodome 62,141 15 December 8 at New York Giants W 19–14 9–5 Giants Stadium 76,099 16 December 15 Dallas Cowboys L 13–25 9–6 Veterans Stadium 65,854 17 December 22 Washington Redskins W 24–22 10–6 Veterans Stadium 58,988 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1: at Green Bay Packers collapsed September 1 12:00 p.m. Eagles 0 13 0 7 Packers 0 0 3 0 Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin 60 F, wind 11 mph on Pat Haggerty CBS Brad Nessler and Dan Fouts Pro-Football-Reference.com Second quarter Eagles – Roger Ruzek 37-yard field goal – Eagles 3–0 Eagles – Keith Byars 32-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Roger Ruzek kick) – Eagles 10–0 Eagles – Roger Ruzek 40-yard field goal – Eagles 13–0 Third quarter Packers – Chris Jacke 21-yard field goal – Eagles 13–3 Fourth quarter Eagles – Fred Barnett 75-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Roger Ruzek kick) – Eagles 20–3 Eagles Jim McMahon 17/25, 257 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Thomas Sanders 23 Rush, 52 Yds Keith Byars 8 Rec, 111 Yds, TD Packers Don Majkowski 16/42, 201 Yds, 3 INT Darrell Thompson 6 Rush, 16 Yds Sterling Sharpe 6 Rec, 70 Yds Week 3 Eagles 7 10 0 7 Cowboys 0 0 0 0 September 15 Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas 12:00 p.m. 81 F; wind 13 mph on Gerald Austin Dick Stockton and Merlin Olsen CBS yes Q1 PHI Fred Barnett 11 yard pass from Jim McMahon (Roger Ruzek kick) PHI 7–0 Q2 PHI Roger Ruzek 42 yard field goal PHI 10–0 Q2 PHI Robert Drummond 1 yard run (Roger Ruzek kick) PHI 17–0 Q4 PHI Keith Byars 6 yard pass from Jim McMahon (Roger Ruzek kick) PHI 24–0 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Apr-06. Week 14 1991 Houston Oilers season Philadelphia Eagles 1991 2; text-align:center collapsed Philadelphia Eagles (7–5) at Houston Oilers (9–3) December 2 9:00 p.m. EST Eagles 0 0 10 3 Oilers 0 3 3 0 Astrodome • Houston, Texas Indoors (dome) Tom Dooley ABC Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf Pro-Football-Reference.com Eagles Jim McMahon12/20, 84 Yds, INT James Joseph12 Rush, 56 Yds Roy Green3 Rec, 44 Yds Oilers Warren Moon24/46, 262 Yds Allen Pinkett6 Rush, 10 Yds Ernest Givens6 Rec, 89 Yds The Eagles defense shut down the Oilers' run-and-shoot attack with four sacks, six forced fumbles (five lost) and 21 yards rushing on 11 attempts. Jerome Brown said after the game, "They brought the house, we brought the pain.""Eagles Top 15 Monday night games." Philly.com. 2011 Nov 3. With the win, the Eagles improved to 8-5 (5-2 on the road) while also sweeping the AFC Central. This would be the Eagles last road win against the Oilers (who would move to Tennessee in 1997 & become the Titans in 1999) until 2026. PHI HOU collapsed 2 Oilers FG 42 Del Greco 0 3 3 Eagles FG 23 Ruzek 3 3 3 Eagles RecTD Jackson Kemp 21 good Ruzek run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 3 4 Oilers FG 47 Del Greco 10 6 4 Eagles FG 29 Ruzek 13 6 13 6 Standings Awards and honors NFL Comeback Player of the Year – Jim McMahon QB UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year – Reggie White DE References External links 1991 Philadelphia Eagles at Pro-Football-Reference.com Category:Philadelphia Eagles seasons Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles