The Redskins achieved the once-unimaginable at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia on Nov. 25, 2001.
They beat the Eagles, 13-3.
A look back at some of the top images in games between the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.
Washington Redskins Sean Taylor(21) in action against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 11, 2007 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The Eagles beat the Redskins 33-25.(AP Photo/David Durochik)
Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, left, is congratulated by his Philadelphia Eagles counterpart, Randall Cunningham following the Redskins 10-3 upset win in NFL game at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium, Nov. 13, 1989. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor (36) is upended by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (5) after his interception of McNabb's pass in the third quarter Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, in Philadelphia. Behind them is Eagles' guard Hank Fraley (63) and tackle Tra Thomas (72). (AP Photo/Miles Kennedy)
Philadelphia Eagles tight end L.J. Smith is pulled down by Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Haraz Ghanbari)
Quarterback Doug Williams (17) of the Washington Redskins releases a pass n a 17 - 10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 18, 1988 at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Washington Redskins Art Monk catches a 16-yard second quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Mark Rypien as Philadelphia Eagles Eric Allen watches during Wildcard playoff game Saturday, Jan. 5, 1991 at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Washington Redskins tackle Jermaine Haley causes Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (5) to fumble in the second quarter Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, in Philadelphia. The Redskins recovered on the play. (AP Photo/Miles Kennedy)
Eagles' Terry Tautolo tackles Washington Redskins' John Riggins, but is too late to keep Riggins from scoring a touchdown after catching a pass during game at Philadelphia, Oct. 7, 1979. (AP Photo/Steven Falk)
Washington Redskins Dexter Manley sacks Philadelphia Eagles Randall Cunningham for a loss of five yards in first quarter NFL action in their game at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium, Nov. 13, 1989. Cunningham fumbled the ball and the Redskins recovered en route to a 10-3 win. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Billy Barnes (32) Washington Redskins back, keeps tight grip on the ball as he scores touchdown from 3-yard line despite swarm of Philadelphia Eagles defenders in second period of Eagles - Redskins pro-football game in Philadelphia on Oct. 21, 1962. Trying to stop Barnes are Eagles backs Bob Harrison (42) and Mike McClellan (23). At top is Redskins end Bill Anderson (42), Redskins won, 27-21. (AP Photo/Bill Ingraham)
Philadelphia Eagles' Greg Lewis, left, and J.R. Reed, center, chase Washington Redskins' Ladell Betts (46) as Betts returns the opening kickoff 70 yards Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, in Landover, Md. The play set up a short touchdown run for Clinton Portis. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Philadelphia Eagles fullback Clarence Peaks (26) is brought down by Washington Redskin tackle Will Renfro (71) after a six-yard first quarter running gain at Griffith Stadium, Dec. 6, 1959, Washington, D.C. Swarming in on Peaks is fullback Chuck Drazenovich (36) and end Ed Meadows (83), both of Washington. In the background is Chuck Bednarik (60), Eagles center. (AP Photo/Tom Fitzsimmons)
Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis (26) scores a third-quarter touchdown past Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins (20) and safety Michael Lewis (32), Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
This wasn't any old win over a long-time NFC East rival. It was Washington's fifth straight victory after an 0-5 start, marking the first and only time in NFL history a team that had opened its season with five consecutive losses rebounded with five wins in a row.
The Redskins had looked inept through the first three weeks, losing by an average of 32 points and scoring only 16, before showing some fight in the next two losses.
They subsequently reeled off five straight wins under highly successful NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, then in his first and only season in D.C. They beat Carolina (17-14), the Giants (35-21), Seattle (27-14) and Denver (17-10), before facing the Eagles in front of a hostile crowd of 65,666 at the Vet.
At the time, the Eagles were on a three-game win streak, most recently walloping the Cowboys, 36-3, and at 6-3 held first place in the NFC East. They were coming off an 11-5 season that ended with a second-round playoff appearance.
Their superstar was third-year quarterback Donovan McNabb, one of the most dangerous players in the league. He was hurting defenses with his strong arm and nimble feet, as evidenced by his 125 yards rushing and 137 passing in Philadelphia's 23-20 win over the Redskins in 2000.
When asked how big a headache McNabb was that day, Redskins defensive end Marco Coleman replied, "I don't think they make Tylenol that big."
But this time the red-hot Redskins had an answer for McNabb. A much-improved defense led by linebacker LaVar Arrington, who spied on McNabb, neutralized the elusive quarterback, who completed 15-of-27 passes for 92 yards, with a long of 13, and rushed for only 39 more.
The Redskins scored first on a five-yard, second-quarter run by back Ki-Jana Carter, who rotated with gimpy starter Stephen Davis for much of the game. The play capped a six-play, 59-yard drive that set the tone for a dominant first half, when the Redskins piled up 178 yards to the Eagles' 69.
Washington's Brett Conway kicked the conversion, and his 43-yard field goal created a 10-0 game at halftime.
The Eagles' offense found its footing in the third quarter, and a 42-yard drive ended on David Akers' 49-yard field goal that cut the margin to seven. But Washington's defense, wracked by injuries earlier in the season, came up huge on the Eagles' next two drives with fourth-down stops in Redskins territory. (The Eagles converted only 3-of-13 third downs in the game.)
After the second stop, the Redskins crafted a beauty of a drive – a 15-play, 50-yard march that ate up nearly nine minutes and ended on Conway's 32-yard field goal with 33 seconds left.
Game over.
"Nobody thought we could do this, but we did," said Davis, who rushed for 79 yards on 22 carries. "We have a long way to go, but we've given ourselves a chance to do some things."
Wonder of wonders, the 5-5 Redskins were suddenly a game behind the 6-4 Eagles in the NFC East, an unfathomable scenario a few weeks prior. The Redskins were the talk of the league and made the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, an honor in itself.
Arrington compared their resurgence to the awakening of a "sleeping giant."
"We're .500," Schottenheimer said matter of factly. "We move forward from here."
But the Redskins would remain at .500. Unable to maintain their momentum, they split their last six games to finish 8-8. The Eagles again won the division at 11-5 and reached the NFC Championship game, losing to the Rams, 29-24.
. He hosts a podcast called "Burgundy & Gold Flashback." His web site is redskinshistorian.com. Check out his Facebook Friend and Fan pages and follow him on Twitter.*
RELATED LINKS:
-- Redskins Legacy: Redskins Shock Giants In 2011
-- Redskins Legacy: '05 Rams Win Sparks Streak
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