Philadelphia Eagles Best Thanksgiving in Detriot
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 10:27 pm
Following and even intensifying a trend, the Eagles had a losing steak at the start of 1968- 11 games. A discouraged team came into muddy Tiger Stadium for the Thanksgiving Day national telecast. The Detroit Lions were 4-6-2 and a ten point favorite. Rain starting the day before made for a wet, muddy, and sloppy game. Nevertheless, the Eagles played well and recorded their first victory, a shutout.
The Eagles did not try to pass and mostly relied on the running of Tom Woodeshick and Israel Lang. Woodeshick gained 78 yards. The Eagles kicked a field goal in each quarter to account for all of the scoring. Sam Baker, also the punter, was the placekicker. He became in this game the second leading scorer in NFL history. Joe Scarpati did a good job holding the ball on the muddy field. By contrast, the Lions tried to pass, ran some, but did not move the ball all day. Turnovers are always big and this game was no exception. The Eagles intercepted three passes and yielded none. The Lions had only eight first downs. The Eagles Floyd Peters and David Lloyd stood out stopping the run. Final Eagles 12 Lions 0.
After the game, the Eagles locker room was relieved and jubilant. Coach Joe Kuharich said this team had the talent to be winners, not exactly a brilliant comment. Kuharich also said he would substitute a Coke for Champagne. I felt as though the Philadelphia Eagles had won the Super Bowl. In a season like 1968, fans had to make the most of this victory. In addition, remember the Philadelphia Eagles never recorded a shutout in the Reid Era. The last one was versus the Giants at Veterans Stadium , 24 to 0 in 1996.
The Eagles did not try to pass and mostly relied on the running of Tom Woodeshick and Israel Lang. Woodeshick gained 78 yards. The Eagles kicked a field goal in each quarter to account for all of the scoring. Sam Baker, also the punter, was the placekicker. He became in this game the second leading scorer in NFL history. Joe Scarpati did a good job holding the ball on the muddy field. By contrast, the Lions tried to pass, ran some, but did not move the ball all day. Turnovers are always big and this game was no exception. The Eagles intercepted three passes and yielded none. The Lions had only eight first downs. The Eagles Floyd Peters and David Lloyd stood out stopping the run. Final Eagles 12 Lions 0.
After the game, the Eagles locker room was relieved and jubilant. Coach Joe Kuharich said this team had the talent to be winners, not exactly a brilliant comment. Kuharich also said he would substitute a Coke for Champagne. I felt as though the Philadelphia Eagles had won the Super Bowl. In a season like 1968, fans had to make the most of this victory. In addition, remember the Philadelphia Eagles never recorded a shutout in the Reid Era. The last one was versus the Giants at Veterans Stadium , 24 to 0 in 1996.