I’m Saying It: The Eagles are Cursed

Posted by Holly Phelps on May 6, 2010   Jump To Comments

We know about famous sports curses. The Curse of the Bambino was placed on the Boston Red Sox when they sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1918, and lasted 87 years. Daunte Culpepper, Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, and Troy Polamalu have all fallen victim to the Madden NFL curse (watch out Drew Brees!).  The Sports Illustrated cover jinx’s latest victims include Miles Austin, Brent, and Mark Sanchez, who each graced the cover the week their team lost in last year’s playoffs.  And, of course, there’s the Cubs.  I’m not sure that’s so much a curse as it is…just…the Cubs.

Regardless, sports curses are an easy way to explain fluke losses or setbacks, or long title droughts. And, while there’s already the Philadelphia-centric “Curse of Billy Penn,” which doomed all professional sports teams in Philly after the city broke the “gentleman’s agreement” that no building would be higher than the statue of William Penn. This was all fine and dandy until the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. You ask me, though, the Eagles are still cursed.

By Vince.

Looking quizzically at the sky = modeling.

See, the Philadelphia Eagles were the first, last, and only team to ever beat Vince Lombardi’s Packers in the postseason, winning the 1960 NFL Championship game 17-13 in Philadelphia. Chuck Bednarik tackled Jim Taylor 9 yards shy of the goal line as time expired, and it was this game that furthered the famous idea that the Packers never lost, but were just behind in the score when time ran out.

Despite making it to the playoffs 18 times in the last 50 years, the Eagles haven’t won another championship, losing Super Bowls to the Raiders in 1980 and the Patriots in 2004. Just last year, the Eagles were walloped in the wild card round by the Cowboys, 34-14.

The Packers will play in Philadelphia on opening weekend, where they haven’t won since 1962. The Eagles are going to be wearing throwback uniforms to commemorate the 1960 squad that won it all. Maybe they think that wearing those kelly green uniforms will bring back the success the 1960 team enjoyed…maybe they think that it’ll help them beat McCarthy’s Packers…

Me? I’m betting on Vince. That man knew how to hold a grudge, and I figure he’ll be holding on to that grudge for a lot longer than 50 years.

Holly takes potshots at the other 31 teams.  You can contact her by email or on Twitter.