1968 Philadelphia Eagles season
The 1968 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 36th season in the National Football League (NFL). They failed to improve on their previous output of 6–7–1, winning only two games. Eagles fans expected to get O.J. Simpson if they went winless. They finished 2–12, but the Buffalo Bills went 1–12–1 and got Simpson with the first pick.[1] Before they won their twelfth game, the Eagles were on target for a winless season at 0–11. They were the first team in the NFL proper to lose eleven consecutive games in one season since their own 1936 season, though in the AFL the 1962 Oakland Raiders lost their first thirteen games.
| 1968 Philadelphia Eagles season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Jerry Wolman |
| Head coach | Joe Kuharich |
| Home field | Franklin Field |
| Results | |
| Record | 2–12 |
| Division place | 4th NFL Capitol |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
One of the most infamous incidents in Philadelphia sports history came at halftime of the final game of the dismal 1968 season, when the Eagles were on their way to losing to the Minnesota Vikings. The Eagles had planned a Christmas pageant for halftime of the December 15 game, but the condition of the field was too poor. Instead, the team asked a fan dressed as Santa Claus to run onto the field to celebrate with a group of cheerleaders. The fans, in no mood to celebrate, loudly booed and threw snowballs at “Santa Claus.”[2]
Offseason
1968 NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | 14 | Tim Rossovich | DE | USC |
| 2 | 39 | Cyril Pinder | RB | Illinois |
| 3 | 68 | Adrian Young | LB | USC |
| 4 | 95 | Len McNeil | G | Fresno State |
| 5 | 122 | Mike Dirks | T | Wyoming |
| 5 | 124 | Mark Nordquist | T | Pacific |
| 6 | 150 | Thurman Randle | T | Texas – El Paso |
| 6 | 157 | Dave Martin | DB | Notre Dame |
| 7 | 178 | Joe Przybycki | G | Michigan State |
| 8 | 204 | Al Lavan | DB | Colorado State |
| 9 | 232 | Mike Evans | C | Boston College |
| 10 | 258 | John Mallory | DB | West Virginia |
| 11 | 286 | Len Persin | DB | Boston College |
| 12 | 312 | Thurston Taylor | TE | Florida State |
| 13 | 340 | George Barron | T | Mississippi State |
| 14 | 366 | Dan Williamson | LB | West Virginia |
| 15 | 394 | Joe Graham | G | Tennessee |
| 16 | 420 | Phil Creel | T | Northwestern State (LA) |
| 17 | 448 | Joe Forzani | LB | Utah State |
| 17 | 459 | Frank Antonini | RB | Parsons |
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
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Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 15, 1968 | at Green Bay Packers | L 13–30 | |
| 2 | September 22, 1968 | New York Giants | L 25–34 | |
| 3 | September 29, 1968 | Dallas Cowboys | L 13–45 | |
| 4 | October 6, 1968 | at Washington Redskins | L 14–17 | |
| 5 | October 13, 1968 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 14–34 | |
| 6 | October 20, 1968 | Chicago Bears | L 16–29 | |
| 7 | October 27, 1968 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 3–6 | |
| 8 | November 3, 1968 | St. Louis Cardinals | L 17–45 | |
| 9 | November 10, 1968 | Washington Redskins | L 10–16 | |
| 10 | November 17, 1968 | at New York Giants | L 6–7 | |
| 11 | November 24, 1968 | at Cleveland Browns | L 13–47 | |
| 12 | November 28, 1968 | at Detroit Lions | W 12–0 | |
| 13 | December 8, 1968 | New Orleans Saints | W 29–17 | |
| 14 | December 15, 1968 | Minnesota Vikings | L 17–24 |
Game recaps
A recap of the scoring plays and the game scores by quarters during the year. The record after the team's name reflects this games outcome also.[3]
Week 1 at Packers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Packers | 7 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 30 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: September 15
- Game attendance: 67 °F (19 °C)
- Box Score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 2
Sunday, September 22, 1968
Played in Franklin Field on grass in 70 °F (21.1 °C) weather with a 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn) wind
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| New York Giants (2–0–0) | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 34 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–2–0) | 12 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 25 |
| Scoring Plays | ||
| 1st | Giants | Randy Minniear 2-yard rush (Pete Gogolak kick) |
| Eagles | Alvin Haymond 98-yard kickoff return (kick failed) | |
| Eagles | Izzy Lang 23-yard pass from John Huarte (kick failed) | |
| 2nd | Giants | Spider Lockhart 72-yard interception return (Pete Gogolak kick) |
| Giants | Pete Gogolak 20-yard field goal | |
| 3rd | Eagles | Tom Woodeshick 54-yard rush (Sam Baker kick) |
| Giants | Pete Gogolak 30-yard field goal | |
| Giants | Joe Morrison 12-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Pete Gogolak kick) | |
| 4th | Giants | Bobby Duhon 1-yard rush (Pete Gogolak kick) |
| Eagles | Ben Hawkins 92-yard pass from King Hill (kick failed) |
Week 3
Sunday, September 29, 1968.
Played in Franklin Field on grass in 61 °F (16.1 °C) weather with a 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn) wind
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Dallas Cowboys (3–0–0) | 7 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 45 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–3–0) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Scoring
1st Quarter Scoring Plays
- Eagles – Sam Baker 23-yard field goal
- Cowboys – Dan Reeves 2-yard pass from Don Meredith (Mike Clark kick)
2nd Quarter Scoring Plays
- Cowboys – Lance Rentzel 11-yard pass from Don Meredith (Mike Clark kick)
- Eagles – Gary Ballman 18-yard pass from King Hill (Sam Baker kick)
- Eagles – Sam Baker 13-yard field goal
3rd Quarter Scoring Plays
- Cowboys – Bob Hayes 44-yard pass from Don Meredith (Mike Clark kick)
- Cowboys – Don Perkins 10-yard pass from Don Meredith (Mike Clark kick)
4th Quarter Scoring Plays
- Cowboys – Mike Clark 26-yard field goal
- Cowboys – Lance Rentzel 8-yard pass from Don Meredith (Mike Clark kick)
- Cowboys – Craig Morton 4-yard rush (Mike Clark kick)
Week 4
Sunday, October 6, 1968
Played at District of Columbia Stadium on grass in 46 °F (7.8 °C) weather with a 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn) wind
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–4–0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Washington Redskins (2–2–0) | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Week 5
Sunday, October 13, 1968
Played at the Cotton Bowl on grass in 77 °F (25 °C) weather with a 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn) wind.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–5–0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Dallas Cowboys (5–0–0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
Scoring 1st Quarter Scoring Plays
- Cowboys – Pettis Norman 9-yard pass from Don Meredith (Mike Clark kick)
2nd Quarter Scoring Plays
- Cowboys – Rayfield Wright 15-yard pass from Don Meredith (Mike Clark kick)
3rd Quarter Scoring Plays
- Eagles – John Mallory 58-yard pass from Sam Baker (Sam Baker kick)
- Cowboys – Don Perkins 1-yard rush (Mike Clark kick)
4th Quarter Scoring Plays
- Cowboys – Mike Clark 26-yard field goal
- Cowboys – Mike Clark 21-yard field goal
- Cowboys – Craig Baynham 22-yard rush (Mike Clark kick)
- Eagles – Mike Ditka 4-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)
Week 6
Sunday, October 20, 1968
Played at Franklin Field on grass in 62 °F (16.7 °C) weather with a 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn) wind
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Chicago Bears (2–4–0) | 7 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 29 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–6–0) | 3 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
Week 7
Sunday, October 27, 1968
Played at Pitt Stadium on grass in 45 °F (7.2 °C) weather with a 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn) wind
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–7–0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (1–6–0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Scoring Plays | ||
| 2nd | Eagles | Sam Baker 38-yard field goal |
| 4th | Steelers | Booth Lusteg 34-yard field goal |
| Steelers | Booth Lusteg 15-yard field goal |
Week 8
Sunday, November 3, 1968
Played at Franklin Field on grass in 55 °F (12.8 °C) weather with a 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn) wind
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| St. Louis Cardinals (5–3–0) | 7 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 45 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–8–0) | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Scoring Plays | ||
| 1st | Cardinals | Jim Hart 1-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) |
| 2nd | Eagles | Fred Hill 31-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) |
| Cardinals | Willis Crenshaw 14-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) | |
| Eagles | Sam Baker 12-yard field goal | |
| 3rd | Eagles | Tom Woodeshick 12-yard rush (Sam Baker kick) |
| Cardinals | Jim Hart 1-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) | |
| Cardinals | Roy Shivers 40-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick) | |
| 4th | Cardinals | Roy Shivers 1-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) |
| Cardinals | Jim Bakken 47-yard field goal | |
| Cardinals | Roy Shivers 4-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) |
Week 9
Sunday, November 10, 1968
Played at Franklin Field on grass in 40 °F (4.4 °C) weather with a 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn) wind
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Washington Redskins (4–5–0) | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–9–0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| SCORING PLAYS | ||
| 1st | Redskins | Charlie Gogolak 15-yard field goal |
| 2nd | Redskins | Charlie Gogolak 25-yard field goal |
| Eagles | Sam Baker 37-yard field goal | |
| Redskins | Charlie Gogolak 9-yard field goal | |
| 3rd | Redskins | Gerry Allen 1-yard rush (Charlie Gogolak kick) |
| 4th | Eagles | Ben Hawkins 6-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) |
Week 10
Sunday, November 17, 1968
Played at Yankee Stadium on grass in 40 °F (4.4 °C) weather with a 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn) wind
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–10–0) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| New York Giants (7–3–0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| SCORING PLAYS | ||
| 1st | Eagles | Sam Baker 19-yard field goal |
| 2nd | Giants | Bobby Duhon 33-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Pete Gogolak kick) |
| Eagles | Sam Baker 19-yard field goal |
Week 11
Sunday, November 24, 1968.
Played in Cleveland Municipal Stadium on grass in 52 °F (11.1 °C) weather with a 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn) wind
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Philadelphia Eagles (0–11–0) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Cleveland Browns (8–3–0) | 10 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 47 |
Week 12
Thursday, November 28, 1968 Thanksgiving Day
Played in Tiger Stadium on grass in 40 °F (4.4 °C) weather with a 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn) wind
Going into this week’s games the Eagles are 0–11, the Buffalo Bills are 1–9–1, the Falcons are 2–9 and the Steelers are 2–8–1.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Philadelphia Eagles (1–11–0) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| Detroit Lions (3–7–2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring
1st Quarter Scoring Plays
- Eagles – Sam Baker 36-yard field goal
2nd Quarter Scoring Plays
- Eagles – Sam Baker 18-yard field goal
3rd Quarter Scoring Plays
- Eagles – Sam Baker 32-yard field goal
4th Quarter Scoring Plays
- Eagles – Sam Baker 35-yard field goal
Week 13
Sunday, December 8, 1968
Played at Franklin Field on grass in 31 °F (−0.6 °C) with a 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn) wind and a wind chill of 19 °F or −7.2 °C.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| New Orleans Saints (3–9–1) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (2–11–0) | 0 | 13 | 2 | 14 | 29 |
Scoring
1st Quarter Scoring Plays
- Saints Jimmy Hester 4-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick)
2nd Quarter Scoring Plays
- Eagles Gary Ballman 55-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)
- Saints Billy Kilmer 2-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)
- Eagles Ben Hawkins 14-yard pass from Norm Snead (kick failed)
3rd Quarter Scoring Plays
- Saints Charlie Durkee 10-yard field goal
- Eagles Safety, Conjar tackled Brown in end zone
4th Quarter Scoring Plays
- Eagles Ben Hawkins 23-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)
- Eagles Tom Woodeshick 30-yard rush (Sam Baker kick)
Week 14
Sunday, December 15, 1968
Played at Franklin Field on grass in 28 °F (−2.2 °C) weather with a 20 miles per hour (32 km/h; 17 kn) wind and a wind chill of 15 °F or −9.4 °C. During halftime of this last home game of the season, a group of Eagles fans showed their discontent by booing, and then throwing snowballs at, a performer dressed as Santa Claus. [4] [5]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Minnesota Vikings (8–6–0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (2–12–0) | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| SCORING PLAYS | ||
| 2nd | Eagles | Gary Ballman 5-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) |
| Vikings | Bill Brown 57-yard pass from Joe Kapp (Fred Cox kick) | |
| 3rd | Vikings | Gene Washington 30-yard pass from Joe Kapp (Fred Cox kick) |
| Eagles | Sam Baker 25-yard field goal | |
| 4th | Vikings | Joe Kapp 2-yard rush (Fred Cox kick) |
| Eagles | Fred Hill 12-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) | |
| Vikings | Fred Cox 17-yard field goal |
Standings
| NFL Capitol | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Dallas Cowboys | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 5–1 | 9–1 | 431 | 186 | W5 |
| New York Giants | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 5–1 | 7–3 | 294 | 325 | L4 |
| Washington Redskins | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 2–4 | 3–7 | 249 | 358 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 0–6 | 1–9 | 202 | 351 | L1 |
References
- 1968 Philadelphia Eagles
- Mihoces, Gary (November 27, 2003). "Santa snowball incident shrouded in myth". USA Today. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
- "Pro Football Statistics and History".
- "Philly booed Santa, but Santa still smiles", espn.com
- "For Eagles Fans: The Truth About The 'Boo'", Gloucester City (NJ) News, December 31, 2017