The Curse of Tuesday Night in 2010
Coming off the memorable win at the New Meadowlands in Week 15 of the 2010 regular season, the Philadelphia Eagles, led by Andy Reid and Michael Vick, were on an emotional roller coaster. They had just won their 10th game of the season. The Eagles had also beaten the likes of Matt Ryan and Peyton Manning (his final year in Indianapolis prior to neck surgery), and were coming off a three-game winning streak which also included the Houston Texas and the Dallas Cowboys.
Week 16 could be called one of the most memorable weeks in NFL history for a couple of reasons.
The Blizzard
The game was originally scheduled for Sunday at 1pm, but was flexed to a Sunday Night Football telecast due to the NFL’s Flex Scheduling policy, which highlights matchups with playoff implications. In this case, the Eagles had a chance to clinch their first NFC East title since 2006, and the sixth in Reid’s tenure with the Eagles, with a win. Additionally, a win over Minnesota would give the Eagles a first-round bye. However, the game was pushed to Tuesday due to heavy snow in Philadelphia. A heavy Nor’easter put much of the tri-state area in a state of emergency. The NFL postponed the game shortly afternoon, even before there was any snow accumulation in Philadelphia.
The postponement decision was very unpopular in Philadelphia. Former Pennsylvania Governor, former Philadelphia Mayor, and avid Eagles fan, Ed Rendell, said that football was a game that was meant to be played in bad weather, stating that the postponement was proof that the United States had become “a nation of wusses.”
This was the 20th NFL game to be played on a Tuesday, but the first since 1946, a Tuesday was September 26, 1944 when they defeated the Boston Yanks in the season opener. It was also the Yanks first regular season franchise game.
The End of an Era
The other relevant fact of the game was that the week 16 matchup would be mark the end of Brett Favre’s record for most consecutive games started.
Since December 28, 2010, the Eagles would go onto finish the 2010 season with 2 regular season home losses, and a wild-card home loss to the Green Bay Packers.
In terms of home games in the 2011 season, the Eagles had a 3-5 record, beating the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, and the Washington Redskins.
The home loss record became most notable in 2012, not just because of the abysmal 4-12 record which led to the firing of Head Coach Andy Reid and Defensive Coordinator Juan Castillo, but because the Eagles haven’t won a home game since the week 4 Sunday Night game against the New York Giants on September 30, 2012. The home record that year was 2-6.
Time to Exorcize the Curse of Tuesday Night
The Eagles have lost 4 home games this season and have 10 consecutive home losses since September 30, 2012. The next 4 home games in 2013 include the Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears. Realistically, the home loss streak should come to an end in week 11. The Washington Redskins are mathematically eliminated from playoff contentions, even in the worst division in the NFL. RGIII has not looked like himself since returning from ACL surgery, having lost against the terrible Minnesota Vikings, led by Christian Ponder. The Arizona Cardinals are, well, what we thought they were…the Eagles can’t let them off the hook. The Lions are currently in a three-way tie for the lead in the NFC North, the Lions could take a step toward contention with a win over the Bears tomorrow.
And the Bears should have Jay Cutler back from a torn groin injury.
Worst case scenario, the Eagles could finish winless at home. I predict the Eagles to split the remaining 4 games with wins over Washington and Arizona. Detroit has the healthiest chance to pull out of the NFC North on top, and the Bears team with Jay Cutler is more fearsome than a Bears team with Josh McCown.
NOTE: Since 2010, the Eagles first opponent has won the Super bowl. Although the San Diego Chargers did win the Eagles’ first home game, they are also in a very strong division with Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. Another streak that will surely end this year.
I liked the information and the writing I just don’t get the correlation, is it because Senaca Wallace reminds you of Minnesota’s Joe Webb? Or is it because Nick Foles offers renewed hope that ended that Tuesday night when Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Frazier introduced the game plan to defeat Mike Vick every time?
Joe Webb.
That was just the curse of an unprepared Andy Reid lead team. Who would’ve thunk it !
And the bonehead play of the game was just before halftime when Vick was sacked by CB Blitz who then picked Vicjs Fumble and ran it in for a 60 Yard TD, Vick, Andy Reid were never the same since or the Eagłes overall Play at hone have never been the same since.. The QB came from 15 yards away in an empty backfield set and Vick never even saw him as he came right in untouched on Vick’s left and front side in his path the entire blitz
This is when I reliEd for sure that Vick would never lead them anywhere and that AR’s time was done in Philly..