2005 Philadelphia Eagles

Losing the Super Bowl is not as bad as not getting there, so the Philadelphia Eagles have no reason to be ashamed of their 2004 season. Quarterback Donovan McNabb was brilliant, and while wide receiver Terrell Owens is now a question mark, the Eagles are not ready to fade away. You can almost expect another Super Bowl visit this season from your 2005 Iggles, so get your tickets while there are still some to get.

The Eagles captured three NFL titles from 1948 to 1960, earning consecutive crowns in 1948 and 1949 under head coach Earle "Greasy" Neale. His potent offensive squad starred future Hall of Fame members end Pete Pihos, halfback Steve Van Buren, and center Chuck Bednarik, who also played linebacker for the defensive unit.

Led by wide receiver Harold Carmichael and quarterback Ron Jaworski, Philadelphia played in Super Bowl XV in 1981 but lost to the Oakland Raiders. The club qualified for the playoffs six times from 1988 to 1996, with lineups starring wide receiver Fred Barnett, quarterback Randall Cunningham, running backs Herschel Walker and Ricky Watters, and defensive end Reggie White.

In 1933 Bert Bell and Lud Wray bought the NFL's Frankford Yellow Jackets and moved the team to Philadelphia. Renamed the Eagles, the club struggled, posting losing records in each of its first ten seasons.

By the mid-1940s, however, the Eagles had improved. From 1947 to 1949, Greasy Neale piloted the club to three consecutive Eastern Division crowns and two league titles. Steve Van Buren, a mainstay of these teams, captured three of his four NFL rushing titles from 1947 to 1949. After posting five losing records in the 1950s, the Eagles won their third NFL crown in 1960. Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, playing his final season, was named the league's most valuable player (MVP) after passing for nearly 2500 yards.

In 1961 Van Brocklin was replaced at quarterback by another eventual Hall of Fame member, Sonny Jurgensen. In his first full season Jurgensen threw for a league-record 3723 yards, breaking the previous mark by more than 600 yards. (The record is now held by Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins, who threw for 5084 yards in 1984.) Nearly a third of Jurgensen's yards went to McDonald, who led the league in yardage (1144) and touchdowns (13).

From 1962 through 1977 Philadelphia employed six different head coaches, but the team could not remain an NFL force. Although the Eagles boasted individual stars in running back Timmy Brown, wide receiver Harold Jackson, quarterback Roman Gabriel, and linebacker Bill Bergey, the Eagles did not reach the playoffs until 1978, Dick Vermeil's second year as head coach.

From 1978 to 1981 Vermeil guided the Eagles to four consecutive playoff appearances. In 1981 the team advanced to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Oakland Raiders 27-10.

After a six-year playoff drought, Philadelphia qualified for the postseason four times from 1988 to 1992. Guided by former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, the Eagles developed a slashing offense centered around Randall Cunningham, who became a skilled passer and also emerged as one of the greatest running quarterbacks in NFL history. Cunningham was the Eagles' top rusher each year from 1987 to 1990; in 1990 he threw for 30 touchdowns and rushed for more than 1000 yards. Under head coach Ray Rhodes, Philadelphia earned Wild Card berths in the playoffs in 1995 and 1996.

• 1981 Super Bowl XV Lost to Oakland Raiders, 27-10
• 2005 Super Bowl XXXIX Lost to New England Patriots, 24-21