# 1990 Philadelphia Eagles season

The 1990 Philadelphia Eagles season was the team's 58th in the National Football League (NFL).
The team made the postseason yet again with a 10–6 overall record, despite beginning the season with disappointing early-season records of 1–3 and 2–4.
The Eagles ran for 2,556 rushing yards in 1990, which is the most of any team in a single season in the 1990s.
Other season highlights were a 28–14 win at Veterans Stadium over the Washington Redskins on November 12, known as the Body Bag Game, since the defense managed to knock both Redskins quarterbacks from the contest plus several other key players. The Redskins came back to the Vet later in the season to defeat the Eagles in the Wild Card Playoff, however. Against the Buffalo Bills in a 30–23 loss on December 2, Randall Cunningham made one of the signature plays of his career, eluding Bills Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith in the end zone before launching the ball into the middle of the field to wide receiver Fred Barnett, who completed the 95-yard touchdown play.
One week prior, the Eagles avenged an opening-night loss at the Meadowlands, whipping the 10–0 New York Giants by a 31–13 score. The Redskins would get the last laugh, beating the Eagles 20–6 in the Wild Card round.
Following the season, the team fired head coach Buddy Ryan. Offensive coordinator Rich Kotite was promoted to replace Ryan as Eagles head coach, and would hold the position for the next four seasons.

## Offseason
### NFL draft

The 1990 NFL draft was held April 22–23, 1990. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season. For the number 1 pick in the draft, the Indianapolis Colts traded with the Atlanta Falcons to select Jeff George a quarterback from Illinois
Under the rules of the draft at the time, the Eagles would pick 24th or 25th in each full round. Teams that went to Super Bowl XXIV would have last 2 picks and then teams sorted out by 1989 record in each round. The Eagles at 11–5 in the previous year tied with Los Angeles Rams. With the 22nd pick in the 1st round the Eagles selected Ben Smith a cornerback from Georgia The Eagles made 12 total picks in the 1990 draft.
1990 Philadelphia Eagles draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 1 | 22 | Ben Smith | DB | Georgia | |
| 2 | 50 | Mike Bellamy | WR | Illinois | |
| 3 | 77 | Fred Barnett * | WR | Arkansas State | |
| 5 | 133 | Calvin Williams | WR | Purdue | |
| 6 | 162 | Kevin Thompson | DB | Oklahoma | |
| 7 | 189 | Terry Strouf | T | Wisconsin–La Crosse | |
| 8 | 217 | Curt Dykes | T | Oregon | |
| 9 | 244 | Cecil Gray | DE | North Carolina | |
| 10 | 273 | Orlando Adams | DT | Jacksonville State | |
| 11 | 294 | John Hudson | G | Auburn | Made roster in 1991; pick from New Orleans |
| 11 | 300 | Tyrone Watson | WR | Tennessee State | |
| 12 | 327 | Judd Garrett | RB | Princeton | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Training camp

The Eagles held training camp at West Chester State University in West Chester, PA about 20 miles from Veterans Stadium where they play their home games.

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 9 | at New York Giants | L 20–27 | 0–1 | Giants Stadium | 76,202 |
| 2 | September 16 | Phoenix Cardinals | L 21–23 | 0–2 | Veterans Stadium | 64,396 |
| 3 | September 23 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 27–21 | 1–2 | Anaheim Stadium | 63,644 |
| 4 | September 30 | Indianapolis Colts | L 23–24 | 1–3 | Veterans Stadium | 62,067 |
| 5 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 6 | October 15 | Minnesota Vikings | W 32–24 | 2–3 | Veterans Stadium | 66,296 |
| 7 | October 21 | at Washington Redskins | L 7–13 | 2–4 | RFK Stadium | 53,567 |
| 8 | October 28 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 21–20 | 3–4 | Texas Stadium | 62,605 |
| 9 | November 4 | New England Patriots | W 48–20 | 4–4 | Veterans Stadium | 65,514 |
| 10 | November 12 | Washington Redskins | W 28–14 | 5–4 | Veterans Stadium | 65,857 |
| 11 | November 18 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 24–23 | 6–4 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 53,755 |
| 12 | November 25 | New York Giants | W 31–13 | 7–4 | Veterans Stadium | 66,706 |
| 13 | December 2 | at Buffalo Bills | L 23–30 | 7–5 | Rich Stadium | 79,320 |
| 14 | December 9 | at Miami Dolphins | L 20–23 (OT) | 7–6 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 67,034 |
| 15 | December 16 | Green Bay Packers | W 31–0 | 8–6 | Veterans Stadium | 65,627 |
| 16 | December 23 | Dallas Cowboys | W 17–3 | 9–6 | Veterans Stadium | 63,895 |
| 17 | December 29 | at Phoenix Cardinals | W 23–21 | 10–6 | Sun Devil Stadium | 31,796 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

### Game summaries
#### Week 1

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| • Giants | 6 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 27 |

#### Week 2

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 23 |
| Eagles | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |

#### Week 3

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Eagles | 3 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| Rams | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |

#### Week 4

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Colts | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Eagles | 3 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 23 |

#### Week 6

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| • Eagles | 9 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 32 |

#### Week 7

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • Redskins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |

#### Week 8

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
* Date: October 28
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C); wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
* Game attendance: 62,605
* Referee: Howard Roe
* TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Irv Cross
* Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database
Game information :
Eagles
Randall Cunningham 17/30, 183 Yds, 2 TD 9 Rush, 53 Yds
Calvin Williams 5 Rec, 74 Yds, TD
Cowboys
Troy Aikman 22/41, 223 Yds, TD, INT
Tommie Agee 6 Rush, 54 Yds
Jay Novacek 7 Rec, 105 Yds, TD :
The Porkchop Bowl
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | PHI | DAL |
| 1 | 1:08 | | | | Eagles | Toney 10-yard touchdown reception from Cunningham, Ruzek kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 2 | 0:13 | | | | Cowboys | 43-yard field goal by Willis | 7 | 3 |
| 3 | 12:11 | | | | Cowboys | 43-yard field goal by Willis | 7 | 6 |
| 4 | 10:30 | | | | Eagles | Sherman 10-yard touchdown run, Ruzek kick good | 14 | 6 |
| 4 | 7:53 | | | | Cowboys | Novacek 29-yard touchdown reception from Aikman, Willis kick good | 14 | 13 |
| 4 | 4:02 | | | | Cowboys | Smith 3-yard touchdown run, Willis kick good | 14 | 20 |
| 4 | 0:44 | | | | Eagles | Williams 10-yard touchdown reception from Cunningham, Ruzek kick good | 21 | 20 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 21 | 20 |

#### Week 9

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| • Eagles | 10 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 48 |

#### Week 10

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| • Eagles | 7 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 28 |
This game came to be known as The Body Bag Game.

#### Week 11

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Eagles | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
| Falcons | 0 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 23 |

#### Week 12

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Eagles | 7 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 31 |
at Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Date: November 25
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • 52 °F (11 °C) • Wind 13 mph (21 km/h)
* Referee: Red Cashion
* TV announcers (CBS): Dick Stockton and Merlin Olsen
* Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database
Game information :
Giants
Phil Simms 17/40, 234 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Dave Meggett 2 Rush, 61 Yds
Stephen Baker 3 Rec, 65 Yds
Eagles
Randall Cunningham 17/31, 229 Yds, 2 TD
Heath Sherman 21 Rush, 71 Yds
Keith Byars 8 Rec, 128 Yds :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | NYG | PHI |
| 1 | 5:22 | | | | Giants | Ingram 15-yard touchdown reception from Simms, Bahr kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | 3:39 | | | | Eagles | Barnett 49-yard touchdown reception from Cunningham, Ruzek kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | 6:21 | | | | Eagles | Cunningham 1-yard touchdown run, Ruzek kick good | 7 | 14 |
| 2 | 1:00 | | | | Giants | Bavaro 4-yard touchdown reception from Simms, Bahr kick no good | 13 | 14 |
| 3 | 9:09 | | | | Eagles | 39-yard field goal by Ruzek | 13 | 17 |
| 4 | 13:12 | | | | Eagles | Williams 6-yard touchdown reception from Cunningham, Ruzek kick good | 13 | 24 |
| 4 | 12:50 | | | | Eagles | Interception returned 22 yards for touchdown by Evans, Ruzek kick good | 13 | 31 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 13 | 31 |

#### Week 13

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
| • Bills | 24 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 30 |

#### Week 14

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| • Dolphins | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 23 |

#### Week 15

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Packers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Eagles | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 31 |

#### Week 16

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • Eagles | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |

#### Week 17 at Cardinals

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
* Date: December 29, 1990
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C)
* Game attendance: 31,796
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Dan Fouts
* Box score

### Standings

NFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(2)}$ New York Giants | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 335 | 211 | W2 |
| $^{(4)}$ Philadelphia Eagles | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–3 | 9–3 | 396 | 299 | W3 |
| $^{(5)}$ Washington Redskins | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–4 | 7–5 | 381 | 301 | W1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–6 | 6–8 | 244 | 308 | L2 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–6 | 3–9 | 268 | 396 | L3 |

## Playoffs

| Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| Wildcard | January 5, 1991 | Washington Redskins (5) | L 6–20 | 0–1 | Veterans Stadium | 65,287 |

### Game summaries
#### Wild card

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Redskins | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Eagles | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |

## Awards and honors

* Randall Cunningham, Bert Bell Award