The Body Bag Game
Encyclopedia
The Body Bag Game was a Monday Night Football
game that was played on November 12, 1990 between the Philadelphia Eagles
and the Washington Redskins
at Veterans Stadium
. Its nickname comes from a comment by an Eagles player directed at a Redskins player: "an Eagle reacted to one injured Redskin lying on the turf by yelling, 'Do you guys need any more body bags?'"
rivals. The Redskins were two years removed from winning Super Bowl XXII
, but were an aging team, behind a new quarterback, Jeff Rutledge
. The Eagles were in their fifth season under defensive mastermind Buddy Ryan
, but coming off two straight early playoff exits. In the previous game, on October 21, the 3-2 Redskins beat the 2-3 Eagles 13-7, behind a rushing touchdown by Gerald Riggs
and two Chip Lohmiller
field goals. The rematch would come three weeks later, on Monday Night Football
, with the second-place Redskins being 5-3 and the third-place Eagles being 4-4.
The Eagles would score first, on a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back William Frizzell
. In the second quarter, the Redskins would tie the game 7-7 behind a Rutledge pass to tight end Don Warren
. However, by the third quarter, the Eagles took control with three touchdowns. The first came on a trick play, with running back Keith Byars
throwing a 9-yard pass to Heath Sherman
. The second came via the defense, with defensive end Clyde Simmons
returning a fumble 18 yards. The final touchdown was another pass to Sherman, this time by quarterback Randall Cunningham
. The Redskins would finish the scoring in the fourth quarter, with Brian Mitchell scoring on a one-yard run, but it would not lead to a comeback, with the Eagles winning 28-14.
During this game, eight Redskin players were injured, including starting quarterback Jeff Rutledge and backup Stan Humphries
. Washington, already playing without quarterbacks Mark Rypien
(who was injured earlier in the season) and Gary Hogeboom
(inactive), had to end the game with rookie running back/kick returner Brian Mitchell at quarterback.
in the divisional round. However, as told in the NFL Network presentation America's Game: The Story of the 1991 Washington Redskins, coach Joe Gibbs
and others pointed to this game as the foundation for the successes of the 1991 Redskins
, who would go on to win Super Bowl XXVI
.
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game that was played on November 12, 1990 between the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
. Its nickname comes from a comment by an Eagles player directed at a Redskins player: "an Eagle reacted to one injured Redskin lying on the turf by yelling, 'Do you guys need any more body bags?'"
Background and game
This was the second game of the year between the two NFC EastNFC East
The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
rivals. The Redskins were two years removed from winning Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII was an American football game played on January 31, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1987 regular season...
, but were an aging team, behind a new quarterback, Jeff Rutledge
Jeff Rutledge
Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the head football coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee.-Early years:...
. The Eagles were in their fifth season under defensive mastermind Buddy Ryan
Buddy Ryan
James David "Buddy" Ryan is a former American NFL football coach.-Early years:Ryan was born and reared in a small, agricultural-based community "just outside of Frederick, Oklahoma." Ryan played college football for Oklahoma A&M University where he earned four letters as a guard between 1952 and...
, but coming off two straight early playoff exits. In the previous game, on October 21, the 3-2 Redskins beat the 2-3 Eagles 13-7, behind a rushing touchdown by Gerald Riggs
Gerald Riggs
Gerald Antonio Riggs is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons from 1982-1988 and the Washington Redskins from 1989-1991....
and two Chip Lohmiller
Chip Lohmiller
John McLeod "Chip" Lohmiller is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, and the St. Louis Rams...
field goals. The rematch would come three weeks later, on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
, with the second-place Redskins being 5-3 and the third-place Eagles being 4-4.
The Eagles would score first, on a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back William Frizzell
William Frizzell
William Jasper Frizzell is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1984 to 1993. He played college football at North Carolina Central University and was drafted in the tenth round of...
. In the second quarter, the Redskins would tie the game 7-7 behind a Rutledge pass to tight end Don Warren
Don Warren
Donald James Warren is a former American football tight end, who spent his entire 14 year career playing for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League...
. However, by the third quarter, the Eagles took control with three touchdowns. The first came on a trick play, with running back Keith Byars
Keith Byars
Keith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.-Early life:...
throwing a 9-yard pass to Heath Sherman
Heath Sherman
Heath B. Sherman is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for five seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Texas A&I University and was drafted in the six round of the 1989 NFL Draft....
. The second came via the defense, with defensive end Clyde Simmons
Clyde Simmons
Clyde Simmons, Jr. is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles , Arizona Cardinals , Jacksonville Jaguars , Cincinnati Bengals , and the Chicago Bears . He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1991 and 1992...
returning a fumble 18 yards. The final touchdown was another pass to Sherman, this time by quarterback Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
. The Redskins would finish the scoring in the fourth quarter, with Brian Mitchell scoring on a one-yard run, but it would not lead to a comeback, with the Eagles winning 28-14.
During this game, eight Redskin players were injured, including starting quarterback Jeff Rutledge and backup Stan Humphries
Stan Humphries
William Stanley "Stan" Humphries is a former professional American football quarterback. He played for the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He played college football at Northeast Louisiana...
. Washington, already playing without quarterbacks Mark Rypien
Mark Rypien
Mark Robert Rypien is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He is the first Canadian-born quarterback to start in the NFL.-Biography:...
(who was injured earlier in the season) and Gary Hogeboom
Gary Hogeboom
Gary Keith Hogeboom is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League and a contestant on the CBS reality TV show Survivor: Guatemala.-Career:...
(inactive), had to end the game with rookie running back/kick returner Brian Mitchell at quarterback.
Aftermath
Following the Body Bag Game game the Eagles would go on to win five of their last seven under Cunningham, finish the season 10-6 and earn a wild card playoff berth, the fourth seed in the tough NFC. The Redskins meanwhile also would win five of their last seven to finish the season 10-6, losing the number four seed spot to the Eagles. Despite this, the Redskins would return to Veterans Stadium and defeat the Eagles in the Wild Card playoff game, 20-6. The Redskins would go on to lose to defending Super Bowl champion San FranciscoSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the divisional round. However, as told in the NFL Network presentation America's Game: The Story of the 1991 Washington Redskins, coach Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs
Joe Jackson Gibbs is a former American football coach, NASCAR Championship team owner, and two time NHRA Pro Stock team owner. He was the 20th and 26th head coach in the history of the Washington Redskins...
and others pointed to this game as the foundation for the successes of the 1991 Redskins
1991 Washington Redskins season
The 1991 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 10-6 record from 1990. The Redskins would finish the season 14-2. They went undefeated in the playoffs and beat the Buffalo Bills 37-24 to win Super Bowl XXVI...
, who would go on to win Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game played on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to decide the National Football League champion following the 1991 regular season...
.
Scoring summary
- PHI: FrizzellWilliam FrizzellWilliam Jasper Frizzell is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1984 to 1993. He played college football at North Carolina Central University and was drafted in the tenth round of...
30-yard interception return (RuzekRoger RuzekRoger Brian Ruzek is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League for seven seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. Previously he played with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League....
kick) - WAS: WarrenDon WarrenDonald James Warren is a former American football tight end, who spent his entire 14 year career playing for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League...
8-yard pass from RutledgeJeff RutledgeJeffrey Ronald Rutledge is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the head football coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee.-Early years:...
(LohmillerChip LohmillerJohn McLeod "Chip" Lohmiller is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, and the St. Louis Rams...
kick) - PHI: ShermanHeath ShermanHeath B. Sherman is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for five seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Texas A&I University and was drafted in the six round of the 1989 NFL Draft....
9-yard pass from ByarsKeith ByarsKeith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.-Early life:...
(Ruzek kick) - PHI: SimmonsClyde SimmonsClyde Simmons, Jr. is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles , Arizona Cardinals , Jacksonville Jaguars , Cincinnati Bengals , and the Chicago Bears . He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1991 and 1992...
18-yard fumble recovery (Ruzek kick) - PHI: Sherman 2-yard pass from CunninghamRandall CunninghamRandall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
(Ruzek kick) - WAS: Mitchell 1-yard run (Lohmiller kick)