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, which they won, 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
OwnerJerry Wolman
Head coachJoe Kuharich
Home fieldFranklin Field
Results
Record2–12
Division place4th NFL Capitol
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The Philadelphia Eagles Santa Claus incident, 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

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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

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1968 Philadelphia Eagles roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Reserve


Rookies in italics

Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 15 at Green Bay Packers L 13–30 0–1 Lambeau Field 50,861
2 September 22 New York Giants L 25–34 0–2 Franklin Field 60,858
3 September 29 Dallas Cowboys L 13–45 0–3 Franklin Field 60,858
4 October 6 at Washington Redskins L 14–17 0–4 D.C. Stadium 50,816
5 October 13 at Dallas Cowboys L 14–34 0–5 Cotton Bowl 72,083
6 October 20 Chicago Bears L 16–29 0–6 Franklin Field 60,858
7 October 27 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 3–6 0–7 Pitt Stadium 26,908
8 November 3 St. Louis Cardinals L 17–45 0–8 Franklin Field 59,208
9 November 10 Washington Redskins L 10–16 0–9 Franklin Field 59,133
10 November 17 at New York Giants L 6–7 0–10 Yankee Stadium 62,896
11 November 24 at Cleveland Browns L 13–47 0–11 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 62,338
12 November 28 at Detroit Lions W 12–0 1–11 Tiger Stadium 47,909
13 December 8 New Orleans Saints W 29–17 2–11 Franklin Field 57,128
14 December 15 Minnesota Vikings L 17–24 2–12 Franklin Field 54,530
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game recaps

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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

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Week One: Philadelphia Eagles (0–0) at Green Bay Packers (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Eagles 3 3 0713
Packers 7 14 6330

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: September 15
  • Game attendance: 67 °F (19 °C)
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 2

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

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  1. ^ "1968 Philadelphia Eagles Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ Mihoces, Gary (November 27, 2003). "Santa snowball incident shrouded in myth". USA Today. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  3. ^ "Pro Football Statistics and History".
  4. ^ Merrill, Elizabeth (December 21, 2011). "Philly booed Santa, but Santa still smiles". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  5. ^ "For Eagles Fans: The Truth About The 'Boo'". Gloucester City News. Gloucester City, New Jersey. December 31, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2022.