The Ultimate Showdown: A Look Back at the Historic Rivalry Between the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles

In the upcoming Week 3 of the 2023-24 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints will be facing off against⁣ the Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints are determined to end a three-year playoff drought, having narrowly missed out on postseason action last year with a 9-8 record under Dennis Allen's leadership.

On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a strong 11-6 season,⁣ following their NFC Championship victory. Despite a promising start with 10 wins in their first 11 games, they faltered towards the end, losing six of their last seven matches, including a playoff defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Both teams underwent significant coaching changes in the offseason. The Saints brought in Klint Kubiak as their new offensive coordinator and⁤ revamped their offensive staff.⁣ Meanwhile, the⁢ Eagles made changes on both sides of the ball, appointing former Saints defensive assistant Vic Fangio as part of their coaching staff.

This upcoming game will mark the 36th meeting between the Saints and Eagles, two ⁣teams that have had a recent history of facing each other frequently. After not⁢ playing each other last season, breaking a streak of five consecutive matchups over four years, the ⁤last meeting between them in New ⁤Orleans was during⁢ the 2019 divisional playoffs.

Let's take ⁤a closer look at the historical matchups between the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jan 13, 2019; New Orleans Saints⁢ running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs ⁢against the Philadelphia Eagles / Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

• All-time record: 16-19 • Home record: 11-8

Back in the early years of the Saints, specifically in 1967 and 1969, New Orleans⁢ and Philadelphia were division rivals in the NFL's Capitol Division. After a rocky start with seven consecutive losses in 1967, the Saints secured their first franchise victory with a 31-24 win over⁤ the⁤ Eagles at Tulane Stadium. Notably, Saints WR Walter ''Flea'' Roberts played a pivotal role in ⁢that game, scoring three touchdowns through various ⁤means.

Following their initial encounters, the Saints and Eagles continued to face off in the years that followed. The Saints ⁤managed to secure victories in 1969, 1972, and 1974, all of which were home games at Tulane Stadium. The rivalry intensified as they transitioned to playing in the⁣ Superdome in 1978.

It wasn't until 1985 that the Saints claimed their first victory against the Eagles at the ⁣Superdome, despite being outgained in total yardage.⁣ The game saw the Saints capitalize on turnovers and defensive plays to secure a 23-21 win.

Jan. 13, ⁤2007; New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister (26) on a carry against the Philadelphia Eagles during the ⁢NFC Divisional Playoffs / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

During the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, both ⁤teams⁤ boasted formidable defenses, leading to a split⁤ in their matchups between 1985 and 1993. However, one of the most memorable encounters between them occurred in⁢ 1992 during the ''Dome Patrol ⁢Era'' of the Saints.

The 1992 Saints, known for their ⁤strong defense and underrated offense,⁤ faced the Eagles⁤ in the wild-card round after a regular-season loss. Despite taking an early lead, the Saints succumbed to a second-half comeback by the Eagles, resulting in a 36-20 defeat.

This loss⁤ marked the beginning of a six-game losing streak for the Saints against the⁣ Eagles, lasting from 1992 to 2003. It wasn't until 2006 that the Saints managed to break this streak with a 27-24 victory at home, highlighted by key plays from QB Drew Brees and WR Joe Horn.

The rivalry continued in the playoffs later that season, with the Saints securing another 27-24 victory over the Eagles in New Orleans. ⁣Running backs Deuce McAllister⁢ and Reggie Bush played pivotal roles in this comeback win, solidifying the Saints' dominance⁢ in the postseason matchups.

Jan 1, 2023; New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) returns ⁢an interception for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

In their playoff⁤ history, the Saints have emerged victorious in⁣ three out of four matchups against the Eagles, including a thrilling 26-24 win in the 2014 wild-card round. This victory, secured in Philadelphia, remains a⁣ significant milestone in the Saints' playoff journey.

The most recent meeting between the Saints and Eagles resulted in a 20-10 victory for New Orleans in Philadelphia towards the end of the 2022-23 season. This win marked the Saints' continued success against the Eagles, particularly in their home games at the Superdome.

Notably, the Saints have⁣ dominated the Eagles in their recent ⁢home matchups at the Superdome, winning five out of the last six encounters, including the most recent showdown in the ⁢2019 Divisional Round.

Nov 18, 2018; New Orleans Saints running⁣ back Alvin Kamara (41) runs the ball past Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm ⁣Jenkins (27) / The Daily Advertiser-USA TODAY⁣ N

In⁢ a memorable matchup against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Eagles, the Saints secured a resounding 48-7 victory earlier in the season ⁢at the Superdome. The playoff rematch ⁣was a closer affair, with the Saints rallying in the second half to clinch a 20-14 win, showcasing⁣ their resilience and determination.

The upcoming Week 3 clash against the Eagles will be crucial for⁣ the Saints as they navigate a challenging schedule against NFC opponents in the early⁣ stages of the season. A strong start is imperative for New Orleans, given⁢ the significance of ⁤in-conference matchups and the impact they have had⁤ on playoff contention in recent years.

Over the past seasons, losses to NFC teams have proven costly for the Saints, often resulting in missed playoff opportunities due to ⁤tiebreaker scenarios. As they gear up for the ⁤upcoming game against the Eagles, a solid start to the season will be vital for New Orleans to establish themselves as contenders⁤ in the NFC.