Today in Philly Sports History: Eagles Learn About Ties the Hard Way, 1997 & 2008

If there's one factor that unites the great, great majority of Americans, regardless of color, creed, or community, it would have to be our utter hatred of ties. There's something about the practice which is just so fundamentally off-putting to us, to have two entities engage in battle with neither emerging victorious--not only does it leave both parties unsatisfied, it negates the entire competition in the first place. I learned this lesson early, at a friend's Laser Tag birthday party in the fourth grade, when the two warring sides played to a draw and everyone was so disgusted with themselves that we all wished we had just lost instead. There's a reason why soccer has still yet to catch on in this country, you know.

Let it be agreed upon, then, that the Eagles should play no more games on November the 16th of any year, from now until the NFL is bought out by Mark Cuban III in 2075 and deployed as some sort of top-secret military directive. Amazingly, the Eagles have tied not only once on this date of history, but twice--once against the Ravens in 1997, and as I'm sure we all remember all too clearly, again last year against the Bengals. Judging from the box scores, at least, it's hard to say which game was more depressing to watch (10-10 and 13-13 finals, respectively, both with just two touchdowns scored total), although I'd imagine that only after one of them did the Eagles QB profess to not know that NFL games could end in a tie, despite playing in the league for about a decade.

The recent loss burns in the memory far brighter than any of the regular season's losses, I imagine the similar is true for those who remember the '97 game. In any event, with those being the two most recent ties for the Birds, and two of the just four in franchise history, if they're playing on November 16th next year, you can bet I'll be flipping to watch Rush in Rio on VH1 Classic instead. (The lone Baltimore touchdown in their tie, by the way, was scored on a 29-yard reception by Michael Jackson. I mean, I remember Jordan's dalliance into baseball well enough, but I guess I must have slept through the other MJ's brief NFL sojourn. Seems the King of Pop was pretty adept at it, though--tied for the league lead in TD receptions in 1996).

Comments

[Poster Nutbag]

i was at the ravens game in 97. my dad got us tickets and we drove down to baltimore to see the game in old memorial stadium. we had great seats at about the 40 yard line in the first row of the second deck, so there was no one in front of us and we could see the entire field. really great seats except for the fact that we were completely exposed to the wind that was blowing into the stadium that day making a cold day feel even colder. when you add in a 10-10 tie, you can imagine how excruciating the game was to sit through.

we still had fun, though, because how could you not? its games like this that make you appreciate the good ones!

[KirbyRed]

I was there at the game in Memorial Stadium in '97 and it was very windy. But you're forgetting the most important part of that game in 1997 -- Bobby Hoying's first career start!

[Poster Nutbag]

oh, right. how could i ever forget an occasion as momentous as that.

[eric]

Bobby Hoying ... the Detmer sandwhich

[mplant]

Was also at the game in Baltimore in '97. When the game ended, it was eerily silent, then some guy sitting in our section just yelled out "YEAH, WE BOTH SUCK!" That pretty much summed it up

I also remember Pizza Hut had a promotion where each Ravens sack was a dollar off a large pizza the next day. The Ravens had nine sacks in the game. I went to the Pizza Hut by me with my ticket stub and asked if I could get the deal, but it only applied to Baltimore area Pizza Huts. Not a big fan of Pizza Hut pizza, but it was worth a shot

[mplant]

@ Poster Nutbag,

I really don't mind cold weather so much, but it was rough in Memorial Stadium that day. I was in the three rows from the top in the end zone where the Eagles scored the tying touchdown, and I can still feel that wind blowing on the back of my neck

[Ben E]

I remember that Ravens game. I was in second grade and it was the first season I watched the Eagles (1997...picked a hell of a time to start watching the Birds eh) Chris Boniol missed a field goal attempt in OT didn't he?