In his 13 seasons as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Andy Reid has coached some of his best football when the lights are their brightest. Reid has a 37-19 record in primetime games, and a 13-7 record on Monday Night Football. The Eagles have won six of the last eight games played on the first day of the typical work week.
Of Reid's 13 Monday night wins, nine were by double-digits, seven were by two touchdowns or more and five were by 20-or-more points.
Last season, the offensive-minded head coach dialed up one of the best game plans in recent memory, dropping 59 points on what was then a hopeful 4-4 Washington Redskins team. The loss proved devastating for the Redskins, who managed only two wins the rest of the season. Quarterback Michael Vick posted 413 yards of total offense and was involved in six of the Eagles' eight touchdowns, becoming the first player in NFL history to have 300-or-more yards passing, 50-or-more yards rushing, four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in the same game.
Here are some other great Monday Night Football moments in Reid's history with the Eagles:
November 25, 2002: Eagles 38, San Francisco 17 - With Donovan McNabb lost for the regular season with a broken leg, Koy Detmer got the start and he led the Eagles to an impressive victory before suffering a dislocated elbow. Detmer completed 18-of-26 pass attempts and threw two touchdowns in the gutsy effort. Brian Mitchell chipped in a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown as the Eagles raced out to a 21-7 halftime lead and never looked back.
November 15, 2004: Eagles 49, Dallas 21 - This game ranks as one of the best Monday Night Football games in recent Eagles history because, hey, it's always a good time when the Eagles beat up on the Dallas Cowboys. Donovan McNabb threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns, three of which were caught by former-Eagle Terrell Owens. Cornerback Lito Sheppard added insult to injury with the game already out of reach, returning a Vinny Testaverde interception 101 yards for a touchdown. This game also included the McNabb 14-second scramble which resulted in a 60-yard pass to Freddie Mitchell.
October 26, 2009: Eagles 27, Washington 17 - The Eagles dominated Washington from the jump, scoring 17 straight points before a Jason Campbell touchdown pass to receiver Devin Thomas made it 17-7. The Eagles quickly pulled away, scoring the next 10 points to take a 27-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. DeSean Jackson had a big night, gaining 167 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, both of which went for over 50 yards. Defensive end Trent Cole led the way for the Eagles defense, notching two of the team's six sacks. The win got the Eagles to 4-2 and was the beginning of a nine-game stretch during which the Eagles would win seven.
The Eagles are hoping to add to their streak of three straight Monday night wins tonight when they face this Chicago Bears. Of Andy Reid's seven losses on Monday Night Football, only three have come after Week Two. Known for coaching his best games from November on, Eagles fans should feel confident when Jay Cutler and the 4-3 Bears arrive at Lincoln Financial Field.
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