Believe it or not, the beginning of the Eagles 2014 season is rapidly approaching. Players will report back to the NovaCare Complex on April 21 for the start of the offseason program. Join us as we count down the days until the Eagles are back in town ...
The Eagles allowed opponents to score 97 points in the second quarter of games in 2013. The Eagles' second quarter average of 6.1 points allowed in the second quarter ranked ninth in the NFL. Statistically, the second quarter was their second-best defensive quarter, behind only the opening frame. In the first quarter this season, the Eagles only allowed 89 points (3.75 points per game) which ranked sixth in the NFL. Overall, the Eagles were great in the first half of games this season, outscoring opponents by 53 points prior to halftime.
Ninety-seven can also represent the 1997 season, which wasn't an overly memorable one for the Eagles. They finished 6-9-1 in Ray Rhodes' second-to-last season as head coach, but there were a few notable achievements that season. Running back Ricky Watters became the first Eagle ever to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. At the wide receiver position, Irving Fryar set an Eagles record with six 100-yard receiving games. That record was snapped in 2004 by Terrell Owens, who finished the season with seven 100-yard games.
First Player To Wear 97: DE Thomas Brown (1980)
Most Recent Eagle To Wear 97: NT Isaac Sopoaga (2013)
Darwin Walker
After playing just one game with the Arizona Cardinals, Walker was claimed by the Eagles two days after the second game of the 2000 season. He spent the rest of that year inactive, before appearing in 10 games in the 2001 season. 2002 was when Walker broke out of his shell. In his first season as a full-time starter on the Eagles defensive line, Walker recorded 7.5 sacks while forcing two fumbles and recovering another. His 7.5 sacks were tied with now-Hall of Famer Warren Sapp for the most by an NFC defensive tackle.
Walker was also a starter for the Eagles during their run to the Super Bowl in 2004. He started all 16 regular season games for the Eagles that year, recording 4.5 sacks. Walker also played well against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. He had three total tackles, and came up with a key fumble recovery in the second quarter. After the Eagles scored to go up 7-0, the Patriots drove down to the Eagles 4-yard line. On a second-and-goal play, quarterback Tom Brady was sacked, the ball came lose and Walker was there for the recovery.
A product of the University of Tennessee, Walker played six seasons in Philadelphia. From 2002-06, Walker started 75 of his 77 games in an Eagles uniform. Originally drafted in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft, Walker played in four NFC Championship Games with the Eagles, starting in three of them.
