The City of Brotherly Love hasn't been so friendly for the visitors from Atlanta over the years. The Falcons have dropped six straight games played in Philadelphia since 2000.
But I think it's worth re-visiting our last win with hopes of providing some positive karma for this weekend.
The Week 9 contest in 1988 at the old Veterans Stadium was tale of two teams going in different directions coming into the game. The powerful Eagles were playoff-bound en route to a NFC East title while the Falcons limped in with a 1-7 record.
Second-year Atlanta signal-caller Chris Miller was going up against highly-touted and gifted QB Randall Cunningham of Philly. Miller was coming back from an injury suffered the week before against the New York Giants so his status was up in the air before kickoff.
Fortunately for the Falcons, the former number one pick out of Oregon in 1987 suited up and was the one who ended up outshining the higher profile Cunningham. Miller threw for 235 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions to start to show his future Pro Bowl potential.
A 19-yard scoring pass to rookie WR Michael Haynes from Miller and a 17-yarder to fellow wide out Floyd Dixon started the scoring on the day for the Falcons. A huge defensive play at the end of the third quarter staked the Birds of Atlanta to a nice 20-10 lead.
On first and 10 on the Eagles own 44-yard line, Cunningham was sacked by blitzing LB Marcus Cotton and DE Mike Gann scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 36-yards for a touchdown.
The Eagles managed two touchdowns in the final stanza from the hands of WR Cris Carter to close the gap. But the Falcons would put away the home team in a big way.
The winning touchdown drive lasted just two plays with the deciding score coming on a bomb from Miller to Haynes covering 49-yards.
Atlanta's defense did the rest holding the dangerous Cunningham scoreless for the final six minutes to claim a 27-24 upset.
"The defense got fired up when we took the lead and they held Philadelphia those last six minutes. It was a big-time win for us," said Falcons Head Coach Marion Campbell after the game.
If the saying is true that…"all good things must come to an end"…then Philadelphia's streak is at its conclusion and its time for Atlanta to start its own streak on Sunday.
