The 2004 season was the Philadelphia Eagles' 72nd in the National Football League (NFL). The Eagles entered the season as back-to-back-to-back NFC runner ups and had been one of the most successful teams in the league after the Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb era began in 1999, making it to the playoffs for four straight seasons and to the NFC Championship Game in 2001, 2002, and 2003. However, the team could not reach the Super Bowl in any of those years, despite being favored in the latter two NFC title games. In the offseason, this already championship-level team was reinforced on both sides of the ball by the free agent additions of wide receiver Terrell Owens, defensive end Jevon Kearse and return of middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, their third-round draft pick in 1998.
Possessing a high-powered offense which featured McNabb, Owens, and Brian Westbrook, as well as a bruising defense led by Pro Bowlers Jeremiah Trotter, Brian Dawkins, Lito Sheppard and Michael Lewis, they won their way to a 13–1 start to the season. After resting starters for the final two games, the 13–3 Eagles (the best record in the Reid era) soared past the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs, earning a trip to Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville against the defending champion New England Patriots. The Eagles fell 24–21, ending their season. This season was considered the franchise's most successful in the modern era until their Super Bowl LII-winning 2017 season–coincidentally, the Eagles also faced the Falcons, Vikings, and Patriots in the 2017 playoffs.
The 2004 Eagles were the last team to repeat as NFC East champions until the 2025 Eagles. The 2004 Eagles were also the last team to go 6–0 against NFC East rivals until the Dallas Cowboys in 2021. It would be the last season where the Eagles won their first seven games until 18 years later.
Offseason Acquisitions The Eagles signed defensive end Jevon Kearse, linebacker Dhani Jones and quarterback Jeff Blake in free agency. The Eagles also acquired wide receiver Terrell Owens in a trade.
The Eagles also brought back defensive end Hugh Douglas and middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter after they were released by their previous teams.
Departures The Eagles traded guard John Welbourn to the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback A.J. Feeley to the Miami Dolphins, defensive end Brandon Whiting to the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver James Thrash to the Washington Redskins.
In free agency, the Eagles lost linebacker Carlos Emmons, cornerbacks Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, running back Duce Staley, defensive end Marco Coleman and guard Bobbie Williams.
Draft
Staff
Roster Philadelphia Eagles 2004 final roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams Reserve lists
Practice squad
rookies in italics Roster updated 2023-02-01 53 Active, 10 Inactive, 8 Practice Squad
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New England Patriots L 6–24 0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 Baltimore Ravens W 26–17 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 Pittsburgh Steelers L 21–27 1–2 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 4 at New York Jets L 27–28 1–3 Giants Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 New York Giants W 31–17 1–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 2 Minnesota Vikings W 27–16 2–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 26 at Detroit Lions W 30–13 3–0 Ford Field Recap 4 October 3 at Chicago Bears W 19–9 4–0 Soldier Field Recap 5 Bye 6 October 17 Carolina Panthers W 30–8 5–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 7 October 24 at Cleveland Browns W 34–31 6–0 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 8 October 31 Baltimore Ravens W 15–10 7–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 9 November 7 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 3–27 7–1 Heinz Field Recap 10 at Dallas Cowboys W 49–21 8–1 Texas Stadium Recap 11 November 21 Washington Redskins W 28–6 9–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 12 November 28 at New York Giants W 27–6 10–1 Giants Stadium Recap 13 December 5 Green Bay Packers W 47–17 11–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 14 December 12 at Washington Redskins W 17–14 12–1 FedExField Recap 15 December 19 Dallas Cowboys W 12–7 13–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 16 at St. Louis Rams L 7–20 13–2 Edward Jones Dome Recap 17 January 2 Cincinnati Bengals L 10–38 13–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. New York Giants
weather= (Sunny) The highly anticipated Eagles' season began with a convincing rout of the division-rival New York Giants in a game that was not as close as the 31–17 score. New York scored the first points when Ron Dayne finished a first quarter drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Then it was all Eagles for a while. Brian Westbrook's 50-yard run was followed up by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb to his new weapon – Terrell Owens. McNabb acrobatically scrambled and threw for Owens in the end zone on the Eagles' next possession, and it was 14–7 Philadelphia. In the second quarter, the Eagles added a touchdown reception from tight end L.J. Smith and a 45-yard David Akers field goal to take a commanding 24–7 lead. Steve Christie booted a 53-yarder before the half, but in the third quarter, McNabb found Owens surprisingly wide open in the end zone, making it 31–10. Tiki Barber ran for a long touchdown late in the game to make the score more respectable for New York. Rookie Giant quarterback Eli Manning was put in the game for New York's last possession, but he was rocked hard by the Eagles' defense as he was christened into the NFL. McNabb threw for 330 yards and four scores, while Owens did not disappoint in his Philadelphia debut, hauling in three touchdowns. The only negative for the Eagles was the loss of rookie starting offensive guard Shawn Andrews.
Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings
weather= (Clear) A Monday Night Football matchup against the Minnesota Vikings was touted as a potential playoff preview. A war of words between outspoken receivers Terrell Owens and Randy Moss dominated the media coverage during the week prior to the game. A 22-yard reception by Moss helped Minnesota take a 3–0 early lead. Donovan McNabb marched the Eagles down the field on their first possession and finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to L.J. Smith. The Vikings drove the ball and had first and goal from the Eagles' 2-yard line, but the defense made a goal-line stand, holding the Vikings to another field goal. David Akers capped the Eagles' next possession with a 37-yard field goal, making it 10–6 Philadelphia. Later in the quarter, the Vikings again had first and goal from the Eagles 2-yard line, but linebacker Mark Simoneau met Daunte Culpepper at the goal line and stripped him, with Brian Dawkins recovering the fumble. McNabb bootlegged for a 20-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give the Eagles breathing room. Morten Andersen kicked his third field goal to make it 17–9. However, McNabb found Owens deep for a 34-yard touchdown, increasing the Philadelphia lead to 24–9. Moss scored a late-touchdown on a short fade route, but the night belonged to the Eagles. McNabb passed for 245 yards and two scores, while running for another, and the defense allowed only one touchdown to the highly regarded Minnesota offense. The 27–16 win allowed Philadelphia to seize early control of their division and established them as the team to beat in the NFC.
Week 3: at Detroit Lions
With two home wins under their belt, the Eagles played their first away game of the year at Ford Field against the lowly Detroit Lions. The Eagles broke through during the first quarter when Donovan McNabb arced a 48-yard bomb to third receiver Freddie Mitchell setting up a first and goal. McNabb finished the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak. After recovering a Detroit fumble, McNabb hit Terrell Owens in stride for a 29-yard score. The next touchdown was scored by long-snapper/tight end Mike Bartrum on a 1-yard pass, his first touchdown since 2001, making it 21–0 Eagles. Emerging Detroit receiver Roy Williams had two touchdown receptions over the rest of the game, but three second half field goals by David Akers kept the score a lopsided 30–13. McNabb had 356 passing yards, with Owens owning 107 of those yards.
Week 4: at Chicago Bears
Playing in extraordinarily windy conditions at Soldier Field, the Eagles air attack was somewhat hindered in its 19–9 win over the Chicago Bears. David Akers, facing his most challenging conditions of the season, connected on a 51-yard field goal in the first quarter. He made another field goal in the second quarter to double Philadelphia's lead to 6–0. Capitalizing on a turnover, Donovan McNabb hit his favorite target Terrell Owens for an 11-yard touchdown in the second quarter. With another Akers field goal, the Eagles led 16–0. The Bears got on the board with a field goal before the half ended, but Akers' fourth field goal made it 19–3. Akers missed his next two field goals in the increasingly windy conditions, but the Eagles hung on for the 19–9 victory. Brian Westbrook had a career-high 23 rushes for 115 yards and Owens caught his sixth touchdown in just four games. With the victory, the Eagles completed a four-game sweep of their schedule preceding their Week 5 bye.
Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers
weather= (Mostly Cloudy) Undefeated and fresh off of an early season bye, the Eagles sought to take revenge against a wounded Carolina Panthers team that had beaten them in the 2003 NFC Championship Game. A long kick return by J.R. Reed set up a 48-yard field goal by David Akers to begin things for the Eagles. A 53-yard catch and run to Terrell Owens led to a 1-yard plunge by veteran running back Dorsey Levens. Another long completion to Owens set the stage for another field goal, and it was 13–0 Eagles. Akers kicked his third field goal in the third quarter before Lito Sheppard's exciting 64-yard interception return for a touchdown. Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, who was picked off four times by the Eagles defense, threw a late-touchdown to Muhsin Muhammad. However, Brian Westbrook answered right back with a 42-yard scamper to the end zone, his first touchdown of the year, which made it 30–8. Despite failing to catch a touchdown reception for the first time all season, Owens had 123 receiving yards and the Eagles were 5–0.
Week 7: at Cleveland Browns