The 2012 season was the Philadelphia Eagles' 80th in the National Football League (NFL), their 14th and final season under head coach Andy Reid, and their 10th playing home games at Lincoln Financial Field. Despite starting the season 3–1, the team would massively struggle. The team failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 2011, and went 1–11 in their final 12 games en route to a 4–12 record, their worst record since 1998 when they won only three games and also finished with a losing record for the first time since 2005. Additionally, their four wins were not only by less than three points each, but all four of them had their deciding scores being acquired after the two-minute warnings. On December 31, 2012, Reid was fired after 14 seasons as the Eagles' head coach. Also, for the fourth consecutive season, the team the Eagles played in their home opener went on to win the Super Bowl.
The Eagles acquired the 12th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, with which they selected defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the 15th overall selection, along with a pick in each of the fourth and sixth rounds.
Personnel changes On January 8, cornerbacks coach Johnnie Lynn was fired. On January 11, Ryan Grigson, the Eagles' director of player personnel for the past two seasons, was hired as the new general manager of the Indianapolis Colts. On January 30, Todd Bowles, who served as the Miami Dolphins' interim head coach for the final three games of the season, was hired as the Eagles' new defensive backs coach.
Despite speculation to the contrary, defensive coordinator Juan Castillo retained his job. Castillo was blamed by some fans for a series of fourth-quarter collapses early in the season, but the defense appeared to improve toward the end of the season.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was reportedly a candidate for several head coaching vacancies in this league, but those opportunities passed without him.
On October 16, 2012, Castillo was fired and replaced by Todd Bowles.
On December 3, 2012, defensive line coach Jim Washburn was fired. He was then replaced by Tommy Brasher.
Roster changes
Free agents
Position Player 2012 Team Notes DE Victor Abiamiri UFA RB Ronnie Brown UFA San Diego Chargers DT Antonio Dixon RFA Indianapolis Colts re-signed on March 14, but waived on August 31. re-signed to a two-year deal on December 26. T King Dunlap UFA Philadelphia Eagles WR DeSean Jackson UFA Philadelphia Eagles assigned franchise tag on March 5,Nfl.comsigned contract extension on March 14 DT Derek Landri UFA Philadelphia Eagles DT Trevor Laws UFA St. Louis Rams G Evan Mathis UFA Philadelphia Eagles signed to a 5-year deal on March 17 DE Juqua Parker UFA Cleveland Browns FB Owen Schmitt UFA Oakland Raiders WR Steve Smith UFA St. Louis Rams QB Vince Young UFA Buffalo Bills Player re-signed by the Eagles
Trades On March 14, the Eagles traded Offensive tackle Winston Justice and a 2012 sixth-round draft selection to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the Colts' sixth-round selection. On March 20, the Eagles traded its 2012 third- and fourth-round draft selections to the Houston Texans in exchange for linebacker DeMeco Ryans and the Texans' third-round selection. On April 25, the Eagles traded cornerback Asante Samuel to the Atlanta Falcons for Atlanta's 2012 seventh round draft choice (229 overall, used to select Bryce Brown). On July 22, the Eagles traded cornerback D.J. Johnson to the Indianapolis Colts for former Penn State star defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu. On August 2, the Eagles once again traded with the Indianapolis Colts. This time, they traded linebacker Moise Fokou and linebacker Greg Lloyd, Jr. to the Colts for cornerback Kevin Thomas and a conditional seventh round pick in the 2013 NFL draft.
2012 draft class
Round Selection Player Position College Signed Notes 1 12 Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi State 2 46 Mychal Kendricks LB California 59 Vinny Curry DE Marshall 3 88 Nick Foles QB Arizona 4 123 Brandon Boykin CB Georgia 5 153 Dennis Kelly OT Purdue 6 194 Marvin McNutt WR Iowa 200 Brandon Washington OG Miami 7 229 Bryce Brown RB Kansas State
Draft notes
Staff
Final roster
Schedule The Eagles began their season on a well-fitted 3–1 start by pulling off three close wins over the Browns, Ravens and Giants in September. However, from October and forward on, the Eagles hit a collapse as they lost 8 in a row and 11 of their final 12 games. During the 8-game losing streak, they allowed the Cowboys, Redskins, Steelers, Panthers and Saints to turn their seasons around with a win. The Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Cowboys in Week 13. They also finished 2–6 at home, their worst home record since going winless at home in 1972, after they lost their last six home games to finish the season (though they would lose the first four home games in 2013 to extend the streak to 10 games). The Eagles fired Andy Reid on December 31, 2012, the day after a 42–7 loss to the Giants after 14 years with the team. The 4–12 record was the Eagles' worst since the collapse of the Ray Rhodes era, and the 12 losses were the most of any season in Andy Reid's career.
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–23 1–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 2 at New England Patriots W 27–17 2–0 Gillette Stadium Recap 3 at Cleveland Browns W 27–10 3–0 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 4 New York Jets W 28–10 4–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 at Cleveland Browns W 17–16 1–0 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 2 September 16 Baltimore Ravens W 24–23 2–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 23 at Arizona Cardinals L 6–27 2–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 4 September 30 New York Giants W 19–17 3–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 5 October 7 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–16 3–2 Heinz Field Recap 6 October 14 Detroit Lions L 23–26 3–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 7Bye 8 October 28 Atlanta Falcons L 17–30 3–4 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 9 at New Orleans Saints L 13–28 3–5 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 10 November 11 Dallas Cowboys L 23–38 3–6 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 11 November 18 at Washington Redskins L 6–31 3–7 FedExField Recap 12 Carolina Panthers L 22–30 3–8 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 13 December 2 at Dallas Cowboys L 33–38 3–9 Cowboys Stadium Recap 14 December 9 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–21 4–9 Raymond James Stadium Recap 15 Cincinnati Bengals L 13–34 4–10 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 16 December 23 Washington Redskins L 20–27 4–11 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 17 December 30 at New York Giants L 7–42 4–12 MetLife Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Cleveland Browns
The Philadelphia Eagles opened up the season by traveling to Cleveland to square off against the Browns. A 43-yard field goal by veteran Browns kicker Phil Dawson gave Cleveland a 3–0 lead some six minutes into the first quarter. The Eagles would respond with a field goal of their own, though, as Alex Henery sent the ball through the uprights from 42 yards out just seconds into the second period. With the score tied at 3–3 and just seventeen seconds before the half, an 18-yard pass from Eagles' quarterback Michael Vick to wideout Jeremy Maclin extended the Eagles lead by seven. At the half, the score was 10–3, the Eagles leading the Browns by a seven-point margin. Browns kicker Phil Dawson successfully converted another field goal from 42 yards away with just under five minutes left in the third quarter, trimming the score to 10–6. Shortly afterwards, Dawson made the score 10–9 with a 22-yard field goal, his third of the day, and narrowing the Eagles' lead to one point with about fourteen minutes left in the game. The underdog Browns continued the scoring streak, taking the lead on an errant Michael Vick throw and 27-yard interception return touchdown by D'Qwell Jackson approximately thirty seconds later. With the score at 16–10 and an upset in the works, Michael Vick calmly drove the Eagles down the field and threw a strike to Clay Harbor from 4 yards out to return the lead to Philadelphia, 17–16. The Browns were unable to reciprocate and the Philadelphia Eagles narrowly claimed the week one victory. With the nail-biting win, the Eagles began their season 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Eagles returned home to square off against the favored Baltimore Ravens in a Battle of the Birds. Eagles' running back LeSean McCoy opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run some ten minutes into the first quarter for a 7–0 lead. However, the Ravens were able to tie the game up at 7–7 with Vonta Leach running for a 5-yard touchdown. They would take the lead in the 2nd quarter as Joe Flacco found Jacoby Jones on a 21-yard touchdown pass to take a 14–7 lead followed by a 56-yard field goal by Justin Tucker for a 17–7 lead just before halftime. The 3rd quarter was all Eagles as they managed to catch up with Michael Vick's 23-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin to make the score 17–14 and then tied the game with Alex Henery's 23-yard field goal at 17–17. However, the Ravens moved back into the lead in the 4th quarter as Tucker was able to score 2 long field goals from 51 and 48 yards out to make the score 20–17 and 23–17 respectively. The Eagles came out and surprisingly won the game with Vick's 1-yard QB rushing touchdown as the Eagles managed to win the game 24–23.
With the win, the Eagles improved to 2–0 and became the first team in NFL history to start a season 2–0 after winning their first 2 games by only a point.
Week 3: at Arizona Cardinals
After a 2–0 start, the Eagles traveled to take on the Cardinals. The Cards struck first in the first quarter with Jay Feely's 47-yard field goal for a 3–0 lead followed by Kevin Kolb finding Michael Floyd on an 8-yard touchdown pass for a 10–0 lead. The Cards would increase their lead in the 2nd quarter with Kolb finding Larry Fitzgerald on a 37-yard pass and then James Sanders recovering a fumble and returning it 98 yards for a touchdown for leads of 17–0 and then a 24–0 halftime lead. The Eagles managed to get on the board in the 3rd quarter with Alex Henery's 2 field goals from 36 and 40 yards out to decrease the lead to 24–3 and then 24–6. In the 4th quarter the Cardinals ended up getting their only points of the 2nd half with Feely's 27-yard field goal to end the game with a final score of 27–6.
With the loss, the Eagles fell to 2–1.
Week 4: vs. New York Giants
After a tough road loss to the Cardinals, the Eagles went back home for division rival game 1 against the Giants. After a scoreless first quarter the Eagles drew first blood with Michael Vick finding Desean Jackson on a 19-yard touchdown pass for a 7–0 lead before the Giants scored off of a Lawrence Tynes 25-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7–3 at halftime. After this the Eagles went right back to work in the 3rd quarter with Alex Henery nailing a 20-yard field goal to help his team take a 7-point lead again at 10–3. However, the Giants managed to tie the game up as Eli Manning found Victor Cruz on a 14-yard touchdown pass to make the score 10–10. The Eagles moved back into the lead with Henery's 48-yard field goal for a 13–10 lead. They would score another field goal in the 4th quarter for a 16–10 lead. However, the Giants were able to take the lead Manning finding Bear Pascoe on a 6-yard touchdown pass for a 17–16 score. But the Eagles moved down the field and were able to score with Henery's 26-yard field goal for a final score of 19–17.
With the win, the Eagles improved to 3–1. The team also made it to 1–0 in games where Vick does not turn the ball over. The Eagles had gone 8–1 in their last 9 games against the Giants by this time. The win against the Giants stood as their last home win until Week 11 of the 2013 season.
Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers