Eric Allen(21) begins his run to immorality with his 94-yard game-winning interception return against the Jets.
Many of the most remembered plays in NFL history occur in the postseason like “The Immaculate Reception” or “The Catch” because of the stakes are higher as one team moves on toward the Super Bowl while another team’s season and dreams come to an end.
Rarely due great plays in the regular season get special recognition in the annals of NFL football unless a player makes such a spectacular play it has to be remembered.
The Eagles were riding high off to a 3-0 start under third-year head coach Rich Kotite, who did something his more famous predecessor Buddy Ryan couldn’t do, win a playoff game the year before.
The Eagles’ quarterback was the dynamic Randall Cunningham, who had recovered from a torn ACL injury he occurred in the opening game of the 1991 season.
But the Eagles’ strength was their “Gang Green” defense which had been among the league’s best for the last several years.
However, the defense suffered a huge blow during the offseason when defensive end Reggie White left the team in the first season of free agency and signed with the Green Bay Packers.
Allen, a 3-time Pro Bowler, would have to take up a bigger role in the leadership of the Eagles’ defense with the departure of White.
While the Eagles lost their defensive leader the offseason, the Jets appeared to make some major upgrades for the 1993 season.
New York signed nine-time Pro Bowl safety Ronnie Lott and then traded a 3rd round draft pick to acquire Boomer Esiason from the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Jets also traded for running back Johnny Johnson from the Arizona Cardinals and used their first round pick to select linebacker Marvin Jones.
With the new additions to the roster, the pressure was on head coach Bruce Coslet, who was entering his fourth season in New York, to guide the Jets to a playoff run.
New York, who entered the game with a 2-1 record, had a chance to make a major statement as they hosted the undefeated Eagles in a game that was big enough to have Pat Summerall and John Madden call the game for CBS.
The Jets got the ball to start the game and drove 78 yards in 11 plays, culminating with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Esiason to James Thornton that put New York up 7-0.
It got better for the Jets when cornerback James Hasty stripped the ball from Eagles wide receiver Fred Barnett and returned it 30 yards to the Eagles’ 14-yard-line, leading to Esiason’s 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Johnny Mitchell to give the Jets 2 touchdowns in in a span of 2 minutes and 14 seconds, and a 14-0 lead.
It was a forgettable first quarter for the Eagles as they ran only five plays and had no 1st downs.
They finally got their first 1st down of the game early in the 2nd quarter but on the very next play, Cunningham was picked off by Lott at the Eagles’ 34-yard-line.
Four plays later, the Jets were in the end zone again as Esiason connected with Mitchell for a 12-yard touchdown to increase the New York lead to 21-0.
Randall Cunningham is carried off the field after breaking his left leg.
After an exchange of punts, the Eagles’ offense finally got going as they went no-huddle and drove 78 yards in 8 plays, ending with a 8-yard touchdown run by Herschel Walker that cut the deficit to 21-7.
However during the drive, the Eagles lost Barnett for the rest of the season to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
But it would get worse for the Eagles on their next possession when Cunningham, scrambling out of the pocket, was sandwiched by Jets defensive tackles Marvin Washington and Scott Mersereau, breaking the fibula in his left leg when he planted his foot to try and throw a pass.
Without their star quarterback, the Eagles had to turn to Bubby Brister, who had been signed as a free agent during the offseason after playing seven years in Pittsburgh.
Brister came in with the Eagles at their own 40-yard-line and 3:02 let before halftime with his team down 21-7.
All Bristed did was guide the Eagles to the Jets’ 10-yard-line in five plays and then when fire a pass that was almost intercepted by linebacker Bobby Houston only to be caught by Bavaro at the 5, who then barrelled over cornerback Earl Thomas to get in the end zone for the 10-yard touchdown that brought the Eagles back to within seven points, 21-14 as the first half came to a close.
Even with Cunningham and Barnett out, the Eagles had to feel good about their chances since they had scored the last 14 points, had held the Jets offense in check after their 21-point barrage in the game’s first 18 minutes, and were getting the ball to start the second half.
But that momentum did not carry over as the Eagles went 3-and-out on their first drive of the half and gave the ball back to the Jets who took over at their own 35-yard-line, where it took them only one play to get back into the end zone when Esiason connected with Mitchell for their third touchdown of the game, a 65-yarder that pushed New York’s lead back into double digits at 28-14 just 1:44 into the third quarter.
The Eagles punted again on their next possession, but got a break from their defense when linebacker Tim Harris knocked the ball out of the arms of Johnson, leading to a fumble that was recovered by fellow Eagles linebacker William Thomas at the Jets’ 17-yard-line.
Three plays later, Brister found Calvin Williams for a 11-yard touchdown and the Eagles were back to within a touchdown at 28-21 with 9:52 to play in the third quarter.
After forcing a Jets punt, Brister lead the Eagles on a 13-play, 87-yard drive that included two key third down conversions; a 23-yard run by Brister and a 16-yard pass to Bavaro.
The drive ended 1:19 into the fourth quarter when Vaughn Hebron ran it in from one yard out to tie the game at 28.
But on the very next play from scrimmage, Esiason found Chris Burkett for a 60-yard gain putting the Jets at the Eagles’ 20-yard-line and in prime position to retake the lead.
However on 1st-and goal from the 10-yard-line, Esiason overthrew Burkett and was intercepted by safety Rich Miano at the four-yard-line, giving the ball back to Philadelphia.
Two plays later, the Jets pass rush got to Brister and forced to him back into his end zone, where he made a throw that lead the referees to call intentional grounding, which since it was in the end zone was a safety, giving the Jets two points and the lead back at 30-28, plus a free kick by the Eagles giving the ball back to the Jets.
Boomer Esiason threw four touchdown passes but his two 4th quarter interceptions proved costly for the Jets.
Adrian Murrell’s return of the free kick to the 50-yard-line and roughing the passer penalty on defensive tackle Keith Millard had the Jets at the Eagles’ 20-yard-line facing 2nd-and-9.
That is when Allen struck for his electrifying return.
Esiason faked a handoff and threw a pass toward the right sideline intended for Burkett.
But the pass was overthrown and intercepted by Allen at the six-yard-line, who looked to get out of bounds because he was pinned, but instead made a move toward to his left to miss Burkett, then to dodge Terrance Mathis’ attempt made a 180-degree spin at the 10-yard-line.
Allen found a hole up the middle of the field and ran through it for several yards, dodging
Esiason’s arm tackle at the 25-yard-line, to continue running toward the left sideline where he had some more room.
As Allen ran into Jets territory, fellow defensive back Ben Smith asked for Allen to pitch him the ball so he could run into the end zone but Allen refused.
Instead, Smith give his teammate a block on Mitchell at the New York 25, the Jets’ last attempt at a tackle, allowing for Allen to complete his astonishing 94-yard touchdown return.
As he made his way through the end zone, Allen found Cunningham in the tunnel and immediately gave him the ball as the Eagles celebrated their first lead of the game at 35-30.
Despite the unbelievable turn of events, there was still 8:43 to play and a chance for the Jets to save themselves.
However, they could not get past their own 25-yard-line on their next two possessions and were forced to punt, but the Eagles offense stalled and could not get enough 1st downs to run out the clock, forcing them to punt the ball back to the Jets who took over at their own 20-yard-line with 2:54 left.
It seemed that the Jets would not get past the 25-yard-line again as three incomplete passes forced a 4th-and-10.
That is when Esiason went deep and found Mitchell again for the 1st down who appeared to be on his way to the end zone only to be tackled by safety Wes Hopkins at the Eagles’ 43-yard-line after a 37-yard gain.
Six plays later, the Jets were faced with another 4th down, this time at the Eagle’ 28-yard-line and needing seven yards.
Esiason looked for anyone to throw to, but could not find a receiver and was forced to scramble.
Esiason was poised to get the 1st down until he was tackled by linebacker Byron Evans at the 23-yard-line, two yards short of the 1st down and giving the ball to the Eagles who ran out the remaining 69 seconds on the clock to come away with a 35-30 win.
While the Eagles would go to win the battle, they would lose the war as Cunningham and Barnett were lost for the season, leading Philadelphia toward a downward spiral as they lost their next six games to finish the season with a 8-8 record and out of the playoffs.
As for the Jets, they lost their next two games before going on a five-game winning streak and were poised for a playoff berth as they stood at 8-5 with three games to go in the season, only to lose those three games to finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs, which led to the firing of Coslet.
Allen remained with the Eagles through the 1994 season when he left and signed with the New Orleans Saints where he played from 1995-1997, before going to the Oakland Raiders and playing from 1998-2001 until his retirement after 14 seasons.
He finished his career with 54 interceptions, which is currently tied for 21st in NFL history. with his most memorable pick being the one against the Jets.
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