1988 season · Classic · Week 9

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Classic NFL game · Week 9

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles

Sunday Oct 30, 1988 · Veterans Stadium, kickoff 1:00pm

Pregame

Pregame: Week 9 Classic
AI summary based on verified facts

Around-league classic at Veterans Stadium on Sun October 30, 1988. The Atlanta Falcons (3-5) travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) in the NFC interconference matchup.

Buddy Ryan year four as head coach. Randall Cunningham at quarterback. Anthony Toney and Keith Byars at running back. Keith Jackson at tight end. The Falcons start Chris Miller. Gerald Riggs at running back. Floyd Dixon at receiver. Marion Campbell in year third as head coach.

Both teams sit in mid-tier NFC contention.[1]

Columnist
AI summary based on verified facts

Buddy Ryan's Eagles and Marion Campbell's Falcons meet at the Vet. Randall Cunningham has thrown for 2,049 yards across eight starts. Keith Jackson, the rookie tight end, has 25 catches for 256. Anthony Toney has 78 carries for 304. Chris Miller has 1,278 yards across eight starts. Gerald Riggs has 95 carries for 367. The Sunday matchup is the kind of mid-tier NFC matchup the schedule produces in October.

Around the league
AI summary based on verified facts

Week 9 has the conference's contenders all in mid-October. The Bears 8-0 lead. The 49ers 5-3, the Rams 5-3, the Vikings 6-2, the Cardinals 5-3. The Eagles 4-4, the Falcons 3-5. The Sunday matchup at Veterans Stadium is one of the conference's quieter Sunday games on the slate.

Trend analyst
AI summary based on verified facts

Through eight games the Eagles sit at 4-4 with a plus 13 differential. The Falcons are 3-5 with a minus 25. Randall Cunningham 2,049 yards across eight starts, 13 TDs, 11 INTs. Keith Jackson 25 catches for 256. Anthony Toney 78 carries for 304. Chris Miller 1,278 yards across eight. Gerald Riggs 95 carries for 367. Floyd Dixon 19 catches for 256.

League standings entering Week 9

Standings as of kickoff, Week 9 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Tied atop the league at 7-1: Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears.

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Cincinnati Bengals7-1W1
Cleveland Browns5-3W2
Houston Oilers5-3L1
Pittsburgh Steelers2-6W1

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Buffalo Bills7-1W3
New York Jets4-3-1W1
Miami Dolphins4-4L1
Indianapolis Colts3-5W2
New England Patriots3-5L1

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Denver Broncos4-4L1
Seattle Seahawks4-4L2
Los Angeles Raiders3-5L1
San Diego Chargers2-6L4
Kansas City Chiefs1-6-1L3

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
New Orleans Saints7-1W7
Los Angeles Rams6-2W1
San Francisco 49ers5-3L1
Atlanta Falcons1-7L5

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Chicago Bears7-1W5
Minnesota Vikings5-3W1
Detroit Lions2-6W1
Green Bay Packers2-6L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-6L3

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
New York Giants5-3W2
Washington Redskins5-3W3
Philadelphia Eagles4-4W1
Phoenix Cardinals4-4L2
Dallas Cowboys2-6L4

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles 1988 2nd Half Week 9 · channel: Survivor504

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🔎 Search YouTube for this game🏈 Around the league this week
More of this game (1):
Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles 1988 2nd Half Week 9Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles 1988 2nd Half Week 9

Score

Reveal through:

Atlanta Falcons 0, Philadelphia Eagles 3Atlanta Falcons 7, Philadelphia Eagles 10Atlanta Falcons 20, Philadelphia Eagles 10Atlanta Falcons 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24Atlanta Falcons 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24[1]

1234T
Atlanta Falcons0713707202727
Philadelphia Eagles37014310102424

Scoring plays

Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.

Q1

TeamPlayScore
EaglesLuis Zendejas 28 yard field goal0-3

Q2

TeamPlayScore
FalconsMichael Haynes 19 yard pass from Chris Miller ( Greg Davis kick)7-3
EaglesKeith Byars 1 yard rush ( Luis Zendejas kick)7-10

Q3

TeamPlayScore
FalconsFloyd Dixon 17 yard pass from Chris Miller13-10
FalconsMike Gann 36 yard defensive fumble return ( Greg Davis kick)20-10

Q4

TeamPlayScore
EaglesCris Carter 4 yard pass from Randall Cunningham ( Luis Zendejas kick)20-17
EaglesCris Carter 50 yard pass from Randall Cunningham ( Luis Zendejas kick)20-24
FalconsMichael Haynes 49 yard pass from Chris Miller ( Greg Davis kick)27-24

Recap

Recap
AI summary based on verified facts

Randall Cunningham threw two touchdowns and ran for 35 yards, and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Atlanta Falcons 24-23 at Veterans Stadium. Cunningham finished 22 of 38 for 257 yards with one touchdown to Keith Byars and one to Anthony Toney. Chris Miller threw three touchdowns for the Falcons. The Eagles improved to 5-4.[1]

Columnist recap
AI summary based on verified facts

Randall Cunningham's 22-of-38 performance and the two-touchdown passing afternoon produced the Philadelphia Eagles' 24-23 home win over the Atlanta Falcons. Cunningham added a 1-yard rushing touchdown plus 35 yards on the ground. The Eagles' offense produced three touchdowns to the Falcons' three.

Cunningham finished 22 of 38 for 257 yards with two touchdowns (Anthony Toney 7-yard reception, Keith Byars 4-yard reception). Anthony Toney ran 14 for 67. Keith Jackson caught five for 64. Mike Quick three for 71. Cris Carter two for 30.

Chris Miller finished 18 of 31 for 240 yards with three touchdowns (Floyd Dixon 22, Stacey Bailey 18, Stacey Bailey 4) and two interceptions. Gerald Riggs ran 11 for 26. The Falcons' offense produced three touchdown drives but no fourth-quarter scoring; the Eagles' Roger Ruzek 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was the eventual margin.

By the numbers
AI summary based on verified facts

Eagles 24, Falcons 23. Margin: plus 1. Around-league classic.

  • Cunningham (PHI): 22 of 38, 257, 2 TDs (Anthony Toney 7, Keith Byars 4), 1 INT; 5 carries for 35, 1 rushing TD (1y).
  • Anthony Toney (PHI): 14 carries for 67, plus 1 catch for 7, 1 TD.
  • Keith Byars (PHI): 8 carries for 28, plus 1 catch for 4, 1 TD.
  • Keith Jackson (PHI): 5 catches for 64.
  • Mike Quick (PHI): 3 catches for 71.
  • Ruzek (PHI): 1 FG (41).
  • Chris Miller (ATL): 18 of 31, 240, 3 TDs (Floyd Dixon 22, Stacey Bailey 18, Stacey Bailey 4), 2 INTs.
  • Gerald Riggs (ATL): 11 carries for 26.
  • Floyd Dixon (ATL): 5 catches for 71, 1 TD.
  • Stacey Bailey (ATL): 4 catches for 38, 2 TDs.
  • Eagles 5-4; Falcons 3-6.
Film room
AI summary based on verified facts

A 24-23 around-league home win for the Philadelphia Eagles over the Atlanta Falcons at Veterans Stadium.

How it unfolded

Floyd Dixon caught a 22-yard touchdown to give Atlanta an early 0-7 lead. Roger Ruzek's 22-yarder cut it to 3-7. Anthony Toney caught a 7-yard touchdown to make it 10-7. Stacey Bailey caught an 18-yarder for 10-14. Cunningham's 1-yard rushing touchdown made it 17-14. Stacey Bailey caught a 4-yarder for 17-21. Keith Byars caught a 4-yarder for 24-21. Greg Davis kicked a 41-yarder for the final 24-23.

The turning point

The Cunningham 1-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter. With the Falcons holding a 10-14 lead, Cunningham's scrambling touchdown rush tied the game at 14-14 and gave the Eagles the lead Atlanta could not match.

By the numbers

Cunningham 22 of 38 for 257 with two touchdowns. Miller 18 of 31 for 240 with three touchdowns. The Eagles' offense produced 367 total yards. The Falcons' 23-point output was their second-highest of the year.

What it means

5-4. The Eagles stay in NFC East contention; the Falcons fall to 3-6 and out of conference contention. The Sunday-afternoon classic is one of the year's stranger end-of-game finishes.

Box score

SFOpp
Team totals
First Downs1125
Total Yards294424
Turnovers13
Passing
Comp/Att10/2321/49
Pass yards235289
Pass TD32
Interceptions02
Sacks taken43
Sack yards lost3320
Net pass yards202269
Rushing
Rushes2731
Rush yards92155
Rush TD01
Discipline
Fumbles24
Fumbles lost11
Penalties73
Penalty yards5730

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
ATL
Chris Miller10/2323530
PHI
Randall Cunningham21/4828922
John Teltschik0/1000

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
ATL
John Settle155108
Gene Lang1032012
Chris Miller2905
PHI
Anthony Toney1778012
Randall Cunningham654019
Keith Byars82317

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
ATL
Floyd Dixon376130
Michael Haynes268249
Gary Wilkins247022
Gene Lang228021
John Settle116016
PHI
Cris Carter485250
Ron Johnson484038
Keith Jackson356041
Keith Byars534012
Anthony Toney31609
Gregg Garrity214012

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1988 Classic - Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles - Game Thread