After a drought of ten seasons the Eagles return to their championship ways they had in the 1940′s by defeating the Green Bay Packers 17-13 in the NFL Championship game in 1960. After their championship win the Eagles went on their worst stretch in franchise history only having two winning seasons in the eighteen seasons. Coach Dick Vermeil once again brought winning back to the Eagles and his third season as coach the Eagles reached the playoffs but lost to the Atlanta Falcons 14-13 in the first round. The Eagles would make the playoffs from 1978-1981. In The Eagles made it to Super Bowl XV but eventually lost to the Oakland Raiders 27-10. There 1980 season ended with a 12-4 record, their best regular season ever up to that point.

From 1988 to 2006 the Eagles made the playoffs twelve times with six division titles and a Super Bowl XXXIV appearance and became one of the more consistent teams in the NFC. Also, from 2001 to 2004 the Eagles played in four NFC Championship games.

The Eagles have had their share of Hall of fame players and coaches who made their franchise successful which include defensive end Reggie White, wide receiver Tommy McDonald, Head Coach Earle “Greasy” Neale, and current quarterback Donovan McNabb. McNabb has been one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL for the last decade with over 25,000 passing yards, a five time Pro Bowl selection, and second in the Most Valuable Player award in 2000.

The Eagles play in most would consider the toughest division in football, the NFC East with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins. In winning that division would surely make the Philadelphia Eagles a favorite to win the NFC and maybe even the Super Bowl.

The Rams would return to more successful season in the early 1970′s with what was called the “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line which included Deacon Jones, Merlin Olson, Lamar Lundy, and Rosey Grier. The Fearsome Foursome were all inducted into the Football Hall of Fame being among the greatest defensive lines in football history. The Rams would win five more Western Division titles from 1973-1977 and would appear in Super Bowl XIV in 1979 losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty 31-19.

The Rams would call St. Louis home in 1995 after being in L.A. for nearly 50 years. It wasn’t long before St. Louis would win their own NFL Championship. In 1999, the Rams essentially came from no where with unknown quarterback leading the way and becoming the leagues Most Valuable Player and all-time great running back Marshall Faulk. The Rams beat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV 23-16. Warner had one of the best seasons for a NFL quarterback in history throwing over 4,000 yards and 41 touchdown passes. The Rams were called the “Greatest show on turf” being they had a hogh powered offense which included wide receiver Isaac Bruce and wide receiver Torry Holt. The Rams would repeat as NFC Champions two seasons meeting the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI. The Rams were heavily favored with all their offensive weapons but lost 20-17 in one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets ever.

Since their last Super Bowl appearance, the Rams have only made the playoffs twice with only one playoff win coming in 2004. The St. Louis Rams are in the rebuilding mode being they are at the bottom of league in many major offensive categories, it is a far cry from the “Greatest show on turf” earlier in the decade. The St. Rams play in the NFC South which included the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints who all have had changes within the last few seasons. Being its one of the weakest divisions in football the Ram have a the opportunity in the future to improve on their dismal present.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are one of the oldest franchises in the NFL being established in 1934 when George A. Richards bought the Ohio Spartans and moved them to Detroit. Before they became the Lions the Spartans played a very important game with the Chicago Bears in an indoor stadium, both teams were tied at the end of the regular season, thus, creating the NFL Championship game. The Lions quickly won the NFL Championship in 1935 defeating the New York Giants 26-7, which proved that Detroit football was to be taken seriously. One of the main players for Detroit in those days was Dutch Clark who was the NFL last drop kicker, six time Pro Bowl selection, named to the 1930′s All-Decade team, and inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. It is also a tradition for the Lions to play a football game on Thanksgiving Day which started in 1934 and they continue to play on turkey day to this very day.In the 1950′s the Lions had their most successful years winning four division titles and three league championships in 1952 defeating the Cleveland Browns 17-1, 1953 defeating the Cleveland Browns once again 17-16, and 1957 defeating Cleveland Brows a third time 59-14. Key players on those championship teams were quarterback Bobby Layne, safety Jack Christiansen, and running back Doak Walker. Bobby Layne was a five time Pro Bowl selection and named to the 1950′s All Decade team and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame as well.

Since winning their last championship in 1957, the Detroit Lions have had very little to be proud of with only a couple positives of on-field success. Twenty-six seasons after winning the title the Lions could only manage three wild card playoff appearances. In 1983 the Lions finally won the division again, the NFC Central now known as the NFC North since 2002.

Excitement came back to the Lions and their fans when a running back named Barry Sanders was drafted third overall in 1989. Sanders immediately became a star in the NFL and one of the most productive running backs of all-time. Sanders while small in stature made a career out of evading tackles with quick moves. Sanders would lead the Lions to two division titles in 1991 but losing to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game and 1993 losing to the Green Bay Packers 28-24. Sanders holds multiple NFL rushing records which include rushing for over 1,500 yards five times, rushing for over a 100 yards in fourteen straight games , and fifteen career touchdowns of over fifty yards. Sanders was a ten time Pro Bowl selection, the 1997 Co- Most Valuable Player with Brett Favre, and ended his career with 15,269 running yards which ranks him third all-time. Sanders retired in 1999 at the age of thirty and was inducted in the Pro Football hall of fame in 2004.

Since Barry Sanders retirement, the Detroit Lions have been one of the worst teams in the NFL and in the top five with the most losses since 2001. The Lions play in a tough NFC North Division with the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and the Green Bay Packers. The Lions over the last decade have had a losing tradition and significant changes need to made to change the loser mentality.

As the decades passed, the Giants still remained NFL title contenders in the 1950′s and 1960′s with Allie Sherman as head coach. Adding another championship to the Giants credit in 1956 and six more Eastern Division titles from 1956-1963. As it does in teams sports, a drought hit the Giants from 1964-1985 where the Giants had very little success compared to their previous history.

It wasn’t until coach Bill Parcells took over and the Giants were winners again. Not only did Parcells help in the Giants win but all-time great linebacker Lawrence Taylor and quarterback Phil Simms played huge roles in their success. Parcells won Super Bowl XXI & XXV. Lawrence Taylor was one of the most feared players in NFL history who played his entire career with the New York Giants. Taylor was a ten time Pro Bowl selection and named to the NFL All Decades team of the 1980′s. Taylor was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and has his number fifty-six retired by the Giants. Taylor had a major impact on the game and is considered the bench mark for all lineman.

The Giants would once again reach two more Super Bowls this decade with the first being a very unsuccessful one losing to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV 34-7. The second trip in Super Bowl XLII was very different as the Giants defeated the heavily favored New England Patriots 17-14 in the most watched game in Super Bowl history with an estimated audience of nearly 100 million. It was one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history with the Patriots on the verge of perfection with a unblemished 18-0 record. he Patriots set the all-time scoring record in a season with 589 points. Quarterback Eli Manning for the Giants won his own Super Bowl just a season after his brother Peyton Manning, the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, won his.

The New York Giants play in the NFC East which include the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Philadelphia Eagles. The NFC East in considered by most the toughest division in the NFL. The Giants are one of the favorites to win the division but repeating as Super Bowl Championships is no easy task. Their Super Bowl XLII victory was not foreseen by many so repeating as champions is not expected also by many.

In 1950 the Washington Redskins took the next step by broadcasting their games making them the first NFL team to do so for the entire season. Another string of success occurred when George Allen took over the team. Allen lead the Redskins to 69 wins, five playoff appearances, and the 1972 NFC Championship in seven seasons.

Joe Gibbs, who is one of the all-time greatest coaches, became the coach of the Redskins in 1981 and won Super Bowls XVII 27-17 over the Miami Dolphins, XXII 42-10 over Denver Broncos, and XXVI 37-24 over the Buffalo Bills. Joe Gibbs had a coaching record of 140-65-0 with eight playoff births before his second stint as the Redskins coach in 2004, which was an unsuccessful one. Joe Gibbs also did something no NFL coach has ever done and that is win three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks who are Joe Theismann, Doug Williams, and Mark Rypien. The quarterback is the most important position on a football team and to win three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks is truly remarkable. Doug Williams became the first and only African-American quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP. That shows how a great coach like Joe Gibbs can utilize his players and maximize their talents to an overall successful team.

The Washington Redskins have sixteen Hall of Fame players which include “Slinging” Sammy Baugh, Art Monk, John Riggins, Joe Gibbs, and George Allen. The Redskins are in one of the toughest divisions in football the NFC East with Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants, who all have Super Bowl aspirations. It will be a uphill climb for the Redskins contending with those very good teams for the next few seasons. This decade has produced little success compared to previous years. As of now, it is uncertain when the Washington Redskins will return to their winning ways.