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.
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.
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 Eagles signed defensive end Jevon Kearse, linebacker Dhani Jones and quarterback Jeff Blake in free agency.
The Eagles also brought back defensive end Hugh Douglas and middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter after they were released by their previous teams.
Feeley to the Miami Dolphins, defensive end Brandon Whiting to the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver James Thrash to the Washington Redskins.
weather= 77 °F (25 °C) (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.
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.
A war of words between outspoken receivers Terrell Owens and Randy Moss dominated the media coverage during the week prior to the game.
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.
weather= 56 °F (13 °C) (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.
The Eagles roared to an early lead when Donovan McNabb completed a 65-yard bomb to Todd Pinkston before a 10-yard strike to veteran tight end Chad Lewis.
In what had become a weekly event, controversial receiver Terrell Owens had a war of words in the days leading up to the game, this time against Ravens superstar linebacker Ray Lewis.
In a possible Super Bowl preview, the 7–0 Eagles travelled across the state to take on the 6–1 Pittsburgh Steelers, who had just knocked off the defending champion New England Patriots.
In a Monday Night Football game that is probably more remembered for a controversial pre-game promotion featuring Terrell Owens and Desperate Housewives actress Nicollette Sheridan, the Eagles avenged their loss to the Steelers by throttling the Dallas Cowboys in Texas Stadium 49–21.
In the fourth quarter, Lito Sheppard intercepted Testaverde in the end zone and went the distance, returning the pick 101 yards for a touchdown as he outran Cowboy receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
Packers' backup quarterback Craig Nall led Green Bay to two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, long after the Eagles had called off the dogs.
On a drive highlighted by receiver Todd Pinkston seemingly breaking off a route to shy away from a hit, the Eagles managed to score a game-tying touchdown with L.J.
Proving again that they could win a close game, the Eagles prevailed under adversity and in improving their record to 13–1, completed a sweep of their NFC East opponents while locking up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Eagles offense, also playing without Brian Westbrook who was a healthy scratch, efficiently marched down the field, with Freddie Mitchell, who was now a starter, receiving a 7-yard touchdown pass from McNabb.
Koy Detmer and Jeff Blake were again mostly unimpressive while Bengals running back Rudi Johnson torched the Eagles' backup defense for three touchdowns to give Cincinnati a 38–3 lead by the middle of the fourth quarter.
Minnesota had backed into the playoffs with an 8–8 record and losses in four of their final five regular season games, but they had upset the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round.
On the Eagles' second possession, Brian Westbrook, who had missed the 2003–2004 playoffs with an injury, gained 48 total yards, setting up Donovan McNabb's two-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Mitchell.
The Vikings got the ball to the Eagles' 4-yard line, but a botched fake field goal attempt left them with nothing to show for the drive and put a dent in their hopes.
Interceptions by Ike Reese and Jeremiah Trotter in the third quarter kept Minnesota at bay, while Freddie Mitchell's luck was reversed when he fumbled a near-touchdown out of the end zone, resulting in a touchback.
Atlanta took the ball back and began a long drive, which featured many Warrick Dunn and T. J. Duckett rushes, that took them to first and goal from the Eagles' two-yard line.
The Eagles moved towards the end zone again, the big blow coming when Greg Lewis came back and hauled in a 45-yard pass from Donovan McNabb, setting up first and goal from the Falcons' four-yard line.
After a New England punt, the Eagles had good field position, but L. J. Smith was hit and fumbled after a completion, giving the ball back to the Patriots.
New England's offense continued to struggle and the Eagles took back over, with McNabb finding maligned wide receiver Todd Pinkston for a 17-yard completion then a spectacular leaping 40-yard catch.
The Eagles had done better than most expected and were in the game until the end, but they had made too many first half mistakes, when the Patriots were playing poorly, and left too many opportunities to score points on the field.