Down 13-3 on the road. Less than three minutes to play. Sound like an insurmountable lead?
Not for a certain former Oregon quarterback.
While Joey Harrington was still basking in his Fiesta Bowl glory and preparing to impress NFL scouts, the athlete he once beat out for a starting job was proving his worth in the league Harrington soon hopes to join.
A.J. Feeley, a fifth-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles last year, won the third-string quarterback position in fall camp, but had yet to attempt a pass in the team’s first 15 games.
But on Sunday, in the fourth quarter of a game between Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, Feeley didn’t waste his opportunity to shine, completing 10-of-14 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
The former Oregon quarterback, who only attempted 13 passes during his senior season in 2000, started the final quarter with the Eagles trailing by 10.
The score remained the same until Feeley pulled out a comeback in the closing minutes that would have even impressed Captain Comeback (aka Harrington) himself.
With 2:12 remaining, Feeley hooked up with Dameane Douglas for a two-yard scoring pass to trim the lead to 13-10.
The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by the Buccaneers, putting the ball back in the hands of Feeley who had a chance to lead his team to a game-tying field goal, or maybe even the win.
“I was thinking to myself, ‘Don’t do anything stupid to get us out of field-goal range,’” Feeley told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Our offense was clicking. We were on a roll.”
His first pass of the series, on a first-and-10 from the 24-yard line, fell incomplete. But the second one connected.
Feeley threw down the right sideline to Douglas, who again hauled in the Feeley toss and raced in to complete the 24-yard touchdown pass.
One failed Tampa Bay possession later, the clock wound down to clinch the 17-13 victory for Philadelphia and give Feeley his first comeback win as a professional.
“I was just hoping to play a quarter,” Feeley said. “I just wanted to get that first pass completed. I didn’t want to make mistakes. I didn’t think I’d throw touchdowns and win the game.”
The Eagles were resting many of their starters to keep them healthy for the rematch with Tampa Bay in this weekend’s playoffs. Starting quarterback Donovan McNabb only played the first part of the game, before giving away to backup Koy Detmer and Feeley.
Detmer completed just 5-of-14 passes for 51 yards and may now be given a run for his money by Feeley to retain his No. 2 quarterback status.
“A.J. looked great out there,” McNabb said. “What he did out there is something that maybe you’ll see in the future.”
Feeley did have one mistake, an early fourth quarter interception that deflected off his tight end’s hands.
“I’d like to have that one back,” Feeley said.
Other than that, it was a memorable afternoon for the quarterback who once started over Harrington in the beginning of the 1999 season before an injury paved the way for Harrington to begin his storybook career.
“I think it’s great Joey’s doing well,” Feeley said.
With Harrington poised to be drafted high in the NFL Draft, maybe some day down the line, the two quarterbacks who battled for playing time at Oregon will share the same field at the same time.
On a Sunday, and on opposing teams.