How The Eagles Can Beat The Cardinals
Carson Palmer is an up-and-down quarterback that is wildly inconsistent. Palmer at his best this season has thrown for over 400 yards with multiple touchdowns, and at his worst has passed for 175 with three picks.
The Cardinals have a weak offensive line. Left tackle Eric Winston is the only above-average starter in a group that is stitched together with average to mediocre players such as former Philadelphia Eagles’ 2009 seventh-round pick Paul Fanaika.
The Eagles’ front seven have played very well over the last few games, and they need to take advantage of the suspect Cardinal line to create problems for Palmer and make him more likely to turn the ball over. This is a line that Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry, and Connor Barwin should thrive against.
Offensively, the Eagles’ receivers are going to have challenges getting open against a pretty good Arizona secondary. Patrick Peterson is one of the top young corners in the game, and figures to be on DeSean Jackson’s case most of the day.
Riley Cooper has been a key to the offense’s recent success, and he is going to have to continue to play at a high level, and make big catches when called upon in order to help free up Jackson, and Chip Kelly is going to have to come up with some creative ways to move Jackson around and continue to increase the involvement of the tight ends.
Why The Cardinals Will Win
The Arizona defense is just about as tough as they come. They’ve got a lot of matchups that work in their favor this week.
The Cardinals come in with the league’s second-ranked run defense. They’ve got a dominant front seven, with Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett, John Abraham, and Karlos Dansby all capable of making big plays regularly. These guys can all get after the quarterback, and this could be the strongest pass rush that Nick Foles has faced yet.
Chip Kelly tends to lean on his running game a lot, and we’ve seen the rushing attack have some games where it just isn’t as effective against certain defenses.
Larry Fitzgerald remains one of the game’s top receivers, and the Eagles will also need to keep an eye on speedy running back Andre Ellington, who can potentially burn them out of the backfield on passing routes.
Final Thoughts
The Arizona Cardinals are a team that no one respects.
Admit it. Every time you see the Cardinals come up on the schedule, you usually pencil that game down as a “W” before the season begins. And yet, the Cardinals are always that pesky team that over the last few years has just been a bad matchup for the Eagles.
In 2008, everyone expected the Eagles to roll past Arizona in the NFC Championship game, but Kurt Warner, Tim Hightower, and a questionable non-pass interference call by the officials on a pass to Kevin Curtis on the final drive in the fourth quarter crushed everyone’s dreams.
In 2011, the Cardinals came to town with John Skelton at quarterback, and everyone once again expected the Eagles to win handily. Skelton embarrassed the Eagles, putting up 315 yards and three touchdowns in a 21-17 Cards win.
Last season, the Eagles were expected to out to the desert and go to 3-0 against Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals, but a strong defensive effort by Arizona frustrated Michael Vick and the Eagles’ offense, and the team suffered their first loss of the season.
Like it or not, believe it or not, Arizona has had the Eagles’ number.
Now, this Eagles team is certainly much different than from what they were in 2012 and 2011. They’ve got a much different coaching philosophy in place on both sides of the ball, and they’ve got different players playing key roles for them now. But the problem is that Arizona is also a much-improved team as well. Bruce Arians has brought winning football to the desert, and the Cardinals aren’t just a team that can get in the way and steal a win or two from a better team here and there…they’re a legitimately good football team, especially defensively.
This is a huge game for the Cardinals, who need every win that they can get in order to stay in the NFC Wild Card picture. They know they aren’t going to catch up to Seattle; they realize the margin for error is slim. I see this game as another close battle, with Arizona upsetting the Eagles once again.
Pick: Arizona 27, Philadelphia 23
The Cardinals have been a thorn in our sides since as long as I can remember. I hated them when they were in our division, since they were good for a loss or a blackout (or both).
I expect them to continue the trend of breaking our hearts tomorrow. It would be a big win for the Eagles if they can get it, but I don’t see it.
Now if Vick was starting….
Just kidding, he stinks.
While I initially I agreed with Xenious original score of 37-31 Eagles – I actually think it will be a blowout. Except I’m not sure which team gets blown out.
This one will definitely be interesting.
I think it will be a close game and whichever Defense can
Hold their own once backed up in the Red-Zone to prevent TD’s
FG’s will be huge.. I like the Eagłes 26- 24 over the Cardinals
Nobody respect the Eagles every week just about no media people pick them to win. Raiders game all I heard was how the Eagles never play well in Oakland and how tuff there defense was. Green Bay game all I heard was how GB would rally around there backup QB and win the game. Washington game all I heard was how RGIII and the Washington running game was hot and it was a revenge game for the skins. This week all I’m hearing is how great the Cardinals defense is and there receivers are unstoppable. As long as the Eagles play turnover free football and the defense continue to play well there gonna win. Sit back and enjoy something special Nick Foles is the real deal and will continue to get better these last 5 games will be great for him.
Must agree with Turk, it’s cool nationally and even locally to bet against the Eagles and Nick Foles but it ain’t happening, this is not Reid, Denny, this is not McNabb, no mention of foles in your write up, who is playing qb tomorrow Denny
Green Bay, Oakland, and Washington are all sub-par teams by any fair estimation of these teams. You have to beat the teams that are in front of you…so there is nothing to be taken away from the Eagles for handling their business and disposing of these inferior teams….but now its crunch time…we officially in a playoff race and Arizona, Detroit and Dallas are some of our main competitors. These are teams fighting for playoff spots. These are the games that will tell us if Nick Foles is the real deal…he has to step up and play like he did or close to as well as he did in the previous games!!!
koolbreeze – yes there is something to take away from beating Green Bay, Oakland and Washington — The Eagles were the worst team in the NFC last year (4-12 .250%) and were on their way to statistically duplicate that exact record with Vick as the starting QB (1-3 .250 %) until Vick’s tiny body failed him, AGAIN in week 5 against NYG. Now remove one player (Vick) and the team is 6-5.( impossible to finish with a .250 % even if the little fella returns.)
LOL, as I stated….S.O.P. Same Ol’ Post ….yada yada yada. So transparent.
How can write a pregame without even mentioning nor making any reference to the play of the eagles quarterback, this write up is amateurish if not a complete
Joke
On another note how about the Alabama/Auburn game. What the hell was Nick Saban thinking? Damn there is nothing better than football. A walk off missed fg return for a td. Classic. One of the best plays I have ever seen in a big game.
When you are right you are right. That was great entertainment Daggolden! I wouldn’t say Nick Sabin was out coached but I would say he is solely responsible for that loss. Auburn has a never say die attitude, fun to watch them the last few weeks pull themselves up for the abyss.
Dag, that was incredible. SEC football at its finest.
It’s the sport of kings better than diamond rings …
F O O T B A L L !!!!
Are you ready for some football ?!!
I don’t know what is a bigger surprise, Nick Foles playing player of the month football or the Eagles’ defense carrying the team? Patrick Chung is the only Eagle I think has under performed the last month. It has been an amazing run, Najee Goode or Roc Carmichael come in and play way above average. I think reality hits the eagles defense right in the nose today and McCoy, DJax, and Foles have to put up 35 plus to win.
Arizona 35- Eagles 27–
Go Eagles
I hope not E0S, if they can get pressure on Palmer they can hold them to around 24, I think the Eagles can pull this one out.
this gane comes down to which defense more formiable we suppose to be afraid carson palmer if thats the case hang it up, field goal be the difference
Let’s go Eagles!!!
Foles will need to be mobile in this game to open up lanes for me McCoy. If the Cardinals are successful in shutting down Mcoy, then Foles going to have a long day finding our receivers and TE over the middle with Honey Badger playing the way he is. Yes this is a test. There will be adversary early, and I want to see Foles stay calm during the blitz, get rid of the ball FAST, or make it happen with his legs. CHIYEAH! Game Time!!
I want Foles to stay calm, read the play, think “what would Mike Vick do here”.
Then I want him to do the opposite.
LMAO
Priceless!
Foles has the highest QBR against the blitz so he should be ok…..You mean adversity!
Denny, one thing you didn’t mention and obviously didn’t take into consideration. The Cardinals D is HORRIBLE covering TEs, I think Chip is going to expose that and ERTZZZZZ and Celek are going to have big games and put us over the top. Eagles win!!!
Hopefully andrew, but we’ve been waiting all year for the tight ends to really dominate and take over a game and it just hasn’t happened.
Shoulda listened to ANDREW! TE explosion has happened!
Bunch of fucking faggots. Anyway, Let’s go Eagles . Our home record scares me. If Foles succeeds today, we got dynasty because chip is a friggin genius. We can lock up first place today. I want to see our squad well into January. At least the standard we had with Reid’s successful years, this year only! Beyond this……… NFC Champs Then Super Bowl .
Ellington IS OUT! One Leg UP!!!
NASTY!!!!!!!!!!!
PLAY ACTION BITCHES!!!!!!!!!
Beating up Palmer but god damn Fitzgerald is good! This is going to be a good one!
Nick foles , nick foles, nick foles nick foooooles nick fooooooooooles
Soo stop with the wait and see approach and start with te best qb in the nfl
So much for that College offense huh Bruce Arians?
BL it is not gimmick it is not college. It is formation dictating to the defense. It is more simple than people think
I agree. That’s the beauty of it.
I think one of the biggest things going for the Eagles is that this system forces them to be in tremendous shape. Teams will catch onto this if they are smart.
Has anyone seen this script before?
Why
Chip Kellys second half game plan continues to be atrocious. I don’t understand his 2nd half philosophy
It’s not his second half play calling. Defenses adjust. TEs are Arizona’s achilles heel…once they got torched for that second half TD they battened down the hatches and said no more.
Similar thing happened in the Skins game. Folk talked conservative…no it was just bad execution. A Better offense and this plays out diff.
We win, but please tell me what the hell is going on with the ref’s ? I smell pussy…………
I’ll take the gift from the Refs…thank you…we needed the help today!!!
The PI call that Cooper got earlier in the game was BS as well. I’m not complaining…but he really was playing the ball. I’ll take it though.
You are complaining , or why mention it, calls good and bad go both ways, you wanted the eagles to lose, you’re transparent , this was a great win for eagles fans, sorry not for you
Jake-ass I was agreeing with Koolbreze about the refs call. It was a bad call that I CLEARLY said I was grateful for. Why do you even need to feel the need to comment about that?
Clearly considering some of the bad calls the ealges have been on the wrong end of I’m pretty okay with the refs dicking another squad.
Idiot.
Because no real fan thinks that way, you are more transparent ,mikepaul it up,
There’s nothing transparent. You’re just an idiot who sees problems where there are none. Want to complain about something there is no need to complain about.
Typical.
Absolutely right-tsjohnson5!! Clearly jerks like jakedog want to spoil our enjoyment of the win! Its our turn to get a break..and we needed the break too…a win is a win!! Bottom line… we got some big breaks from the refs that we all know if those same calls went against us…we would all be here crying foul! Arizona fans are rightfully crying foul…but…who cares…we will take the win!!
Here Here!!!!
Hilarious marcus
Eagles win….lot’s of skill, a little luck, but I’ll take it!
The Vick crowd blames the ref talks about the refs etc meanwhile Foles has 19 TD and 0 int….
I’m glad the streak is still alive, but, he tried to give it away on rthat Patrick Peterson play. That was Vickesque.
You are a harsh critic, one, two, maybe three bad throws and you say he almost gave it away, what about the three Tds and the sixteen before, and the other times he’s protected the ball, if he continues to improve he will be one for the ages
He played a good game…just can’t make that panic throw. Yes it was vickesque which is simply making a bad decision that leads to a turn over. I’m with Foles, however, he’s not above critique.
Jake you dumb shit fart! definitely not as tough as a critic as you…You and others would always point at some throws that another QB would make and say “risky throw” in which he was fortunate to not have a INT…you are a a clown!
Vick’s out of the picture…that was a ‘Folesque’ play where he gives up the another fourth quarter turnover that almost costs us! We needed that bogus call by the refs on the Honey Badger tobail us out…and I’ll take it!!! .cause that was a clear give away by Foles choking it up in a tight spot…once again when the game gets tight in the fourth quarter Foles dont play as well as he did in the first three quarters..still that being said…we got the win…Foles threw 3 touchdowns…and played well enough for us to win!!
Amazing how the play is “vickesque” and Foles threw it. lol.
Was a great read my foles desean was wide open foles throw was altered. Was not vickesque at all.
Great game all around.
To these dumb fucks complaining about foles and this win I feel bad for you. Ur on an eagles site hating on eagles players that are playing better than anyone in the nfl.
Y’all are entitled to your opinion but the opinion you have is wrong and I think you have Down syndrome.
Birds.
Chip definitely has to figure out 2nd half and keep his team in synch. Cards had us off our game big time today but we still dominated
“Was a great read my foles desean was wide open foles throw was altered.”
DeSean was not wide open and you don’t test Peterson like that. It was a dumb throw. Hence the reason why it was almost picked off. DeSean made a great play though to keep it from happening.
Vick would never make that throw, hence his status on the bench
Is there a reason you’re talking about Vick?
He didn’t play the game…or did you miss that?
Wrong he was wide open ,had 3+yards separation. All foles needed to do was drop in the ball over 2 defenders heads but he was hit while throwing which altered the throw.
We are talking about the play that got picked and called back due to d holding. Not the play that could’ve been picked but Djax fought. That was a great play by Djax there though.
Denny, have you figured out who played qb yet, just asking, don’t be “hating”, pussy
You know what I love about that game ….we get the win beat the best defensive team we have faced all year and yet there was still enough for the anti foles people to say they are not sold. This stuff is getting entertaining
Not Enough!
I said it before the season started! 11-5 and a playoff berth! Lets f’n go!
A lot of you guys complaining about the second half conveniently forget that is one on the best defenses in the league…. They are going to win battles eventually
I’ll take three Tds from foles today, thank you
Keep it up, and I’m waiting to hear fom that pussy ass basens to explain why he never mentioned one of the top quarterbacks in the nfl in his pregame write up
Another big game from Foles next week and we may have to put him in the discussion for NFL MVP. Seriously.
May have to put him in MVP discussion? He is #1 if season ends today.
Before these non eagles fans interrupted with the refs gave the eagles one, daggolden raised a legitimate point, Kelly has no figured out the nfl in the fact that no lead is safe, his second alf play calling all season is way too conservative, he has aired it out on occasion, but if it doesn’t work he goes too much too the run, he’s got weapons to put even great defenses away like the cardinals, he let up, is afraid to turn the ball over, but there will be a time that he has to trust foles to air it out
I think it has more to do with execution in the second half more than the playcalling. Or a combination of the two. We left some plays out there that coulda been huge but this game should have been put away with that D-Jacc punt return anyway
Exactly…the QB has to execute in the fourth quarter and make some plays instead of holding on to the ball, getting sacked, and going three and out! We got the breaks we needed…and I will take them…a win is a win!!
The qb with 19 TD and no int … You mean that qb?
It’s execution. Folk wanna blame the coach and playcalling, but naw, that really was bad execution.
It’s definitely execution!
It’s a win. Chips play calling in the 2nd half is Shit. From the Chargers to the skins to the cards game. To be a contender you have to win games like these. Waiting for the idiots to say what Foles needs to show them next week!!
Lol, you know it’s coming…the pressure is on, this is the defining game to see ifFoles gonna be a franchise QB or do we need to draft one…I wanna see Foles…blah blah blah, yada yada yada. I’m waiting for it too. It’s quite comical though!
Zero 4th quarter points since the Giants game and that was special teams. Chip has got to mix things up better in the 4th quarter and the players need to execute better. That has to change starting against the Lions.
Luckily Stafford has a tendecy to throw picks. However if he is on and turnover less that game is gonna turn into a shootout.
Breaking news: Nick Foles spotted leaving The Linc with Michael Vick’s wife!!!!
Stayed tuned on this one folks.
Great game and close as I thought it would be
, they will all be close here on out..
No Turnovers and a huge Win vs a Playoff Caliber
team at the Linc.. The detail, what coulda, shoulda or whata Belen’s don’t really matter.. You win as a Team, you lose as a Team,
Eagles are 7-5, have a well-rested Lions Team coming into Town..
Next Team Up.. Go Eagłes…
Chip Kelly calls some great plays early on in the game. But his play calling in the 4th quarter leaves a lot to be desired. Almost cost us the game opening night. Cost us the game against the Chargers. And almost cost us the last two games. Its simply too predictable. Even Mccoy is getting completely shut there.
Nick Foles- with another tremendous performance. Honey Badger did hold on that play, even though it was a poor decision by Nick. Keep in mind, we had some penalties go against us ( the DJAX td). Racist Riley is playing well too. I say keep him outside next year, and move Jmac to the slot. Lets go birds!
Foles is the Eagles MVP this year, and should be in consideration for NFL MVP.
The was a bogus, ticky-tack call against the Honey Badger…nice make up call for that other cheap call on Coleman with D-Jax TD punt return. I say its about time we got some hometown calls for us against the other team…I’m not giving the win back, but we have to execute in the 4th quarter a lot better…Foles has to play better in this quarter!
You sir are a joke
Foles leaving with Vick’s wife…hilarious, if they resign Maclin, he can’t go in the slot..to soft and injury prone.
Thank goodness for TS, Biglion and Kool that the Refs, opposing D co-orinators and every D player facing the Birds is on the take.
Only reason for what we’re seeing.
Because clearly, without help, the terrible execution (TS) or the refs ‘bailing us out’ (Kool) or 0 4th Q points since the Giants game (Big)….the Eagles would suck
Thanks god everyone is conspiring for Eagles wins!!
Well, actually, those 3 clowns HOPE the eagles will suck so they will get their hero back in there.
It hurts them so much that Foles is now 6-1 in games he’s playd more than a half…they can’t understand why…..and they hate it, so they grumble and make ‘not enough’ statements…..
“Thank goodness for TS, Biglion and Kool that the Refs, ”
Agreed someone has to do the minimum wage jobs
Then again 1 of em leaches on free handouts
Kelly’s playcallingwas not just suspect in the 3rd. There was a major problem in the 2nd Q when the birds got a first down…2:13 to go….and the Eagles took a time out.
Called by Kelly. I was losing it. No reason to EVER take that TO with the 2 min warning coing up and 2or3 TOs in your pocket…..was stupid.
Kelly still has a bit to learn vis-à-vis time management.
The stupid Vick supporters are only trumped by by the ?FO office bashers! The last two drafts and the FO signings have really produced, played well
I consider myself a Vick supporter but I’m not stupid. Kelly was right when he said he had two QBs he can win with. I was unsure about Foles starting the season because he was an unknown and I wanted to WIN — not prepare for next year. Now that I see that Foles is the TRUTH and MORE THAN CAPABLE of winning in this league, he’s my QB.
The name on the front means more than the name on the back people. I have complete confidence in both QBs now. Anyone but Barkley – he is horrible.
Don’t waste your time Birdo you have dudes on here can’t comprehend sentences, think that when you question the play calling and execution of the offense your blaming the QB. Who would rather be right instead of fans. Can’t be happy with a win but would rather be shown how idiotic they are.
Wrong again, Den.
Happy to be wrong for an Eagles win!
Read the posts from kool breeze TS Johnson, biglion , you figure out quickly who they are, why they are here, big jake did a long time ago
It’s time to forget about these losers, read what real eagles fans say like paulman, gmcliff, daggolden, vinnie, dcar, green fan, who we have’nt heard fom lately, mhenski, irish eagle, eagle has landed, and others, jake salutes you all for hanging in, the eagles defense was amazing, swarming, and nick foles continues to impress
Good times are ahead
LOL what a clown.
Sorry jake many of those that you mention have said that the players who are responsible for this run are poor draft picks or FA signinings
Maybe hac but they are fans nonetheless and they are happy to be wrong, unlike Denny basens, big lion, kool, tsjohnson, passive aggresive liars , they are not fans
So are the negative nitwits jake… Johnson, ertz, Logan etcetera great picks… Btw Foles was 100% an AR pick
So you need me to expose your dumbass again idiot #2. You are just as much a fraud as your father idiot #1 aka Vinnie. Keep me out of your posts you race baiting village idiot.
And sorry I missed you hac, you are a real Philly fan
Where is that pussy real talk
A pussy is a bitch ass fag like yourself that calls ones names when their not around to defend their selves…you pussy!
Why so worried about where Real Talk is? Real Talk is here, I’m around, I watched the game, I rooted for Foles, I rooted for Allen, I rooted for Ertz, I rooted for Graham, I even rooted for Cooper…I root for the entire Eagles roster regardless…
So let me get this straight…I’m not a real Eagles fan because I’m not on G Cobb on the regularly…
Also, Jake I’d love for you to call me that to my face…I guarantee you would bitch out, like the little half a man that you are…
also isn’t this Thanksgiving weekend…I enjoyed spending time with family and friends…I understand that’s something you probably don’t know much about…considering you probably ate Thanksgiving dinner by your lonesome with a Nick Foles doll at the head of your table…
You root for shit, if hadn’t called your name out you would be as silent as the others, these threats of putting a hurting on big Jake, it’s laughable, I took better beatings from bitches
Big Jake? ha you feeling yourself a lil too much son! I’ll whoop your ass through the city of Trenton to Philly, think not, come see me then bitch……Jake your a clown, like I said, you why so worried about where RealTalk is?
I’m.glad I brought you out of the bushes real talk, I hadn’t heard from you in a while
Nah real Jake is a joke, I take pleasure in pointing out the ridiculous crap he posts on here.
Read Denny’s bullshit too, he picked aginst the eagkes, has yet to answer the question why he never mentioned the eagles qb in his pregame write up, still waiting Denny
It feels good to have a decent defense for once…I hear the “blame the coach” comments about play calling in the 2nd half and the “Foles has to play better” comments, maybe so both ways…But feels good to see the defense stand up and shut a team down when the game is really on the line! I’m proud of this defense, proud of the offense early on too…But much more proud of the defense this game and how they forced turnovers and shut the Cards down on that final possession. Allen is playing with more confidence, you can see it, he’s getting to the ball, making tackles, not second guessing himself..Graham was a difference maker also, this defense is coming around…