Anthony DiBona
It’s time for the Philadelphia Eagles to finally make a statement to the rest of the NFL. They could send shockwaves throughout the league with a win over the Arizona Cardinals. At 11-2, the Cardinals have established themselves as one of, if not, the best team in the NFC. But somehow, someway there are many that believe the 6-7 Eagles have a legitimate chance to beat them.
Whether or not the Eagles have a chance against the Cardinals is up for debate. But there’s no debating that this team has showed up to play against tough competition the past two weeks. An unlikely road victory against the beat up Patriots served as a huge confidence booster. So a win against one of the best teams in the NFC would send their confidence through the roof. Let’s take a look at some storylines to watch for on Sunday night when the birds face-off at Lincoln Financial Field.
Three Storylines To Watch For
1) Can Sam Bradford stay turnover-free?
We’re all witnessing the growth of Sam Bradford in Chip Kelly’s offense, it’s quite clear. He looks more comfortable in the offense as a whole but still makes slight mistakes at times. Those mistakes haven’t been costly during the past two weeks but could become so against the Cardinals. Arizona’s defense is full of weapons at every level of their defense, especially in their secondary, which could cause Bradford fits. Whether or not Bradford can take care of the ball will serve as a major factor in Sunday night’s game.
2) How will the Eagles attempt to disrupt Carson Palmer?
It’s hard to describe just how well Carson Palmer has played thus far this season. He’s already thrown for 4,000+ yards and 30+ touchdowns and there’s still three games left in the regular season. So how in the world will the Eagles rattle one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL? It’s actually quite simple, get in his face. But it’s easier said than done considering how well Palmer maneuvers around the pocket and steps around pressure. Yet if anyone can get the job done, it will be Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox, who’s having a Pro Bowl caliber season.
3) David Johnson is on a roll, can the Eagles slow him down?
Ever since Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington went down with injuries, it’s been the David Johnson show in Arizona. Johnson has excelled as a starter over the past two weeks, totaling over 100 yards from scrimmage in each game. Sure enough, the Eagles have been struggling to stop the run as of late so this isn’t exactly ideal timing for their defense. Yet this could be a perfect time for them to turn things around and get back to their old ways of being a dominant run defense.
Key Matchup To Watch For
Larry Fitzgerald vs. Everyone
There are three guarantees in life. Death, taxes and Larry Fitzgerald destroying the Eagles. That’s why shutting down the veteran, or at least attempting to is the key matchup to watch for on Sunday night. Fitzgerald lines up all over the field so it’ll be interesting to see if Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis uses Byron Maxwell to shadow him. For instance, Maxwell was used to shadow Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall earlier in the season, another big bodied veteran and Maxwell held his own. Either way, the Eagles will have their hands full trying to stop all of Arizona’s weapons but none has given them more headaches in the past than Fitzgerald.
Bettor’s Odds
Depending on where you look, the Cardinals are currently 3.5 point favorites over the Eagles. While the over/under is currently set around 50.5 points as well. I’m honestly surprised that the Cardinals aren’t favored by more points. While the over/under seems like a fair amount, maybe a bit too low considering these are two of the highest scoring teams in the NFL.
My Prediction
The Eagles are playing on national television, donning their all black uniforms, how can I not pick them…right? Wrong, I just can’t do it. The Cardinals are too good of a team to slip up against a relatively mediocre team like the Eagles. Maybe the long trip gets to them just a bit and makes this game closer than it should be but I just don’t see the Cardinals losing. When you really think about it, the Eagles got lucky the past two weeks with special teams mistakes by the Patriots while the Bills committed a million penalties. The Cardinals are just too good of a team right now, it’s as simple as that.
Final Score Prediction: Cardinals 34, Eagles 20
That’s all for my Eagles vs. Cardinals preview, be sure to check back here at PhillyInfluencer.com for all of the latest news regarding your beloved Birds and everything else happening in Philadelphia!