The Eagles, aiming for the playoffs, suffered a significant setback with their fourth loss this month, adversely affecting their position in the NFC.
In a thrilling comeback, James Conner scored a 2-yard touchdown with just 32 seconds left, while Kyler Murray delivered three touchdown passes. The Arizona Cardinals managed to overturn a 15-point deficit, stunning Philadelphia with a 35-31 victory on Sunday and throwing a curveball into the Eagles’ playoff journey.
Jonathan Gannon, once the defensive coordinator for the Eagles, came back to Philly and secured his most significant win as Arizona’s coach. Admittedly, victories have been sparse for the Cardinals (4-12). However, the playoff-bound Eagles’ recent defeat, especially their second at home this month, dealt a major blow to their NFC standing.
If the Eagles (11-5) had secured victories against Arizona and the New York Giants next week, they would have clinched the NFC East. However, things have taken a turn. Dallas now has the opportunity to win the division by securing a victory next week at Washington, while San Francisco has already locked up the top seed in the conference.
Despite Jalen Hurts throwing three touchdown passes, the game ended on a disappointing note as he was intercepted in the end zone on a desperate heave. The Eagles‘ performance has been more reflective of a team possibly facing an early exit in the postseason rather than one poised for a second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl. There’s a fair share of blame to distribute: a disorganized offense with questionable play-calling towards the end, a struggling running game, and a defense that struggled to make crucial stops.
The Cardinals made an impressive comeback from a 21-6 halftime deficit, thanks to Kyler Murray’s two touchdown passes in the third quarter, leveling the game at 21-all.
Jalen Hurts took charge in the fourth quarter, putting the Eagles ahead with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert. Typically, that would secure a win at the Linc. Unfortunately, the Philly defense couldn’t maintain the lead. A pass interference penalty on cornerback Kelee Ringo gave the Cardinals an extra 29 yards, allowing them to tie the game 28-28 with 5:26 left. Kyler Murray then connected with Michael Wilson for a 5-yard touchdown, marking three touchdowns on three possessions in the half for Arizona.
Jake Elliott secured the Eagles’ final lead with a 43-yard field goal just 2:33 before the end. Kyler Murray then had ample time to march the Cardinals into scoring position. A 36-yard pass to Greg Dorch brought Arizona to the Eagles’ 5-yard line, setting the stage for James Conner’s game-deciding touchdown. The Cardinals amassed an impressive 449 total yards of offense during the game.
Quarter One Mastery
In a critical moment, with first-and-goal from the 3-yard line and 6:42 left in the quarter, Milton Williams made a big play by chasing down Kyler Murray, resulting in a loss of 9 yards! Although Murray fumbled during the play, he managed to recover the loose ball. Interestingly, the play was eventually ruled as a rush for Murray and not counted as a sack for Williams later in the game.
Following a march to the Philadelphia 3-yard line, the Cardinals opted for a field goal. Thanks to a crucial sack by Williams, a 2-yard rush by James Conner, and a well-timed pass breakup by Reed Blankenship on third down, the Cardinals were prevented from reaching the end zone. Veteran kicker Matt Prater successfully nailed the 28-yard field goal, putting the Cardinals on the board with a score of 3-0 against the Eagles, and there were 5:09 minutes left in the game.
In a momentous play, D’Andre Swift achieved a significant milestone in his four-year career by surpassing 1,000 rushing yards. This accomplishment came with a 7-yard rush on first down, and it happened with just over 3 minutes left in the quarter.
Excitement filled the air as Julio Jones made a spectacular play, securing a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts in the back right corner of the end zone with just 36 seconds left. This marked Jones’ first touchdown since Week 8. Notably, Hurts set a new all-time franchise record for total touchdowns in a season (36) with this remarkable throw. The offensive drive was fueled by a 16-yard catch by A.J. Brown and a crucial 23-yard catch on third down by Dallas Goedert, ultimately putting the Eagles ahead 7-3 against the Cardinals.
Quarter Second Mastery
Big defensive play! Jalen Carter came through with a sack, nabbing Kyler Murray before he could slip away.
Talk about a game-changer! Right after the sack, Sydney Brown made a phenomenal play, intercepting Kyler Murray at the Philadelphia 1-yard line and then turning on the jets for an incredible 99-yard dash to the end zone. Brown showcased some impressive moves, darting down the sideline and skillfully navigating through Arizona defenders to score with 11:44 left in the first half. This memorable moment marked Brown’s first career interception and touchdown, and it tied for the fourth-longest interception in franchise history. The Eagles surged ahead, leading 14-3 against the Cardinals.
Despite a nearly 10-minute possession, the Cardinals couldn’t break through the Eagles’ defense to score a touchdown. Instead, they settled for a 34-yard field goal with just 1:50 left on the clock. The score stood at Eagles 14 – Cardinals 6.
What a way to close the half! In the final moments, Julio Jones made another stellar play, securing a 22-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts with just 16 seconds on the clock. Despite a tip by former Eagle Andre Chachere, the pass had enough momentum to reach the veteran receiver just shy of the goal line. Showing his strength, Jones powered his way across the line for his second touchdown of the game. The drive was kept alive by a clever 17-yard pass to Kenneth Gainwell on a fake Brotherly Shove to DeVonta Smith on third down. The 1:34 drive concluded the first half on a high note for the Eagles, leading 21-6 against the Cardinals.
Quarter Third Mastery
The Cardinals wasted no time in the second half, marching down the field on their opening possession and capping it off with a touchdown. Kyler Murray connected with Michael Carter for a 6-yard score with 8:42 left on the clock. Carter showcased some nimble moves, slipping past the tackle attempt by Shaquille Leonard before casually strolling into the end zone. The Eagles maintained the lead, with the score standing at 21-13 against the Cardinals.
Kyler Murray pulled off some magic, narrowly escaping a sack, and then delivered a pinpoint 5-yard pass to James Conner for a touchdown with just 2:01 left in the quarter. Adding to the comeback, Murray connected with Michael Wilson for a successful two-point conversion. The game was now tied at 21 apiece, with the Cardinals making a strong comeback against the Eagles.
Quarter Fourth Mastery
Eagles fans had reason to cheer as Jalen Hurts orchestrated a fantastic drive, culminating in a touchdown! Hurts connected with a wide-open Dallas Goedert for a 9-yard score, putting the Birds back in the lead with 9:55 to go. Hurts, showing his agility, rolled to his right and delivered a precise pass to the tight end, who expertly dragged his feet in the front-right corner of the end zone. D’Andre Swift’s impressive 44 rushing yards played a crucial role in the success of this exciting drive. The Eagles now led 28-21 against the Cardinals.
The Cardinals wasted no time in their response, swiftly advancing down the field to even the score at 28 with just 5:26 remaining. In a critical fourth-and-4 situation from the Philadelphia 5-yard line, Kyler Murray showcased his skill by beating the blitz. He fired a precise pass to Michael Wilson, who expertly maneuvered past Kelee Ringo off the line of scrimmage. The result: a touchdown, tying the game at 28 – Cardinals versus Eagles.
Jake Elliott came through with a crucial field goal, marking his first of the game and giving the Eagles the lead back with just 2:33 left on the clock. In a surprising move, the Cardinals opted for an onside kick, successfully recovered by Eli Ricks. Although the Eagles couldn’t secure their second first down of the drive, they settled for the 43-yard field goal. The score now stood at Eagles 31 – Cardinals 28, setting the stage for an intense finish.
Heartbreak for the Eagles as their defense struggled to make a crucial stop, allowing the Cardinals to seize the lead with just 32 seconds remaining. James Conner, with an outstanding 128-yard performance, concluded the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. The scoreboard now read Cardinals 34 – Eagles 31, adding an extra layer of suspense to the final moments of the game.
The Eagles‘ hopes took a final hit as Jalen Hurts launched a Hail Mary attempt, only to see it intercepted by Joey Blount in the end zone, sealing the fate of the game.