Cardinals at Eagles Preview

[Mitch]

Team Stats: Offense

PTS: AZ (18.5--22nd); PHI (25.8--7th)
YDS: AZ (349.2--11th); PHI (392.5--3rd)
PASS: AZ (292.2--2nd); PHI (249.5--11th)
RUSH: AZ (57.0--32nd); PHI: (143.0--3rd)

Team Stats: Defense

PTS: AZ (22.8-20th); PHI: 23.0--21st)
YDS: AZ 302.8--7th); PHI (355.8--24th)
PASS: AZ (214.8--12th); PHI (285.0--30th)
RUSH: AZ (88.0--10th); PHI (70.8--2nd)

Analysis:

* Eagles are more balanced on offense. 11th in passing and 3rd in rushing (Blount and Wentz).
* Cardinals' passing game (2nd) could feast on Eagles' pass defense (30th).

PFF Player Grades Comparisons (through 4 games):

QB: AZ Palmer (74.1); PHI Wentz (77.7)
RB: AZ Ellington (62.4); PHI Blount (82.2)
WR: AZ Fitzgerald (78.9); PHI Jeffery (68.4)
WR: AZ Jaron Brown (75.3); PHI T. Smith (42.1)
WR: AZ John Brown (74.4); PHI Agholor (77.4)
TE: AZ Gresham (36.0); PHI Ertz (77.5)
TE: AZ Niklas (44.2); PHI B. Celek (44.9)
LT: AZ Wetzel (38.9); PHI Peters (86.4)
LG: AZ Boone (54.2); PHI: Seumalo (34.1)
C: AZ Shipley (50.3); PHI Kelce (92.0)
RG: AZ Boehm (44.9): PHI Brooks (82.3)
RT: AZ Veldheer (41.1); PHI Johnson (85.4)

DT: AZ Peters (81.4); PHI Jernigan (86.3)
DT: AZ Rucker (45.8); PHI Allen (77.5)
DE: AZ Jones (80.1); PHI Graham (87.4)
DE: AZ Mauro (49.7); PHI Barnett (63.4)
LB: AZ Dansby (42.1); PHI Hicks (35.2)
LB: AZ Bucannon (38.2); PHI Kendricks (83.0)
LB: AZ Reddick (56.7); PHI Bradham (40.4)
CB: AZ Peterson (77.3); PHI Mills (44.1)
CB: AZ Bethel (61.2); PHI: Robinson (87.0)
S: AZ: Mathieu (41.7); PHI McCloud (37.1)
S: AZ: Branch (91.8); PHI Jenkins (61.7)

Analysis:

* Eagles: both lines are considerably stronger.
* Cardinals: have a considerably stronger secondary,

Special Teams:

K AZ Dawson (9/12 FG, 5/5 XPT); PHI Elliott (8/10 FG, 7/7 XPT)
P AZ Lee (46.7 ave., 39.3 net); PHI Jones (44.0 ave., 40.1 net)
KR AZ Williams (20.2 ave.); PHI Smallwood (23.3 ave.)
PR AZ Williams (2.8 ave.); PHI Barner (5.0 ave.)

Analysis:

* Eagles have a very slight edge. Elliott kicked GW 61 yard FG versus Giants.
* Cardinals need boost in return game and field position. Must win the net punt average.

What the Cardinals Need To Do:

* Slow down Blount and Wentz (good scrambler) in the running game. Disengage blocks, swarm and finish tackles.
* Win coverage matches: Peterson on Jeffery; Bethel on Smith; Badger on Agholor; Branch on Ertz (key matchup).
* Spy or blitz A gaps on Wentz. Get hands up in the passing lanes.
* Protect Palmer long enough for him to exploit Eagles' secondary. Chip on Brandon Graham. Impede inside rushers Jernigan and Allen to allow Palmer room to step into his throws. Handle rookie DE Derek Barnett.
* Keep Eagles' pass rush off-balance with hard counts.
* Might be tough to run the ball, but draws, screens and flares could be very effective.
* Prevail on special teams. It's very close this week.

 

[PJ1]

Don't believe it will be close at all. We won't be able to run the ball. Ertz and Blount will be too much to handle for our D. This one could get ugly before the half. The trenches will dictate and we are no match for the Iggles.

 

[Capital Card]

No running game, piss-poor O-line play with even more personnel changes coming, loss of Marcus Golden, 10 am start..... I just think we're gonna get rolled. I may tape the game and watch on Monday so I don't ruin my family's weekend.

Go Cards!!!

 

[phillycard]

No running game, piss-poor O-line play with even more personnel changes coming, loss of Marcus Golden, 10 am start..... I just think we're gonna get rolled. I may tape the game and watch on Monday so I don't ruin my family's weekend.

Go Cards!!!

CC, I wish I could say I disagreed with you. I actually am going to this one and will have to sit through 3 hours of torture.

 

[WisconsinCard]

CC, I wish I could say I disagreed with you. I actually am going to this one and will have to sit through 3 hours of torture.

Nope I'll be there too, and we're going to win....

 

[oaken1]

CC, I wish I could say I disagreed with you. I actually am going to this one and will have to sit through 3 hours of torture.

just eat two orders of nachos with extra jalapenos before the game and drink a couple natty lights while doing so... should fix ya right up

 

[MrYeahBut]

Cards 6.5 point road dog

 

[mjb21aztd]

Had a,bad nightmare i woke up late on sun and cards were losing by more than 20....

I hope cards play well but they always struggle on road early games but ill get up on time to watch but sure ill be cussing near the end of the gm.

 

[Cheesebeef]

they win this game, I feel like I'll get a little desperately needed Kool-Aid infused into my blood, but I ain't holding my breath.

for some reason, this feels like the first SUPER KICK IN THE NUTS game... where we'll be up like 21-3 and end up losing 23-21 after Philly makes a huge comeback to take the lead, but misses the extra point, giving our kicker a major shot of redemption at the gun... where he misses a 38 yard game winner.

 

[pemory09]

they win this game, I feel like I'll get a little desperately needed Kool-Aid infused into my blood, but I ain't holding my breath.

for some reason, this feels like the first SUPER KICK IN THE NUTS game... where we'll be up like 21-3 and end up losing 23-21 after Philly makes a huge comeback and our kicker misses a 38 yard game winner at the gun.

Super Kick in the Nuts game...likely true, but LOL!

 

[JeffGollin]

I had a really good post here wiped out by the Reload Monster.

&$;():!

 

[DVontel]

I expect us to get blowed out. However, Reddick returns to his old place so hopefully we’ll get a huge Reddick performance & that will be a difference for us in the game.

 

[Harry]

The Cards are in trouble here. However, it is an odd match up. The Cards can't run and the Eagles best defensive skill is defending the run. They've struggled to defend the pass and that's what the Cards do best.

On defense the Cards need to stay tough against the run. The problem with Wentz is that he can throw on the run or from the pocket. You can't beat him by keeping him in the pocket and forcing him to throw. Also you can't win by driving him out of the pocket. They will have to hope Peters can collapse the pocket and the outside rushers must stay under control. They must try to limit Wentz's ability to throw without being under pressure. He'll put up yards. The Cards must just put up more points (I know, duh).

I'd say it's about 10 to 1 against the Cards.

 

[pemory09]

I expect us to get blowed out. However, Reddick returns to his old place so hopefully we’ll get a huge Reddick performance & that will be a difference for us in the game.

And BA used to coach at Temple, so a bit of a homecoming for him too. Perhaps he will call a good, savvy, un-stubborn game (I know, wishful thinking).

 

[NJCardFan]

The only thing that might save us is that Cox might not be playing. Take him away and the Eagles' line is average.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

31-17 eagles. Will be ugly.

 

[Redneck Voodoo]

31-17 eagles. Will be ugly.

34 - 14, Cards. FTFY. I drink only once a week and this week it's a Wednesday, so consider this a prophesy.

 

[SeattleCard]

Great preview Mitch!

 

[gbrim21]

Nice preview. Are we really #2 in the league in passing yards? Sure doesn't feel like it with all of 6 offensive TD's through 4 games.

If Fletcher Cox plays, he and the rest of that defensive front will feast on our O-Line. I love the optimism of a few on this board, but I can see this one getting out of hand quickly. Don't feel like we match up well in the trenches, and Palmer, like almost all QB's, starts making real bad decisions after getting beat up. I think the Iggles win handily unfortunately.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[PJ1]

May even see Stanton in this one.

 

[JeffGollin]

Key to this game may be how well Tywan Branch keeps Blount from breaking off long gainers. Also who wins the leverage wars (low man wins).

 

[NJCardFan]

Strange things happen in this series. Rarely is there ever a blowout and something weird always happens. However, I can still see DJ's run in 2015 when everyone thought he was down. I was sitting with a bunch of Cardinal fans too.

 

[Ronin]

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[BigRedRage]

im tempted to play Palmer over Rothlesberger but if the line is as bad as it was against SF its hard to imagine a great offensive showing, especially at 10am.

 

[Iceman]

im tempted to play Palmer over Rothlesberger but if the line is as bad as it was against SF its hard to imagine a great offensive showing, especially at 10am.

The line HAS to be better this week. Hard for me to believe that they will get smoked like last week. Have to guess "technique" was the main goal for the O-line in practice