The Philadelphia Eagles’ Tough Loss to the Arizona Cardinals

It’s all over. The Super Bowl talk, the favorable 10-1 start to the season, and the Eagles’ hope for this year have all been wiped out. The Eagles are now thinking about the upcoming season and have seemingly concluded their journey until July 2024, when training camp begins. This came after they lost for the fourth time in their last five games, enduring their biggest upset in years by the visiting Jonathan Gannon and the woeful Arizona Cardinals. The Eagles fell 35-31 on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, allowing Arizona, a team with a 3-12 record, and ranked 24th in the NFL in total offense and 27th in total defense, to score a season-high 35 points against them.

Arizona never punted, exploiting the Eagles’ defense for a season-best 449 total offensive yards, rushing for 221 yards, and dominating the time of possession, 39:39 to 20:21. Kyler Murray, Arizona’s quarterback, was highly effective, completing 25 of 31 passes for 232 yards and a season-best three touchdown passes. The 32 first downs earned by Arizona is the second most allowed by any NFL team this season.

The Eagles began with a 21-6 halftime lead but eventually blew it, allowing the game to be tied 28-28 late in the fourth quarter against the NFC West last-place Cardinals. This Arizona team had its 16th different defensive lineup in 16 games, illustrating the Eagles’ failure to capitalize and ultimately secure a victory in a crucial December game.

Philadelphia’s disastrous loss has led to San Francisco clinching home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Fans and analysts are speculating and questioning whether the team, that currently holds a playoff berth, is capable of winning the NFC East and more importantly, a playoff game, when they cannot secure a win against a last-place team such as the Arizona Cardinals. The team has shown glimpses of good plays at times in the game, but mistakes and inconsistencies have outweighed them throughout the season.

Eagles’ Highs and Lows During the Game

The Good

• Kicker Jake Elliott’s successful 43-yard field goal late in the game
• Quarterback Jalen Hurts’ touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert
• Running back Kenneth Gainwell’s 18-yard completion to DeVonta Smith, resulting in a touchdown
• Safety Sydney Brown’s impressive 99-yard interception return for a touchdown
• Defensive tackle Jalen Carter’s four-yard sack on Kyler Murray

The Bad

• Jalen Hurts’ negative yardage play
• Left tackle Jordan Mailata’s crucial holding penalty
• The Eagles’ disappointing first drive of the second half
• Defensive miscues by Eli Ricks

These highlights and low points during the game highlighted the Eagles’ inconsistencies and struggles, leading to their downfall against the Arizona Cardinals.