Eagles Face True Super Bowl Contenders In Cardinals
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles will be facing a true Super Bowl contender Sunday night.
While much of the attention in the NFC has gone to the unbeaten Carolina Panthers, the Arizona Cardinals have emerged as one of the league's top teams this season. The Cardinals will come to town with a record of 11-2 and with plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. They have the top-ranked offense in the league as well as an aggressive defense with a reputation for pressuring the quarterback. The Eagles may have three games left on their schedule, but Chip Kelly says they are only worried about the dangerous Cardinals.
"Our sole attention is on Arizona," said Kelly. "It's not on what's going to happen after the Arizona game or whoever the other opponents are after that game. It's really to prepare for these guys. What you have to do is turn the tape on and when you look at the tape, how well they are playing in all three phases."
The Cardinals feature a talented group of wide receivers and a veteran quarterback who is playing the best football of his career. Carson Palmer has played at an elite level in 2015 after missing part of 2014 with an injury. Eagles Linebacker Brandon Graham says the Arizona offense is not only talented, but also features a group of players who have built strong chemistry throughout the season.
"They play well together," Graham said. "I think their communication is phenomenal. You can just tell they are on one page, so we've got to make sure we stay on one page."
The Eagles' two-game winning streak has pulled them into a first-place tie in the NFC East. Cardinals Coach Bruce Arians thinks patience is paying off for Chip Kelly and his coaching staff, and believes the Eagles are starting to come together at the right time of the season.
"They're rebuilding in a very nice way," said Arians. "I think Chip had a plan, and he's sticking to his plan. They're still doing a very exotic defense that pressures. I like Billy Davis. I think he's one of the better coordinators in the league."
Even with a 6-7 record, some believe the Eagles can afford a loss on Sunday to Arizona. If the Eagles win their final two games against Washington and the New York Giants, they will win the division regardless of what happens this Sunday. However, players such as Jordan Matthews aren't looking ahead, and the wide receiver along with the rest of his teammates are treating Sunday's game like the start of the post-season.
"You've got to win the right games," Matthews said. "We're in a situation where if we want to get in, We've got to win the right games. The right games are these last three. Essentially, we are already in playoff football."
