Game Review: 3 Key Plays In Eagles Vs. Cardinals
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Sometimes the score indicates a lopsided affair, but usually when it comes to professional football, a few plays can decide the game.
That was the case in Sunday night's 40-17 Arizona Cardinals victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Sure, it looks embarrassing on paper (or on the internet for that matter), but these critical three plays altered the momentum -- and essentially outcome -- of the game in the Cardinals' favor.
3. 4th-and-inches
The Eagles were trailing 17-10 with :50 seconds to go in the 2nd quarter, from the Arizona 8-yard line. They would get the ball first to start the second half.
There was a lot of controversy surrounding this play -- from the decision to go for it, to the personnel used, to the play call itself. I have no problem with any of it.
I like the aggressive nature to go for it against a more talented team at home, in a one-score game. I agree with using Ryan Mathews over DeMarco Murray, as Mathews has been the better back all season long and Murray wasn't being used all night. And I'm fine with the play call itself (I try to avoid criticizing specific play calls due to the complexity and uncertainty surrounding every decision).
And even the block by Riley Cooper, despite all the criticism, was adequate. The thing is, this play had no chance from the get-go. The Cardinals anticipated the play and just out-numbered the Eagles here. As you can see, Mathews simply has no where to go.
The design of the play was for Mathews to get to the edge, but that wasn't happening.
2. Ryan Mathews' fumble
This was a back-breaker. The Eagles trailed 23-10 late in the third quarter and three plays after forcing a Cardinals punt, the Eagles fumbled for the second time in five plays. Cardinals DT Josh Mauro was able to just graze Mathews with his left hand and boom -- fumble. That can't happen.
1. Sack-Fumble
This was an excellent drive by the Eagles, which started from their own 7-yard line. On and 3rd-and-15 from their own 1-yard line, Sam Bradford connected with Josh Huff on a beautiful 22-yard out-route to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, Bradford hit Cooper for another first down on a crucial 3rd-and-5 play.
The Eagles really needed points here after falling behind by two scores and they were just a few yards away from field-goal range.
But then this happened.
Jason Peters gets beaten badly by the impressive rookie linebacker Markus Golden, halting all momentum and all but sealing a Cardinals victory.
