Cardinals fly by Eagles on late TD strike
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Holy Smokes!
There wasn't much else to say after Cardinals receiver John "Smokey" Brown hauled in a 75-yard touchdown pass with 1:21 remaining to give Arizona a 24-20 victory over the Eagles on Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium.
On third-and-5, Brown took two steps toward a post pattern, then broke deep past two defenders. At first, it looked as if Carson Palmer had overthrown Brown. But the rookie receiver downshifted, hauled in the pass, stumbled a bit and then was tackled just as he reached the end zone.
It was an amazing ending to a game between two teams that could see each again in the post-season.
The victory moved the Cardinals to 6-1, while the Eagles fell to 5-2.
It was the third time the Cardinals have won this season after trailing entering the fourth quarter.
The game wasn't over after Brown's touchdown. The Eagles had plenty of time, 1:21, and timeouts (2) to score. But the Cardinals defense rose to the occasion, stopping the Eagles, barely.
Philadelphia drove to the 16, where they had one final play. Quarterback Nick Foles threw to Jordan Matthews in a corner of the end zone. Safety Rashad Johnson pushed Matthews out before a second foot could land inbounds, securing the Cardinals win.
The Eagles had driven 78 yards to kick a 20-yard field field goal that gave them a 20-17 lead with 1:56 left.
The Cardinals offense floundered until the third play of the second half. On third-and-10, Palmer hit Fitzgerald with a quick slant. Receiver Ted Ginn's block freed Fitzgerald, who sprinted 80-yards for the score.
That gave the Cardinals their first lead, 14-7, with 14:07 remaining.
The Cardinals offense then went stagnant. It didn't gain a first down in three consecutive possessions. The Eagles weren't much better, but they did must 10 points. The touchdown came on a 54-yard pass from Foles to Maclin.
That gave the Eagles a 17-14 lead with 2:22 remaining in the second half. Cody Parkey added the 20-yard field with 1:56 left.
The Cardinals tied it midway through the fourth quarter after cornerback Antonio Cromartie intercepted his second pass of the game.
Finally with favorable field position, the Cardinals quickly moved to the Eagles 10. But three consecutive incompletions led to a tying field goal by Chandler Catanzaro.
The first half was filled with flying penalty flags and few points.
The Eagles threatened three times but scored just once, on an 80-yard touchdown drive late in the first quarter.
The other two ended in turnovers. Defensive end Frostee Rucker forced a fumble that safety Deone Bucannon recovered, and Cromartie intercepted a pass in the end zone.
The Cardinals didn't commit a turnover in the first half, but they also didn't move the ball much. Their only score came on a 80-yard touchdown drive that ended early in the second quarter.
There was no flow or rhythm to the first half, mostly because referee Walt Anderson and his crew called a tight game. There were 16 accepted penalties, 9 for the Eagles and 7 for the Cardinals.
The Eagles blitzed Palmer constantly, and while didn't commit turnovers, he didn't make many pays in the face of pressure, either.
The Eagles gained 273 yards in the first half, but thanks to the turnovers, came away with just a touchdown.
The Cardinals had difficulty putting pressure on quarterback Nick Foles, even when they blitzed.
Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson left in the second quarter after suffering a head injury. Peterson was tackling receiver Jeremy Maclin from behind, when Bucannon hit Maclin from the front. Their three helmets collided and Peterson laid on the field for several minutes.
He was taken to the locker room and did not return.
Somers also writes for the Arizona Republic.