| Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb is hoping to make an impact against his former team.(AP Images) |
Eagles at Cardinals -- Week 3
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. (turf, indoors)
When: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (Fox)
Spread: Eagles by 3.5
Forecast: It doesn't matter -- Cards are expected to close dome roof.
Records: Eagles (Overall: 2-0; NFC East: 1-0); Cardinals (Overall: 2-0; NFC West: 1-0).
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 13, 2011: Cardinals 21, Eagles 17; Jan. 18, 2009: Cardinals 32, Eagles 25. Series record: Cardinals lead 54-53-5.
What matters: The Cardinals season in a word so far? Shocking. A Week 1, come-from-behind win over Seattle behind backup Kevin Kolb after John Skelton went down in the fourth quarter? Shocking. A Week 2 win at New England by way of a last-second missed field goal? Shocking. Perhaps not to the Cardinals, themselves, though. They've won nine of 11 games dating back to last year by less than six points.
Who matters: Michael Vick and the man he once usurped in Philadelphia, Kevin Kolb. For the Eagles, the big concern is Vick's protection as they enter the game down two offensive linemen and face a strong pass rush in Arizona. For Kolb, he'll be playing with the knowledge that yet another win would make handing the keys back to the mending John Skelton all the more difficult for coach Ken Whisenhunt. If the Cardinals bottle up Vick, Kolb may very well end up keeping the gig.
Key matchups: Paris Lenon and Calais Campbell vs. Eagles offensive line. The glamour matchup is on the outside. Both teams feature impact wide receivers (DeSean Jackson for the Eagles, Larry Fitzgerald for the Cardinals) and star defensive backs (Philadeplhia's Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who came in the Kolb deal, and the Cardinals' Patrick Peterson). But the real key to the game will be the Eagles' ability to protect Vick against a confident Arizona defense.
Injuries of note: Todd Heap has an injured knee and was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday, though Skelton returned in limited fashion. Both are listed as questionable but are likely at least a week away from a return. The Eagles, though, take a big hit with the loss of budding young receiver Jeremy Maclin, who was ruled out with a hip injury.
Inside stuff: The Cardinals' running game has been a shell of its former self under Whisenhunt, with the team struggling to gain any traction. Ryan Williams is in the doghouse after a costly fumble against the Patriots and Beanie Wells is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry. The Eagles should provide a brief reprieve as they're ranked 16th in the NFL with 105 rushing-yards-allowed per game.
Connections: Kolb, most obviously. The former Eagles quarterback was expected to be the man in Arizona last season but ended up watching Skelton take the team on his back. Skelton won the starting nod in fall camp, but Kolb has won two big games since taking over after Skelton's ankle injury against the Seahawks, and he has some extra motivation against his old team.
Stat you should know: Arizona remains one of the hottest teams in football. The Cardinals are off to their first 2-0 start since 2008 and have won in crazy fashion.
Prediction: Cardinals 24, Eagles 22
Get the latest news and analysis on the Cardinals from Jon Gold @CBSCardinals.