Can quarterback Michael Vick lead the Eagles to a 3-0 start with a win over the Cardinals? (US Presswire)

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 56-54-5.

What matters: The Philadelphia Eagles are trying to go 3-0 for first time since 2006, the season they went to the Super Bowl under Andy Reid, and also strengthen their hold on first place in NFC East. The Eagles also know they have some tough games ahead of them, including consecutive games against the Steelers and Giants, and they need this one. More than anything, the Eagles need to prove they can put together a solid game on both sides of the ball after pulling out victories the last two weeks on last-minute drives.

Who matters: The Eagles enter this game against the Arizona Cardinals with at least one and probably two reserves taking over starting roles for injured offensive linemen -- Dallas Reynolds at center for Jason Kelce and Demetress Bell at left tackle for King Dunlap. The Cardinals have a solid front seven and that will prove a real challenge for the Eagles’ rebuilt offensive line, the guys who are supposed to protect Michael Vick’s very valuable hide. If the offensive line does its job --which is to give Vick and his playmakers time to do theirs – then the Eagles will win this one.

Key matchups: CBs Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie vs. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald. All of these guys are among the best at what they do, but Fitzgerald might be one of the best of all time. If he played in Dallas or New York, his picture would be on boxes of Wheaties. The Eagles’ defense is too solid for the Cardinals to put together long drives against it, so the Cards can only win if they jolt them with some big plays. And that’s the name of Fitzgerald’s game.

Injuries of note: WR Jeremy Maclin has a hip-pointer that kept him out of practice much of this week, but that’s the same thing that happened last week and he started, so we won’t really know about him until Sunday. Dunlap probably won’t even make the trip to Arizona, but everyone else is relatively healthy.

Inside stuff: TE Brent Celek has become Mike Vick’s go-to guy, especially against zone defenses, and there’s a good chance Vick will go to him a lot on Sunday to take the edge off the Cardinals’ pass rush. Celek is on pace to finish the season with 96 catches for 1,776 yards, which would break Eagles single-season records in both categories.

Connections: The main one is Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb, who used to play for the Eagles and, if things had gone according to the Eagles’ long-term plan at the time, would still play for them. Kolb’s time in Philadelphia was a rocky one at times, but he said he doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder for this game. Also, the player for whom Kolb was traded, Rodgers-Cromartie, played in Arizona for three seasons and went to the Pro Bowl as a member of the Cardinals in 2009.

Stat you should know: The Eagles have had their share of problems when they travel to Arizona -- they’ve won just three of their last 10 games there and one of those losses came in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.

Prediction: Cardinals 20, Eagles 17

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSEagles.