Eagles-Cardinals talking points
1. Defenseless: Once considered a strength, the Eagles' defense surrendered at least 394 yards for the seventh time in eight games. Of course, this time it was expected, considering the Cardinals entered with the No. 1 offense in the NFL.
1. Defenseless: Once considered a strength, the Eagles' defense surrendered at least 394 yards for the seventh time in eight games. Of course, this time it was expected, considering the Cardinals entered with the No. 1 offense in the NFL.
2. Sam's world: Sam Bradford took heat all night from the blitzing Cardinals defense and was punished again and again. He had to exit the game for a play in the first quarter after a particularly tough hit, but he returned. Bradford finished 28-for-41 for 361 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, the first returned for a touchdown.
3. Running men: The three-headed running-back attack made little impression. Ryan Mathews started for the second straight game and finished with 11 carries for 58 yards, but was stopped on fourth-and-1 late in the second quarter. Darren Sproles carried six times for 9 yards. DeMarco Murray did not get a carry in the first half and finished with two carries for 3 yards.
4. Go for it: Chip Kelly elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Cardinals' 8. Fifty seconds remained int he first half. The Eagles trailed, 17-10. They were due to receive the kickoff after halftime. DeMarco Murray had not failed to convert a third-and-short or a fourth-and-short all season. It was not Murray but Ryan Mathews who ran over right tackle and was stopped short. Discuss.
5. Give it away, now: Bradford fumbled, Mathews fumbled and Bradford threw an interception on consecutive possessions in the second half. They had three turnovers in their previous three games combined (they finished with four). They had no more than one turnover in Bradford's five previous starts.
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