Johnson runs for 3 TDs, Cardinals beat Eagles 40-17

The home team was victorious in both tilts between Kelly and Arians.

During Sunday night’s 40-17 loss to the Cardinals, Murray managed just two carries for 3 yards, and was left on the sideline during a critical fourth and 1 with the Eagles down by 7 late in the first half. Three times, a frustrated Beckham was penalized for roughness. The ready-for-prime-time Cardinals improved to 5-0 in night games this season.

A franchise record for wins in a single season (12). As such, the Eagles need a win to remain tied with the Redskins atop the division or they’ll fall a game back with only two left. Win, and they’re still alive.

Here are three big takeaways from the Cards’ historic win. The last time they couldn’t do it was 2012, which was, coincidentally, Reid’s final year in charge. The 8.8-yards per attempt average he came into Sunday’s game with is a career high, and you don’t expect that from someone who’s about to turn 36. “I thought we were going to get it on fourth-and-1”.

The game was not without a couple of highlights for the Eagles. He finished 28 of 41 for 361 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

But where was DeMarco Murray?

On offense, quarterback Cam Newton has been impressive manufacturing offense with a ragtag group of wide receivers, but the Panthers will lose some flexibility with running back Jonathan Stewart out with a foot injury. Murray is 14 for 14 on third and fourth downs of 2 yards or less, but he didn’t get a carry until the third quarter.

No matter, the Cardinals drove methodically down the field and scored anyway, helped by a short pass from Palmer to tight end Brandon Fells, who then carried Maxwell on his back for another 15 yards or so before finally getting pulled down at the 7.

If the Eagles (6-8) defeat Washington (7-7) at the Linc and the New York Giants (6-8) in the regular season finale on the road they’re in the tournament by virtue of best record in common games. Break out the party balloons.

The Eagles almost got another huge play on special teams when Patrick Peterson fumbled a punt return, but Arizona recovered the ball. The Eagles still control their postseason hopes entering the final two games. But hey, you have to be in the postseason to at least have a shot. We’ve reached the point where it’s safe to say this unit won’t help the Cardinals this year.

But defensive coordinator Bill Davis didn’t want to hear it.

The Birds reverted to some bad habits from earlier this season, and that is turning over the ball.

The first came with a promising drive having gained Arizona territory. Markus Golden’s strip sack pried the ball loose from Bradford, the Cardinals recovering at their own 44.

Ryan Mathews started and got most of the carries, with 11 carries for 58 yards. That would’ve been the case even if the Eagles had won Sunday. Palmer is now the 2nd best in yards [4,003], quarterback rating [107.2], and touchdowns [31]. Its receivers were believed to be the main threat to the Birds. When Murray was finally deemed fit to be part of the offensive game plan, he did nearly nothing on two carries, gaining three yards and nothing else but a post-game nod from Kelly. Keeping any of them under wraps, much less all of them, is a huge challenge for any defense, much less one as inconsistent as this. He has 12 touchdowns this season. “Again, I think we’ve got to catch the ball better for him”.

It’s one of many hits to the first-year personnel acumen of head coach Chip Kelly, who also presides over a defense who blew several coverages and tackled Johnson at a level that most high-school defensive coaches would find unacceptable.