Dee FriedmanIn week 8, the Eagles will be coming off of a bye week prepared for their first road game in a month against a Cardinals team that has been very impressive at home. Both teams have second year coaches that have had excellent starts to their tenures. This is the second time in two years they will face-off; Philadelphia beat Arizona at Lincoln Financial Field 24-21 on December 1 last season. (Coincidentally, that game also followed the Eagles’ bye week.) Arizona committed all three turnovers in last season’s contest, while Nick Foles fired three touchdowns in the win for the Eagles. That was the only time the Eagles have prevailed in the last four games against Arizona, however; the Cardinals have also won three straight at home against Philadelphia dating back to 2005.
In week 8, the Eagles will be coming off of a bye week prepared for their first road game in a month against a Cardinals team that has been very impressive at home. Both teams have second year coaches that have had excellent starts to their tenures. This is the second time in two years they will face-off; Philadelphia beat Arizona at Lincoln Financial Field 24-21 on December 1 last season. (Coincidentally, that game also followed the Eagles’ bye week.) Arizona committed all three turnovers in last season’s contest, while Nick Foles fired three touchdowns in the win for the Eagles. That was the only time the Eagles have prevailed in the last four games against Arizona, however; the Cardinals have also won three straight at home against Philadelphia dating back to 2005.
The Eagles are 1-1 on the road (both straight-up and against the spread) with a 30-27 victory at Indianapolis and a 26-21 setback in San Francisco. Last year, Philly went 6-2 away from home and 5-3 against the number. Last year, Foles completed 59% of his passes in home games with six touchdowns and one interception while firing at a 68% completion rate. He had 21 scores and one pick on the road. However, this season Foles has a 63% completion percentage at home with nine scores and four interceptions, while the road has been an issue. Away from home, Foles is a shade over 52% passing in 2014 with one score and three picks.
Arizona is 3-0 at home and 2-1 against the number. Last year, the Cardinals were 6-2 at University of Phoenix Stadium and 5-3 ATS. In 2014, the Cards have already beat two very good football teams at home: they opened the season with a 18-17 win over San Diego (the Chargers’ only loss so far this year) and then beat NFC runners-up, San Francisco, 23-14 in week 3. Arizona also took advantage of turnovers in a 30-20 win over Washington on October 12. While Arizona wide receiver Michael Floyd has struggled in road games, he is averaging nearly five catches and just under 100 yards per game at home this year. Floyd will look to stay hot against an Eagles pass defense which ranks among the bottom third of NFL teams.
