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Cardinals Come Through In Clutch, Beat Eagles 21-17; Vick Played With Broken Ribs

The Arizona Cardinals did it. They finally came up with the big drive on offense and got the big stops. Skelton was good, the defense and Larry Fitzgerald were great.

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24 Total Updates since November 8, 2011
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Larry Fitzgerald (Finally) Wins NFC Offensive Player Of The Week

The Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzergerald wins the NFC Offensive Player of the Week Award. But what's odd about that?

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Michael Vick Broke Ribs Early In Cardinals Game, Daryl Washington Delivered Hit

The Arizona Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in a game that featured a poor performance from Michael Vick. Monday morning Eagles head coach Andy Reid announced that Vick played the entire game with two broken ribs. Vick was visibly inaccurate with his passes and finished the game completing just 16-34 (47%) which is well below his 60 percent completion rate for the season. 

According to Reid, Vick broke two lower ribs on the second offensive play of the game. The replay shows that play was a 2nd and 2 with Vick lined up in the shotgun. The Cardinals blitzed inside linebacker Daryl Washington off the left side of the line.

Washington was completely unblocked and hit Vick with his shoulder in the mid-section just as the ball was released. The pass was completed to TE Brent Celek for a 13-yard gain. The replay didn't show any issue at the time. Vick got up from the hit and ran the next play with no indication he was hurt.

According to Reid, Vick didn't know the injury was as bad as it was and he didn't inform the team of any issues. It's impossible to say how much the injury impacted Vick's performance in the game.

In the fourth quarter of the game at about the seven minute mark, Vick was knocked out of the game after getting hit in the mid-section on a run by ILB Paris Lenon. Vick was replaced for on play by Vince Young and it was reported at the time that Vick had the wind knocked out of him. He finished the game.

For more news and analysis on everything related to the Cardinals, check out Revenge of the Birds. If you're looking for Eagles updates, check out Bleeding Green Nation.

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Arizona Cardinals Stun Philadelphia Eagles, Santa Claus Booed In Absentia

The Arizona Cardinals did something Sunday in Week 10 of the NFL season that we've not seen in a long time, they won a game on the road. Sure, they made numerous mistakes that should have cost them the victory but they came back, overcame and got their first road win in 11 tries.

Despite two John Skelton interceptions that led to 10 points and despite two missed field goals from Jay Feely that cost six easy points, the Cardinals were able to put together that big drive and get that big play that's eluded them all season long. They leave Philadelphia with a 21-17 win and improve to 3-6 on the season, the same record as the "Dream Team" Eagles now have.

The game came down to the fourth quarter, a period that has not been kind to either of these teams. The Cardinals had chances to win games four times this season in the fourth quarter and failed. The Eagles have now blown five fourth-quarter leads on the season.

Something had to give and this Sunday, it was John Skelton giving Larry Fitzgerald his best game of the season and a game-winning play.

It started about about the eight-minute mark when Skelton threw the ball between two open receivers and into the waiting hands of defender Nnamdi Asomugha. It was his second pick of the game with the first going for a touchdown in the first half.

After the pick, the Cardinals defense, which has looked a lot better over the last two weeks, held the Eagles to four plays or fewer for the eighth time in the game. But starting from the 26-yard line they were already in range of a go-ahead field goal.

Arizona got the ball back down 17-14 with about five minutes on the clock and for the first time all season put together the winning drive they needed.

It was a 37-yard bomb to Fitzgerald that moved the Cardinals to first and goal but before that Skelton completed an 11-yard pass to Fitz, a 17-yard pass to Chester Taylor, and got a huge 30-yard gain on a wheel play to LaRod Stephens-Howling on fourth and two.

The winning drive was capped off with a third down touchdown pass to Early Doucet which put the Cardinals on top for good. The defense capped off the game by forcing Michael Vick into a 3rd and 20 and intercepted a Hail Mary to put the win to bed.

It was fitting that the defense got the final stop after putting together their best game of the season. 

The Eagles were only able to generate one long scoring drive in the game and finished with just 3-of-15 third downs converted. The defense held Vick in check on the ground (79 yards on eight carries) which is a lot of yards but they came in smallish chunks and weren't damaging. Through the air Vick had 128 yards on 16-34 with two interceptions and another two reversed by the officials.

John Skelton at times looked shaky with his accuracy and both interceptions were poorly thrown balls. But as we've seen from him, Skelton showed great poise in the pocket and proved to be resilient and unflappable. He's now 2-0 on the season and 4-2 as a starter for the Cardinals in his career. He finished with 315 yards on 21-40 passing and three touchdowns to go with the two INTs.

It was enough to win but only thanks to a big game from the defense.

Beanie Wells was fairly well contained, 62 yards on 23 carries, but his ability to at least keep the defense honest was important. It was also good to see the Cardinals going to him even when the yards weren't there.

Larry Fitzgerald had 146 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns. It was his biggest game of the season as Skelton was able to find him for several big plays. Twice Fitzgerald was able to make great catches on tipped balls and the final long bomb catch was a thing of beauty.  

It wasn't a pretty win, but a team that came in a 14-point underdog with a horrible road history will take it. Next up is another road game against the NFC West leading San Francisco 49ers.

For more news and analysis on everything related to the Cardinals, check out Revenge of the Birds. If you're looking for Eagles updates, check out Bleeding Green Nation.

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Cardinals Vs. Eagles Score Update: Two Missed Feely FGs Leave Score Tied

The Arizona Cardinals got off to a good start on both sides of the ball. They got stops on the Philadelphia Eagles first three drives. Offensively, they moved the ball 45 yards on eight plays before Jay Feely missed a 35-yard field goal on an early drive. Later in the first quarter, after John Skelton put together a 49-yard drive, Feely missed a second field goal, this time from 43 yards. Instead of being up 6-0, the Cardinals are tied with the Eagles with no score after the first 15 minutes of play.

The energy on defense looked good for Arizona and offensively the Cardinals got a mix of rush and pass with Beanie Wells going only five yards but he did get eight carriers which should pay off later in the game. John Skelton, making his second start of the season in place of an injured Kevin Kolb, threw for 69 yards on 4-9 including a 42 completion to Larry Fitzgerald.

The Eagles dynamic quarterback, Michael Vick, has been well-contained by the defense and has missed several open receivers. He's only thrown for 21 yards on 3-9 and has nine yard rushing. LeSean McCoy has 26 yards on four carries. 

The Cardinals have played well but are going to regret the two missed scoring opportunities.

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Cardinals Vs. Eagles Inactive List: Kevin Kolb And Todd Heap Official Out

The Arizona Cardinals will officially be without starting quarterback Kevin Kolb for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. That's really no surprise given his inability to practice at all this week. It will be the second missed game for Kolb who injured his toe and foot in Baltimore and hasn't played or practiced since. John Skelton will start.

More surprising for the Cardinals is TE Todd Heap. Heap was reportedly "very close" when he was sidelined against the Ravens with a hamstring issue. He then suited up against the Rams last Sunday but was very limited and hardly played at all. This week he was supposed to be much better but apparently suffered a setback and will miss another game this week.

The Cardinals are also again without rookie TE Rob Housler (groin). Housler also missed the Rams game. Without Housler and Heap the Cardinals are missing their two best pass-catching tight ends. Jeff Kind and Jim Dray will play.

The only good news on the injury front is the return of FB Anthony Sherman (ankle).

Other inactives for the Cardinals are OT D'Anthony Batiste, S Kerry Rhodes (foot), LB Joey Porter (knee) and WR Stephen Williams. 

Starting guard Evan Mathis is out with turf toe for the Eagles and we already know about WR DeSean Jackson being suspending for his sleep mistakes.

For more news and analysis on everything related to the Cardinals, check out Revenge of the Birds. If you're looking for Eagles updates, check out Bleeding Green Nation.

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DeSean Jackson Inactive Sunday, Missed Eagles Team Meeting

The Arizona Cardinals need any help they can get to have a chance at staying competitive with the Philadelphia Eagles. They got some good news Sunday morning with word coming from Philly that Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson has been suspended for the game because he missed a team meeting on Saturday.

Multiple reports indicate that Jackson overslept and missed the entire meeting. The Cardinals kicker and Twitter personality Jay Feely wasted no time getting a joke in:

Twitter / @jayfeely: Headed to Philly. I want t ...
Headed to Philly. I want to thank Kramer for letting Desean Jackson sleep at his place Friday night

In case you missed it, Feely was referencing an episode of the TV show Seinfeld where Kramer creates similar issues as Jackson -- "I guess I hit the snooze."

Jackson is third on the Eagles in receptions (29) but is their best deep threat with an average of 17.3 yards per catch. Fantasy football owners at least have time to reset their lineups...if they are alert this Sunday morning.

For more news and analysis on everything related to the Cardinals, check out Revenge of the Birds. If you're looking for Eagles updates, check out Bleeding Green Nation. 

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Patrick Peterson Can't Be Stopped...Or Officiated It Seems

Arizona Cardinals rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson is quickly becoming a star. He spent pretty much the entire week on Sports Center every hour thanks to his walk-off punt return touchdown against the Rams. It was the third of the season for young Patrick and by far his best.

While the punt returns have caught the public eye, it remains to be seen if the league's officials have yet to see enough of Peterson to give him the benefit of the doubt that other veteran cornerbacks seem to get. At least that's the feeling of Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton who doesn't want Peterson to change anything about the way he's playing the game despite a high number of penalties he's been called for.

"Hopefully the league will look and he gets the same amount of respect, eventually, as the guy in New York, as the guy in Philadelphia and they just don't call those type things," Horton said.

"It's kind of like 'Jordan Rule'. You start to understand that this kid is good and he's going to be on a guy because he's so good and tight coverage and he's just there all the time. They are probably not used to a young guy like that." 

Peterson has seven penalties in his last four games. The guy in New York, Darrelle Revis, has two this season. The guy in Philadelphia, Nnamdi Asomugha, has four.

Speed kills

Not that this is a surprise, but what makes the Eagles so dangerous according to Horton is their speed at all the skill positions on offense. The defensive key is to stop the Eagles from making big plays.

"(Michael Vick) has this rare speed, unless you've played this guy you see it on film and think, 'I can get there' -- you don't. He's a challenge. You just understand he's going to get out every once in a while," Horton said.

For more on this game, visit Revenge of the Birds.

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Cardinals Vs. Eagles: Kevin Kolb Status Update, Beanie Wells Feels Better

The Arizona Cardinals won't say is quarterback Kevin Kolb will play on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. As has been the case all week, all we heard on Friday was more about the progress Kolb has made in rehabing the foot injury. His status to play will officially be listed as "questionable" and he was called a game-time decision by coach Ken Whisenhunt.

While Kolb might have been able to more Friday than Thursday, he still didn't practice with the team which is indication that he likely won't play. He's not practiced in over two weeks.

"He's a lot better. He's got a lot more range of motion in that foot. He really pushed it hard yesterday and it did well today so that's a great sign," coach Ken Whisenhunt said on Friday before the team left for the airport.

He'll be evaluated Sunday morning to see how he's able to move and push off with the foot.

Other injury updates

TE Todd Heap is still working to get back from his hamstring injury. His status and how much he's used will depend on how he warms up on Sunday in Philadelphia.

RB Beanie Wells did a lot more in practice this week and feels better. Whisenhunt said, "You don't want to jinx it...but you're hopeful that he's over the hump with that (knee injury)."

FB Anthony Sherman (ankle) made a lot of progress this week as well. He has a "great chance" of being able to go on Sunday.

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Kevin Kolb Injury Update: The Most Important Toe In Arizona Making Progress, Didn't Practice

The news about the most important toe in Arizona is mixed on Wednesday. Kevin Kolb didn't practice but did do some drills and individual work. He again reported progress but wouldn't say either way if he'll be able to play Sunday for the Cardinals when the team travels to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. 

"I don't know yet," Kolb said when asked about his status for the game. "I said before, we'll take it day by day and today was a step in the right direction for sure."

The main thing for Kolb continues to be mobility and ability to generate force on his throws. 

Kolb obviously wants to face his former team and definitely is doing everything he can to be ready.

"It would mean a lot (to play against the Eagles). Anybody can say they don't circle it on their calendar, but you do," Kolb said.

He said he has no idea how the typically hostile Philadelphia fans would respond to seeing him in a Cardinals jersey. 

Coach Ken Whisenhunt implied that he wants to see Kolb practice this week if he's going to play. With only Thursday and Friday left, we'll have to wait and see what happens. Kolb said he would decide tomorrow morning about that based on how the injury responds to work he did today.

Other injury updates

Whisenhunt said that Safety Kerry Rhodes was still at least several weeks away. Rhodes broke a bone in his foot and had surgery about a month ago. TE Todd Heap (hamstring) played a little bit last Sunday and should be cleared for a larger role this week. Rookie TE Todd Housler sounds like he will miss another week although nothing is official on that.

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