NFC Championship Game
Philadelphia Eagles 25 - Arizona Cardinals 32
Cardinals dream continues as they
advance to Super Bowl with 32-25 Championship victory over Eagles
Recap: Down and out for
decades, the Arizona Cardinals have turned a bad joke into a Super Bowl-bound
team.
Yes, the Cardinals, founding members of the NFL, but historically among the most
dysfunctional of franchises, are heading for the championship game in Tampa.
Capitalizing on Larry Fitzgerald’s three first-half touchdown receptions, then
coolly marching downfield to Kurt Warner’s 8-yard scoring pass to rookie Tim
Hightower with 2:53 left, they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 32-25 Sunday for the
NFC championship.
“I want to say Arizona Cardinals and Super Bowl in the same sentence,” a
jubilant Warner said. “The Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl. How about it?”
Arizona (12-7) will face AFC champion Pittsburgh in two weeks in Tampa for the
NFL title. The Steelers beat Baltimore 23-14 later in the day.
“To make it to the Super Bowl and to have a chance, an opportunity to win it,
you relish those moments in your career,” said safety Adrian Wilson, the
longest-tenured Cardinal. “This being my eighth year, and to be in this
organization at this time with these players and these coaches, it’s a great
moment.”...
more
Video:
Cardinals Postgame Comments: Ken Whisenhunt, Kurt Warner, and Larry Fitzgerald talk about their exciting
32-25 victory over the Eagles and what it means to be going to the Superbowl
Watch CBS Videos Online
Eagles Postgame Comments: Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb discuss another disappointing NFC
Championship loss, this time at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals
Watch CBS Videos Online
Around the Net:
Dawkins apologizes to Eagles fans
Philadelphia Inquirer
"I want to apologize to the
fans," the Pro Bowl safety said after today's
32-25 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in
the NFC championship game. ...
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Celek’s big game not enough for Birds
Philadelphia Inquirer
All he knew was that he was
feeling as miserable as his teammates in the
Eagles' sullen locker room after the 32-25
loss to the Arizona Cardinals today took
...
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Scoring Summary |
PHI - ARI |
| 1st Quarter |
| 9:20 |
ARI |
TD |
Kurt Warner passed to Larry Fitzgerald down the middle
for 9 yard gain (Neil Rackers made PAT) |
0 - 7 |
| |
| 4:43 |
PHI |
FG |
David Akers kicked a 45-yard field goal |
3 - 7 |
| |
| 2nd Quarter |
| 13:19 |
ARI |
TD |
Kurt Warner passed to Larry Fitzgerald down the middle
for 62 yard gain (Neil Rackers made PAT) |
3 - 14 |
| |
| 9:02 |
PHI |
FG |
David Akers kicked a 33-yard field goal |
6 - 14 |
| |
| 3:06 |
ARI |
TD |
Kurt Warner passed to Larry Fitzgerald to the right for
1 yard gain (Neil Rackers made PAT) |
6 - 21 |
| |
| 0:00 |
ARI |
FG |
Neil Rackers kicked a 49-yard field goal |
6 - 24 |
| |
| 3rd Quarter |
| 4:08 |
PHI |
TD |
Donovan McNabb passed to Brent Celek to the left for 6
yard gain (David Akers made PAT) |
13 - 24 |
| |
| 0:49 |
PHI |
TD |
Donovan McNabb passed to Brent Celek down the middle for
31 yard gain (David Akers missed PAT) |
19 - 24 |
| |
| 4th Quarter |
| 10:45 |
PHI |
TD |
Donovan McNabb passed to DeSean Jackson to the right for
62 yard gain (2pt attempt failed, Donovan McNabb pass to Brian
Westbrook) |
25 - 24 |
| |
| 2:53 |
ARI |
TD |
Kurt Warner passed to Tim Hightower to the left for 8
yard gain (2pt attempt converted, Kurt Warner pass to Ben Patrick) |
25 - 32 |
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Team Statistics |
| |
PHI |
ARI |
| First Downs |
22 |
20 |
| Passing |
16 |
13 |
| Rushing |
5 |
6 |
| Penalty |
1 |
1 |
| Third Down Efficiency |
7-14 |
5-12 |
| Fourth Down Efficiency |
0-1 |
1-1 |
| TOTAL NET YARDS |
454 |
369 |
| Total Plays |
67 |
59 |
| Average Gain Per Play |
6.8 |
6.3 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING |
97 |
102 |
| Rushes |
18 |
29 |
| Average Per Rush |
5.4 |
3.5 |
| NET YARDS PASSING |
357 |
267 |
| Completions-Attempts |
28-47 |
21-28 |
| Yards Per Pass Play |
7.3 |
8.9 |
| Times Sacked |
2 |
2 |
| Yards Lost to Sacks |
18 |
12 |
| Had Intercepted |
1 |
0 |
| PUNTS |
1 |
5 |
| Average Punt |
58.0 |
37.2 |
| PENALTIES |
7 |
3 |
| Penalty Yards |
64 |
15 |
| FUMBLES |
3 |
1 |
| Fumbles Lost |
2 |
1 |
| TIME OF POSSESSION |
30:04 |
29:56 |
Preview: The Philadelphia
Eagles are no strangers to playing in the NFC championship game. They're making
their fifth appearance in eight seasons, but this trip was highly unexpected.
It's not as surprising as the Arizona Cardinals getting there.
In one of the NFL's most improbable conference title games, the Eagles and the
Cardinals look to continue their astonishing postseason runs on Sunday in
Glendale, Ariz. as they compete for a spot in the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia (11-6-1) and Arizona (11-7) met on Thanksgiving, but few could have
predicted that would be an NFC championship game preview. The teams entered that
matchup at Lincoln Financial Field headed in opposite directions...Preview
Prediction: I cant believe I am
writing this, but we are predicting the Cardinals to
defeat the Eagles and Donovan McChoke on Sunday. The
Cards defense has been unbelievable in the playoffs,
and Warner should have a big day as his offensive
weapons are returning. That's right, we are
predicting the Arizona Cardinals to represent the
AFC in the Super Bowl. It's about 33 degrees and
dropping in Hell right now.
Arizona 30 - Philadelphia 28
The Game Plans:
The
Eagles feel they can affect Kurt Warner's play by getting to him early and
putting a few hits on him. They feel he's a different quarterback when that
happens because hurrrying his throws can disrupt his accuracy. Eagles defensive
coordinator Jim Johnson expects to go with his nickel (five defensive backs) and
dime (six DBs) packages 80 to 85 percent of the time Sunday against Arizona,
because he expects Warner to try to air it out. The Cards will try to counter as
they have done lately very well with Edge and the running game forcing the
Eagles to play straight up.
The
Cardinals need another balanced approach on offense this week. The running game
has been productive in the past three weeks, and it's allowed offensive
coordinator Todd Haley to keep teams off-balance with his play calling. There
will be considerable pressure on the offensive line, the running backs and
Warner to handle the Eagles' many and varied blitzes.
Watch out for this:
Dating to the regular-season finale, the Cardinals have won
three straight, scored 30+ points in each contest and have posted a turnover
differential of +8
Just one of Philadelphia's last seven opponents has scored more
than 14 points (Arizona scored 20 on Thanksgiving) and the Eagles are giving up
an average of just 12.1 ppg during that span.
Video Preview: In one of the
NFL's most improbable conference title games, the Eagles and the Cardinals look
to continue their astonishing postseason runs on Sunday. Join Jason Horowitz and
Charley Casserly for a preview of the NFC Championship game
Watch CBS Videos Online
Statistically Speaking:
|
Eagles |
Average Team
Rankings |
Cardinals |
 13.3 |
Total Offense |
 12.9 |
|
9.1 |
Total Defense |
20.5 |
|
11.0 |
Passing Offense |
6.1 |
|
6.3 |
Passing Defense |
21.5 |
|
17.8 |
Rushing Offense |
25.2 |
|
7.2 |
Rushing Defense |
15.5 |
|
9.7 |
Receiving Offense |
9.0 |
|
9.5 |
Receiving Defense |
21.8 |
|
21.5 |
Punting |
29.2 |
|
13.5 |
Return |
14.7 |
|
10.3 |
Kicking |
24.5 |
|
Eagles Rankings
|
OFFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
106.1
(22nd) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
244.4
(6th) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
350.5
(9th) |
|
DEFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
92.3
(4th) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
182.1
(3rd) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
274.3
(3rd) |
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Cardinals Rankings
|
OFFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
73.6
(32nd) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
292.1
(2nd) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
365.8
(4th) |
|
DEFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
110.3
(16th) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
221.3
(22nd) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
331.5
(19th) |
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Around the Web:
Eagles-Cardinals NFC Championship Game preview
USA Today
The Eagles need to be able to stop James with their front seven
and force Cardinals QB Kurt Warner into third-and-long scenarios, where the
Eagles can use ...
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Better beware of Fitzgerald
Newsday
It also adds to the damage the Cardinals can inflict if, as
expected, Boldin returns to the lineup Sunday against the Eagles. Imagine the
doodles running ...
Eagles-Cardinals scouting report
Boston Globe
Eagles on offense: The Eagles' top offensive threat, Brian
Westbrook, has just 74 rushing and 93 receiving yards in the postseason, ...
Eagles Notes: Westbrook's knee a concern but he'll play
Philadelphia Inquirer
Lewis isn’t letting scratch bother him
Delaware County Daily Times
Conference championship opponents will see familiar and unfamiliar
Los Angeles Times
