The Battle of 2-0: Arizona Cardinals Host the Philadelphia Eagles
By Scott Allen
Nov 13, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) goes in motion during the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Cardinals defeated the Eagles 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE
It’s back to black this afternoon in Glendale for the Arizona Cardinals. No, it’s not a pre-game concert by AC/DC, it’s back to the black jersey’s, my personal favorite, for a 2-0 Cardinals team that has a chance to go 3-0 for the first time since 1974. They will face another 2-0 team, the Philadelphia Eagles. The two teams have combined for four victories by a total of eight points. The Cards have a four-point victory and a two-point victory while the Eagles have scraped by with two one-point victories.
So, are these teams 2-0 by mistake, by default? No, despite the faults of both teams. For the visiting Eagles, they are 2-0 despite nine turnovers in the first two games against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. Against the Ravens, you’d expect that but it was against the Browns that Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was intercepted four times. I can definitely see the Cards defense coming up with a couple of big ones today. They bothered Vick much of last year’s victory in Philadelphia. With the Cards improved defense, I’d put money on a pick or two.
As for the Cards, their 2-0 might seem even more improbable not because of what has transpired on the field but more because of who they’ve played and where. Sure, it was a toss up who would be better in the opener against the Seattle Seahawks at home. However last week, a more than two-touchdown underdog going into the New England Patriots home opener, the Cardinals controlled the ball on offense without any major mistakes, save for a Ryan Williams fumble late in the game in which he was bailed out of, and a stifling defense that kept Pats quarterback Tom Brady pretty much in check and sacked him four times.
Today’s winner will be 3-0. Clearly 3-0 will us fans looking ahead. I guarantee you neither team would be looking no more ahead than next week with a victory today, but for the fans, we have the luxury of looking at the next several Cards games and can’t help think “what if?” Alas though, the Cards have been in this position before. In their Super Bowl season of 2008, the Cards started 2-0. Week three saw them go to Washington and lose 24-17. Week four saw them go into New York and get jack-stomped by the Jets 56-35. It can all change back to reality that quickly. We need to take one game at a time.