Cardinals-Eagles matchup has featured fun, competitive games

Arizona Cardinals owner, Bill Bidwill, flanked by Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill, left, and head coach Ken Whisenhunt, holds the NFC Championship trophy after beating the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.NFC Championship Game - Arizona Cardinals vs Philadelphia Eagles - Q4 - Bidwills, Ken Whisenhunt
Arizona Cardinals owner, Bill Bidwill, flanked by Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill, left, and head coach Ken Whisenhunt, holds the NFC Championship trophy after beating the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.NFC Championship Game - Arizona Cardinals vs Philadelphia Eagles - Q4 - Bidwills, Ken Whisenhunt /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 20: David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals runs the ball against Walter Thurmond #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 20, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 20: David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals runs the ball against Walter Thurmond #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 20, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

The year 2015 was the last time the Cardinals made the playoffs. They were an absolute force under Bruce Arians’ “No risk it, no biscuit” offense which emphasized the deep ball. Carson Palmer broke records that were previously held by Kurt Warner and Neil Lomax, David Johnson was looking an absolute steal and performing at a Pro Bowl level, and the defense was stout as well as the Cardinals finished with their best ever regular season record of 13-3.

This really was a blowout from the start, and there highs and lows from this game. The high was David Johnson’s version of the beastquake touchdown run, a blowout win on primetime television, and clinching the NFC West for the first time since 2009.

The low of the game was a senseless choice of putting in all-star safety Tyrann Mathieu on a punt return late in the game when there was no chance of the eagles winning. He ended up tearing his ACL, and his absence sure hurt the Cardinals in the NFC championship game were Carolina absolutely destroyed them. Philly finished the year 7-9 and did not qualify for the playoffs.