Playoff berth is still the goal of the Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
A playoff appearance is hanging in the balance as the Arizona Cardinals prepare to meet the Philadelphia Eagles in week 15
Fans of the Arizona Cardinals are well aware of the fact that the team we love has not made the playoffs in quite some time. The franchise’s last trip to the postseason was back in 2015, when Carson Palmer was the quarterback and Bruce Arians was the head coach. With three games remaining in the 2020 campaign, there’s a decent possibility that the Cards could soon put an end to that five-year dry spell.
Currently standing in the way of that goal is the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona’s week 15 opponent. Las Vegas oddsmakers have installed the Redbirds as a 6.5 point favorite over an Eagles club that has posted an unimpressive 4-8-1 record this fall. Sounds like the Cardinals should have no problem beating Philly this coming Sunday at State Farm Stadium, correct?
Actually, this matchup could be much tougher for the Cards than it looks. Last weekend, the Eagles prevailed over the New Orleans Saints, a squad that has won 10 contests this year and lost just three. Philadelphia pulled off the surprising upset with Jalen Hurts, a talented rookie signal-caller who was making his first NFL start.
Although they’ve posted just four wins this season, the Eagles still have something to play for when they clash with the Cardinals. At the moment, head coach Doug Pederson‘s group is just 1.5 games out of first place in the pathetic NFC East. A victory over Arizona, combined with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks by the Washington Football Team, would put Philadelphia just a half game out of the division lead.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, are currently in possession of the NFC’s seventh and final playoff spot. A triumph over the Eagles would give Kliff Kingsbury‘s crew an 8-6 record, and increase their odds of securing that postseason berth that has eluded them for so long. When all is said and done, the Cards are the better team, and prove it by registering a 33-20 victory over the birds from Philly.