Eagles Stumble Badly In 40-17 Loss To Arizona

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Bob and his family of four couldn't escape the chill and the misery that they just witnessed fast enough. When an usher in the upper level of Lincoln Financial Field Sunday night asked if they'll see them again this Saturday against the visiting Washington Redskins for what could be for the NFC East Division title, Bob shrugged and exclaimed, "Why?"

The opaque Eagles added more clarity to their 2015 helter-skelter identity with what was supposed to be a defining game against one of the NFL's best, the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals, who were looking for a franchise-record eight-straight wins.

It was defining all right: Arizona smoked the Eagles, 40-17, thanks in part to three Philadelphia turnovers, one that was returned for a touchdown.

The Cardinals proved they're a team that could play well into January. The Eagles further proved they're a mediocre lot whose fanbase has reached an apathetic point where they don't care whether the Eagles reach the postseason or not.

Sam Bradford also remains an enigma. He looked sharp at times on Sunday, skittish at other times. But when the game mattered, when he had a chance to show he could lead the Eagles back against a quality team, he faltered wretchedly. Bradford completed 28 of 41 for 361 yards and two touchdowns—and two interceptions, one was Deone Bucannon's 39-yard pick-six with 14:50 to play that sent the fans scurrying for the exit tunnels.

Tailback David Johnson thrashed the Eagles for 187 yards rushing on 29 carries, and three touchdowns of 1, 47 and 1 yard. He averaged 6.4 yards a carry and did more getting up from the bench that DeMarco Murray did the whole game. The Eagles' high-priced free agent carried twice for three yards.

The Cardinals pounded the Eagles for 493 yards of total offense. Carson Palmer was 20 for 32, for 274 yards and a touchdown. After the Eagles tied the game on a 22-yard TD from Bradford to Zach Ertz, the Eagles then went, punt, downs, punt, fumble, fumble, interception on their next six possessions.

Arizona scored the next 27 points and left little doubt how good the Cardinals area.

For the Eagles, it was another ugly loss. It also was frustrating, considering the way the Eagles played the previous two weeks, and shoved any true believers that the Eagles might possibly salvage something of this season into the dumpster fire.

The game was competitive for a half. The Cardinal took the opening possession and ripped through the Eagles for 78 yards on eight plays, ending with Johnson scoring the first of his three touchdowns from a yard out. The Eagles also got their defense on the field late on the TD. When Johnson bolted into the end, he so untouched. Trailing 23-10, in another sequence, Jason Peters was beaten by Markus Golden, who stripped Bradford at the Arizona 44. The Cardinals' Frostee Rucker recovered ending an Eagles drive with 5:49 left in the third quarter and the game still within reach.