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After dominant victory, Eagles in position for fun, fascinating season | Mike Sielski

The outcome of their 34-7 victory Sunday over the Cardinals was never in doubt. Now, they can start to think bigger.

Eagles’ Vinny Curry sacks Cardinals QB Carson Palmer.
Eagles’ Vinny Curry sacks Cardinals QB Carson Palmer.Read more(David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)
    by Mike Sielski | Columnist
    Published 

It all gets very interesting for the Eagles now, in the aftermath of their 34-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, an outcome that ceased to be mysterious before the first quarter was half over. By the end of that first 15-minute period, the Eagles led by 21 points — on three Carson Wentz passes — and the Cardinals had accumulated 21 total yards of offense. It was over that quickly, that decisively, and it was appropriate to start thinking ahead, about what might be possible.

The Eagles are 4-1, 3-0 in the NFC, 2-0 in the NFC East, and at least a game ahead of every other team in their division. They have survived the loss of their top cornerback, Ronald Darby, and their best defensive player, tackle Fletcher Cox. They may have to withstand the loss, for another game or more, of right tackle Lane Johnson, who left Sunday's game with what was officially called a "head injury." (It's likely the injury was a concussion and not, say, a lacerated earlobe.) They will face a challenge this week, too: a three-day turnaround to prepare for a Thursday night game in Charlotte against the Carolina Panthers.

But they have given themselves some margin for error here, and to the credit of head coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, they are playing with crispness and confidence. To the credit of special teams coach Dave Fipp, they are also playing like a well-rounded football team, too. (Who knew Kenjon Barner was capable of going full-Billy-"White-Shoes"-Johnson as a punt-returner?)

So, the look ahead: At Carolina, then three consecutive home games before the bye week against Washington, San Francisco, and Denver. If the Eagles go 2-2 over those games, which at this point would represent abject disappointment, they will be 6-3 and rested, with a Sunday night matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington on Nov. 19 looming. And Cox should be back. And maybe Darby, too. And maybe everything goes from interesting to downright fascinating, and full of promise, for the Eagles by then.

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