Eagles get sloppy after stellar start, lead 21-7 at the half
Carson Wentz interception mars excellent opening against Arizona.
The Eagles came out flying Sunday against a group of Arizona Cardinals that seemed at least a couple of time zones behind.
Carson Wentz became the first Eagles quarterback to ever throw three first-quarter touchdown passes, and the home team held on for a 21-7 halftime advantage that should have been larger.
Wentz finished the first quarter 7 of 9 for 121 yards, those three TDs (to Trey Burton, Zach Ertz and Torrey Smith) and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
The Cards put together a 75-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, almost all of it at the expense of Jalen Mills, but that was just a blip for a defense that kept constant pressure on Carson Palmer and shut down the Arizona running game.
The Eagles were driving for more points in the final minute of the first half when a Wentz pass too far in front of Ertz was intercepted in the end zone by safety Antoine Bethea, Wentz's first pick since the Kansas City game.
The Cards then drove the ball close enough for Phil Dawson to try a 50-yard field goal, which would have been a significant turnaround, but Patrick Robinson stormed in off the edge and blocked the kick.
Wentz went into halftime 12 for 17 for 158 yards and a 110.6 passer rating.
The first-half star no one saw coming was Kenjon Barner, who set up a touchdown with a 76-yard punt return and ran four times for 29 yards, tops on the team.