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Eagles-Cardinals scouting report
DEFENSE
Eagles: 288.6 yards per game (6th)
Cardinals: 301.7 yards per game (11th)
Defensive line
Eagles: Cardinals use mainly 3- and 4-wide receiver formations, so Jim Johnson's nickel and dime personnel will be on the field more than his base group. That means more Darren Howard and Victor Abiamiri at the tackle spots and less Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson. RE Trent Cole has four sacks in the last three games.
Cardinals: They are a hybrid 3-4 defense that switches to a four-man front in passing situations, which, against the Eagles, will be on almost every down. None of their down-linemen are great pass-rushers. Cardinals have only 24 sacks, just eight in the last six games.
PICK: EAGLES
Linebacker
Eagles: Last November, Jim Johnson frequently used SLB Chris Gocong, a former college DE, as a pass-rusher against the Patriots' four-WR sets. The strategy helped the Eagles' defense keep Tom Brady off-balance. Johnson just might employ the same strategy tomorrow against the Cardinals' four-WR formations.
Cardinals: WLB Karlos Dansby is a fast, athletic playmaker who is outstanding in coverage. His speed makes running screens to his side next to impossible. Former Steeler Clark Haggans is a solid run-defender and pass-rusher, but he missed the Giants game with a foot injury and is questionable for tomorrow's game.
PICK: CARDINALS
Secondary
Eagles: Eagles have just one interception in the last four games. If Asante Samuel, who suffered a neck stinger against Baltimore, can't play, it's going to leave the Eagles at a major matchup disadvantage vs. Cards' four-WR sets. They'll have to replace Samuel with S Sean Considine in their dime package.
Cardinals: They have given up a league-high 22 touchdown passes. Six of their last nine opponents had a 65-plus completion percentage vs. them. Ex-Eagle CB Rod Hood has just one interception and is nursing a sore rib. Rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has a lot of talent, but still makes a lot of mistakes.
PICK: EAGLES
Special teams
Eagles: KR Quintin Demps and PR DeSean Jackson both are home-run threats who could have a positive influence on field position against the Cardinals' struggling coverage units. P Sav Rocca's net average has dropped 4 yards (from 41.9 to 37.9) in the last five games.
Cardinals: Cards' coverage units have been a problem. They're 25th in punt coverage and 28th in kickoff coverage. Gave up 83- and 68-yard KRs to the Giants' Domenik Hixon last week. J.J. Arrington is third in the league in KRs with a 29.4-yard average. PK Neil Rackers has one of the league's strongest legs.
PICK: EVEN
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