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Eagles 34, Cardinals 7: Five quick observations | Marcus Hayes

Carson Wentz continues to grow, throwing four TD passes and the defense shut down the visiting Cardinals as the Eagles moved to 4-1.

Eagles Carson Wentz, left, looks toward tight end Zach Ertz in the first half of the Eagles’ blowout win over the Cardinals.
Eagles Carson Wentz, left, looks toward tight end Zach Ertz in the first half of the Eagles’ blowout win over the Cardinals.Read moreMATT ROURKE / AP

Five quick postgame thoughts on the Eagles' 34-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field:

From Wentz it Came: In his 21st NFL game Carson Wentz kept on growing: 21-for-30 for 301 yards, a career-high four touchdowns and an interception in the 34-7 win that put the Birds at 4-1. He hit Torrey Smith for a 59-yard TD at the end of the first quarter then found Nelson Agholor for a 72-yard bomb in the third. His best pass came early in the game, a 16-yard missile to Alshon Jeffery that converted third-and-11 and set up a lovely, 15-yard corner TD toss to Trey Burton. He threw an 11-yard dart to Zach Ertz for a second TD. Wentz also threw an end-zone interception with 47 seconds to play in the first half, from the Cards' 25.

Puttin' off the Fitz: In the 34-7 win the defense allowed the fewest points since it shout out the Giants last year on Oct. 12. Larry Fitzgerald's 99 yards per game and 16.9 yards per catch in his seven games against the Eagles were the most against any team he'd faced at least four times, and his eight touchdown catches were the most against any non-divisional opponent. At 34 years old and in his 14th season, he entered with 26 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns in the first four games of 2017. He finished with six catches for 51 yards but had only three catches for 27 yards in the first three quarters.

Extra special: Kenjon Barner, a former Eagles backup running back signed off the street to replace Darren Sproles on Sept. 26, ripped off three punt returns for 110 yards, including a 76-yarder in the first quarter that set up the Eagles' second touchdown. Cornerback Patrick Robinson blocked a 51-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.

Pound & Ground: Doug Pederson joked that this was his new offensive identity after consecutive run-heavy wins (69 running back runs), and it seemed likely he'd stay grounded against the Cards' poor run defense, but, with Wendell Smallwood out (knee), Pederson called just 10 runs in the first half and 26 overall, for 104 yards, much of which came on LeGarrette Blount's 37-yarder.

Injury update: Already playing without their best defensive player, tackle Fletcher Cox, the Eagles lost right tackle Lane Johnson, their best offensive player. Johnson missed the second half with what the team called a "head injury." Second-year backup Halapoulivaati Vaitai replaced Johnson and played well. It was the second game Cox missed with a calf injury. The Birds play Thursday night at Carolina. The short week could diminish both players' chances to play.

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