The coup de grâce for Larry Fitzgerald and the Philadelphia Eagles

When the NFL Hall of Fame is presented with the case for Larry Fitzgerald, there are going to be highlights of his play against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lots of plays.

Larry Fitzgerald and the Philadelphia Eagles. Oil and water. An open bar at an AA meeting. President Donald Trump and Twitter.

In the eight games Fitzgerald has played against the Eagles, he’s scored a touchdown in seven of them. Additionally, he has a total of 693 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns against the Eagles. As a result, the Arizona Cardinals are 6-2 against the Eagles with Fitzgerald. It’s been bad.

When the Cardinals have possession of the football this afternoon, we all know that Fitzgerald is the guy to watch for. Jalen Mills or Rasul Douglas will likely be matched up on Fitzgerald for much of the afternoon. Uh oh.

Entering Week Five, Fitzgerald leads the NFL with 10 red zone targets. Half of those have been inside the 10 yard line. Thus far this season, the Eagles are pretty formidable in the red zone. So, that begs a question: Can the Eagles stop Fitzgerald from terrorizing them for only the second time in eight games?

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Fitzgerald, running primarily from the slot, has been his usual self when it matters the most this season. Just ask the San Francisco 49ers. Perhaps the best question to ask is whether the Eagles can stop Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. Missing Fletcher Cox will only help Palmer and Fitzgerald. However, no pressure? That means no problem for the opposing quarterback. It’s also likely a big problem for the secondary.

What we have seen out of the Eagles thus far this season could indicate that today might be different in one particular way. The Eagles have been playing very loose coverage this season. Fortunately, it’s netted positive results. Bend, but don’t break. A staple of the Jim Johnson-era Eagles defense.

It showed early on against the Los Angeles Chargers in particular. Corners were five to seven yards off the outside receivers nearly every play. The reason is simple: The defensive line is producing pressure.

The Cardinals will be missing D.J. Humphries and potentially Alex Boone on the offensive line. As a result, the Eagles have the chance to put Palmer in an uncomfortable position. In order to do so, they will need to get more than just pressure. The Eagles currently rank 20th in the NFL in sacks (10). Sacks are going to be necessary today.

Next: The Eagles Must Get To Carson Palmer

Forcing the Cardinals into a one-dimensional offense is also going to be effective. In the three wins this season, the Eagles have allowed an average of 57 rushing yards per game. Thus far, the Cardinals have the second worst rushing attack in the NFL. They average a measly 2.7 yards per carry, and only 57 yards per game. The defensive linemen for the Eagles can pin their ears back.

There’s no doubt that Fitzgerald deserves all the credit in the world for his accomplishments. He might even shred this patchwork secondary a few new holes this afternoon. If the Eagles can neutralize the rest of the Cardinals offense though, Fitzgerald and his accomplishments become irrelevant.

It has been a painful ride thus far. The 2009 NFC Championship game. An 80-yard touchdown to open the second half in 2014. Multiple touchdown performances in November. Today however, the Eagles defense has a chance to put those memories in the past. Bend but don’t break. Give Fitzgerald his seven catches for 80 yards. If the Eagles can avoid giving up plays in the red zone, they can come out victorious. For all the stats Fitzgerald has against the Eagles, at the end of the day, the team that wins the game has the best statistic of them all.

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