The Philadelphia Eagles will be tested Sunday when they travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals. It will be the weekend's only matchup between two division leaders.
Despite being decimated by injuries along the offensive line, the Eagles have managed to stay afloat on the back of solid defensive play. Quarterback Nick Foles hasn't fared as well as he did in 2013 when he threw only two picks, but he remains an effective player in head coach Chip Kelly's offense. The production hasn't been there for star running back LeSean McCoy, but he finally broke out of his slump against the New York Giants on Oct. 12. He'll be counted on to have a big game again Sunday.
The Cardinals have had to deal with injuries to quarterbacks, several key defensive linemen and the team's best linebacker. Yet, they reign supreme in one of the NFL's most difficult divisions. Running back Andre Ellington is finally over his ankle injury and could have a big game against the Eagles.
McCoy's slump has been one of the dominant narratives of the NFL season. In seven games, he has averaged more than four yards per carry in a game just once. Just as troubling is that McCoy has only one touchdown on the season after scoring 11 last year. While the dropoff hasn't been as dramatic for Foles, he is completing just 59.5 percent of his passes and has more than tripled his interception count from a year ago.
One of the most disheartening developments has been the decline of Larry Fitzgerald. The future Hall of Famer has only 283 receiving yards on the year despite being healthy for all six of the Cardinals' games. The torch has been passed to receiver Michael Floyd, who averages an impressive 18.6 yards per catch. Rookie John Brown has also picked up some of the slack, leading the team in receiving touchdowns with three.
The Eagles enter Sunday's game with a record of 5-1. The Cardinals also come in at 5-1.
How to watch
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
When: 4:05 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Announcers: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale
Radio: Eagles Radio Network, Cardinals Radio Network
Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile
Odds
The Cardinals are 2.5-point favorites, according to OddsShark.
Further reading
For more on the Eagles, check out Bleeding Green Nation. For additional coverage of the Cardinals, head on over to Revenge of the Birds.