Eagles vs. Cardinals Preview: 'All Love' For New Year's Eve Matchup

Eagles vs. Cardinals Week 17 Preview: 'All Love' For New Year's Eve Matchup

The Philadelphia Eagles host the Arizona Cardinals in a New Year's Eve afternoon matchup highlighted by two teams headed in different directions. 

The Eagles are playing for a chance at the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, currently sitting in a three-way tie (with Niners, Lions) for the best record in the NFC. Arizona is already eliminated from the postseason with an eye on the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Cardinals could be in line for a top-3 draft pick with a big question looming: is Kyler Murray their franchise quarterback or will they look elsewhere next season?

The Eagles snapped a three-game skid with a Christmas Day win against the New York Giants in Week 16. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are fresh off their second consecutive double-digit loss in a defeat to the Chicago Bears. 

jalen hurts / USA Today

Philadelphia looks to get after duel-threat Murray, who has hit the ground running this season after a torn ACL in 2022. In six games, Murray has 34 carries for 187 yards and three touchdowns.

Regardless of what the Dallas Cowboys do over the final two games of the season, if the Eagles are victorious in their remaining contests against the Cardinals and Giants, Philly will win the NFC East. However, the Eagles do have two clinching scenarios for Week 17:

- Eagles defeat Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys lose to Detroit Lions

- Eagles tie Cardinals and Cowboys lose to Lions

Quarterback Jalen Hurts looks to find some positive momentum in the next two games after setting a career-high in turnovers (18). Hurts' overall completion percentage has also suffered; He has not completed over 65 percent of his passes in four of his last five games.

RECORDS: Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)

ODDS: Philadelphia is a 9.5-point favorite vs. the Cardinals

GAME TIME: Sunday Dec. 31st, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, PA

TV/RADIO: FOX, 94WIP

THE FINAL WORD: Sunday will serve as a reunion for many Eagles players, playing against their former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.

"Gannon's my boy, man. I miss him," defensive end Josh Sweat said via ESPN. "A lot of energy and a great coach. We've got to whoop his ass. We can't let him [come in and beat us]. But after, it's all love."