5 Bold Predictions for Philadelphia Eagles' Week 8 Matchup

For the Eagles, this marks the second straight year that Chip Kelly's squad plays the Cardinals immediately following the bye. Last year, the Eagles held on for a 24-21 victory, a game that ended up costing the Cardinals a playoff appearance.

This year, both teams have a 5-1 record. Home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs could very well be on the line when the Eagles travel to the West Coast to play the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8.

The Eagles are locked in a battle with the surprising Dallas Cowboys (6-1) in the NFC East, while the Cardinals hold a lead over the San Francisco 49ers (4-3) and Seattle Seahawks (3-3). 

The winner of next week's game takes a big step toward potentially locking up the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs. Continue reading for five predictions from the game. 

Nick Foles Plays Second Best Game of Season

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Nick Foles has come back to earth in 2014 after setting the NFL single-season record for touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2013. In six games this year, he's thrown 10 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and his 10 turnovers are tied for the most in the league.

Just one of Foles' six games was an above-average performance, and that was when the third-year signal caller shredded the Redskins in a 37-34 shootout victory. Inconsistency, struggles in the running game and injuries on the offensive line have affected Foles, but it's clear that the former third-round pick just hasn't played as well as he could.

Although he's facing the league's fifth-ranked scoring defense, Foles is due for a throwback 2013 performance. Expect Foles to complete more than 65 percent of his passes for 250 yards and a couple of touchdowns. More importantly, he won't turn the ball over. 

LeSean McCoy Bottled Up

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Although he's coming off his best performance of the season, LeSean McCoy has been mostly a disaster running the football this season. This includes games in which he rushed for 22 yards and 17 yards. He's averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, and he's scored just a single touchdown. 

The Cardinals are allowing just 3.2 yards per carry this season, the best mark in the league. Credit defensive coordinator Todd Bowles (who had a disastrous second-half stint with the 2012 Eagles), who is succeeding without defensive ends Calais Campbell and John Abraham and linebacker Daryl Washington. 

McCoy is going to struggle to find holes against this defense, and without veteran Darren Sproles to spell McCoy out of the backfield, it's going to be a long day for the Eagles running game. 

Monster Game for Vinny Curry

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Just two years ago, rookie Vinny Curry couldn't even get on the field for the Eagles. Now the third-year defensive end is quickly turning into one of the best situational pass-rushers in the league. 

"

135 NFL defensive linemen have played more snaps than Vinny Curry. He's 9th in the NFL in sacks.

— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) October 19, 2014"

Curry, who mostly lines up at left end, will be facing Cardinals right tackle Bobby Massie, one of the worst pass-blockers in the game. I'm predicting 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble for Curry, who still probably won't play more than half the snaps. 

Torched by Larry Fitzgerald, as Usual

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Even though he's a far cry from the elite wide receiver he used to be, Larry Fitzgerald is still capable of torching a bad pass defense. And in case you weren't aware, the Eagles have a bad pass defense. 

Fitzgerald has made a living out of torching the Eagles, as he's averaged seven catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns per game in his career against Philly. Now 31, he's probably the second option on his team behind former first-round pick Michael Floyd, but against Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher, he should have a big day. 

Eagles Win by Double Digits

Michael Perez/Associated Press

The Eagles are going to win this football game and continue their quest for the top overall seed in the NFC. They're a better football team than the Cardinals, and playing on the road is offset by the Eagles' extra week of preparation for the game. 

If the Eagles can get either Nick Foles and the passing game or LeSean McCoy and the running game clicking, they'll be able to score their usual 25 or 30 points. That doesn't count whatever touchdown the special teams decides to score this week (What's left? A blocked field goal return for a touchdown?). 

Carson Palmer should be able to pick apart the Eagles' weak secondary, but Chip Kelly's offense is just too explosive for the Cardinals to slow down. When you consider the Cardinals' lack of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, I'm going to go ahead and confidently predict a victory for the Eagles. 

Eagles 27, Cardinals 17.