Cardinals vs. Eagles: 3 Second-Half Keys to Victory for Philadelphia

In deciding to bench DeSean Jackson, Andy Reid dealt Eagles Nation a stunning blow. The prevailing wisdom is that Philadelphia will still have no problem defeating a tattered Cardinals squad—but this is the NFL, and Philly has learned not to take anything for granted.  

The Eagles have had a hard time getting much of anything going, but keeping these three things in mind will propel them to victory:

1. Ride LeSean McCoy

An errant throw that hung Jeremy Maclin out to dry left Michael Vick bereft of his No. 1 target. Throughout the first half, in fact, the Eagles QB was consistently a little off with his passes. Perhaps Philly felt they would be able to catch the Cardinals' secondary unawares with a steady diet of the air game, but with Vick struggling it's time to try something different. 

LeSean McCoy has been the backbone of the Eagles offense. Ride him to victory.

2. Bring the Heat on John Skelton

As Kevin Kolb has struggled, John Skelton has developed into a bizarre cult idol in Arizona. Far from a savior, however, Skelton has more often resembled the poet who served Henry VIII than an NFL starting quarterback. The Eagles defense allowed a few more pass completions than they would have liked, but consistent pressure will go a long way toward making Skelton less sure of himself and leading to bad throws.  

3. Turn to the Vick Running Game

Whenever Vick struggles to make throws, his legs serve as a reliable secondary option. His explosiveness is no secret to anybody in the NFL, and the Eagles' offense is unique in its ability to beat you without ever really needing to pass. 

After McCoy is given an opportunity to get the run game going, Vick should be able to turn to the short game, and eventually to running the ball himself. The second half could be a war of attrition, in which case the Eagles' diverse ground attack will give them a decided advantage.