The Philadelphia Eagles are set to face off against the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday morning.
As the regular season approaches its conclusion, the Eagles find themselves in a three-way tie with the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions for the best record in the NFC.
Their goal is to clinch a second consecutive division title with a victory, coupled with a Dallas Cowboys loss to the Lions on Saturday night.
The Sunday game also marks a homecoming for former Eagles' defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, now at the helm of the Cardinals' defense. He returns to Philadelphia for the first time since his departure in February.
"Gannon's my boy, man. I miss him," said the Eagles' defensive end Josh Sweat. "A lot of energy and a great coach. We've got to whoop his ass. We can't let him . But after, it's all love."
Gannon spent two seasons with the Eagles. His departure has had a lasting impact in Philadelphia, leading to coaching staff changes and defensive challenges.
Notably, the Eagles' defense has seen a decline from last year's eighth-place ranking in points allowed and second in yards allowed to 25th and 20th, respectively, this season.
Despite facing defensive struggles throughout the season, the Eagles managed to secure a 33-25 win against the New York Giants on Christmas. This marked their 12th consecutive triumph over the Giants and brought an end to a three-game losing streak.
On the offensive front, Jalen Hurts has faced challenges replicating last year's success. After a promising 9-1 start, the Eagles have stumbled with a 2-3 record in their last five games.
Once praised for his MVP-level play, Hurts is now on a mission to rediscover his earlier-season form.
In injury updates, cornerback Darius Slay is recovering from knee surgery. Although he is not placed on injured reserve, his return is not expected this week.
On a more positive note, cornerback Avonte Maddox, who is dealing with a pectoral injury, is likely to return from injured reserve this weekend.
Cardinals' draft focus
As the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to win the NFC title, the Cardinals are already eliminated from postseason contention and focusing their attention on the 2024 NFL Draft.
In the upcoming game, they aim to rebound from recent setbacks and strengthen their playoff positioning as they are coming off a disappointing 27-16 loss to the Chicago Bears last Sunday.
The key matchup of the game will feature dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray against Eagles' Hurts. Both signal-callers have had their share of ups and downs, with Murray recovering from an ACL tear injury.
Since his return in November, Murray has posted a 2-4 record. While he is currently dealing with a "holiday bug" that kept him out of practice on Wednesday, indications suggest he will be available for Sunday's game, though the full extent of his illness remains unclear.
Injuries add an element of uncertainty to the matchup. Cardinals' defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter is out for the season.
Eagles' offensive lineman Landon Dickerson and cornerback Avonte Maddox are also on the mend, while cornerback Darius Slay's status remains uncertain after undergoing knee surgery.
Despite having offensive struggles, the Cardinals maintain a top-ten rushing offense, ranked ninth in the league.
Players to watch include Cardinals' running back James Conner, aiming to exploit a vulnerable Eagles' run defense that allowed 80 yards to Saquon Barkley in their last outing.