Eagles lose 24-20 to Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Philadelphia Eagles sat on routes around the yard markers, hoping to prevent Arizona from moving the chains on a last-minute drive.

They closed down those lanes, but made a glaring error deep in coverage, allowing John Brown to slip behind them for a 75-yard touchdown.

With the game on the line, the Cardinals came up with the big plays and the Eagles couldn't.

Brown split two defenders for his long touchdown catch with 1:21 left and Nick Foles failed on two last-second throws in the end zone, sending the Eagles to a 24-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

"We played well, but when your number is called at the end like that, you have to make the play," said Eagles safety Nate Allen, part of the coverage on Brown.

Coming off its bye week, Philadelphia (5-2) never backed down in this battle of NFC heavyweights, despite a slew of penalties, three turnovers and some defensive breakdowns.

But each time they needed a big play, the Eagles couldn't come through, especially late.

Tied at 17, Philadelphia had the ball inside Arizona's 10-yard line, but came up short of the end zone, settling for Cody Parkey's 20-yard goal with 1:56 left.

With a chance to slow Arizona's last-minute drive, Philadelphia had the breakdown on the long touchdown by Brown, who slipped between the two defensive backs and crossed the goal line just as he was being tackled.

The Eagles still had one more shot.

Foles orchestrated a crisp drive downfield, taking Philadelphia to Arizona's 16-yard line with 16 seconds left. Foles couldn't connect on his first two throws and his third landed in the hands of Jordan Matthews, but momentum - and a little help from Arizona's Rashad Johnson - carried the receiver out of bounds on the game's final play.

"The last throw, I've got to make sure it was inbounds," said Foles, who threw for 411 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions on 36 of 63 passing. "Jordan came down with a great catch, but I've got to make sure I keep him inbounds to give us a chance to win."

Those weren't the Eagles' only chances.

Foles had a good connection with Jeremy Maclin all day, finding him 12 times for 187 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Foles hit Maclin for a 21-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then on a 54-yarder in the third quarter to put the Eagles up 17-14.

But Foles also had a couple of big mistakes.

In the second quarter, he had a pass intercepted by Antonio Cromartie in the end zone, killing a scoring chance. Foles threw another interception in the fourth quarter, again by Cromartie, that led to a 28-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro, who broke a NFL rookie record with his 16th straight made field goal to start his career.

Combined with Josh Huff's fumble at Arizona's 7-yard line in the second quarter and 11 penalties for 103 yards, the Eagles cost themselves a shot at keeping up with Dallas in the NFC East.

"We were our own worst enemy," Eagles coach Chip Kelly said.

Arizona (6-1) had some shaky moments of its own.

The Cardinals had almost no running game - 71 yards on 23 carries - and had some defensive breakdowns in the second half that nearly allowed Philadelphia to pull away.

But, like they always seem to, the Cardinals came up with the big plays when they needed them.

Carson Palmer threw for 329 yards and a pair of touchdowns going 20 of 42.

Larry Fitzgerald had another big game against the Eagles, catching seven passes for 160 yards. One of those was an 80-yard touchdown in the third quarter, the 11th touchdown he's scored in six career games against Philadelphia.

Brown made the most of his five catches, racking up 119 yards, and the defense made key plays when it needed to, particularly when the game was on the line.

"We found another way to win one," Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. "Obviously, it wasn't pretty at times."

NOTES: Arizona CB Patrick Peterson left the game after a collision with Maclin and Bucannon in the second quarter and didn't return. Arians said he will have to go through concussion protocol this week to see if he can play against Dallas. ... The Eagles played without running back/kick returner Darren Sproles, who sprained his knee against the New York Giants on Oct. 12. ... Brothers Emannuel (Eagles) and Sam (Cardinals) Acho played against each other for the first time on any level. ... St. Louis K Greg Zeurlein held the NFL rookie record of 15 straight made field goals to start a career before Catanzaro broke it.

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