The Arizona Cardinals are heading to Super Bowl XLIII!
Kurt Warner threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns – three to Larry Fitzgerald – to lift the Cardinals to a 32-25 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday's NFC Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The Cardinals will play in their first Super Bowl two weeks from tonight at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Arizona jumped out to a 24-6 halftime cushion but the Eagles stormed back with three touchdowns to take a 25-24 lead with 10:56 left in the game. The Cardinals responded with a 14-play, 72-yard drive that culminated with Warner's fourth scoring toss, an eight-yarder to Tim Hightower. *
The Eagles racked up 454 total yards but the Cardinals forced three turnovers. Arizona has a plus-nine turnover margin through three postseason games, a major reason why the Cardinals are NFC champions.*
Cardinals Inactives
QB Brian St. Pierre (3rd QB)
CB Eric Green
FB Tim Castille
LB Victor Hobson
T Eilliot Vallejo
T Brandon Keith
DT Alan Branch
TE Jerame Tuman
The Cardinals won the toss and elected to receive to start the game.
1st QUARTER
Cardinals
DRIVE START: Arizona 20-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 3rd-1 Kurt Warner found Larry Fitzgerald for a 19-yard gain. Edgerrin James took a handoff from Warner for a 16-yard gain.
FINAL PLAY: 9-yard touchdown Fitzgerald
DRIVE TOTALS: 9 plays, 80 yards, 5:40
Eagles
DRIVE START: Philadelphia 40-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): Neil Rackers kicked the ball out of bounds resulting in the Eagles taking over at the 40. After Donovan McNabb ran for a first down, the Eagles faced a 3rd-6 when McNabb found Brian Westbrook for a gain of seven yards. 3rd-9 Karlos Dansby batted down a McNabb pass to bring up a field goal try.
FINAL PLAY: 45-yard field goal by Akers
DRIVE TOTALS: 8 plays, 33 yards, 4:37
Cardinals
DRIVE START: Arizona 24-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 3rd-9 Warner found Fitzgerald but he came up one yard short of a first down.
FINAL PLAY: Ben Graham punted the ball 34 yards
DRIVE TOTALS: 3 plays, 9 yards, 1:40
Eagles
DRIVE START: 3rd-10
KEY PLAY(S): 3rd-10 McNabb was intercepted by Aaron Francisco who returned the interception to the 25-yard line and then fumbled.
FINAL PLAY: DeSean Jackson forced a fumble and the Eagles recovered.
DRIVE TOTALS: 9 plays, 46 yards, 3:34
2nd QUARTER
Cardinals
DRIVE START: Arizona 38-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 1st-10 Warner pitched the ball to Arrington, who passed it back Warner, who hooked up with Fitzgerald for the score.
FINAL PLAY: Fitzgerald 62-yard touchdown
DRIVE TOTALS: 1 play, 62 yards, :11
Eagles
DRIVE START: Philadelphia 20-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 3rd-1 Antonio Smith was hit with a holding penalty resulting in a ten yard penalty. The very next play McNabb found Kevin Curtis for a 47-yard gain.
FINAL PLAY: Akers converted on a 33-yard field goal
DRIVE TOTALS: 7 plays, 65 yards, 4:17
Cardinals
DRIVE START: Arizona 27-yard line
KEY PLAY(S):Edgerrin James picked up 22 yards on 1st-10. 2nd-3 on the 4, Asante Samuel was flagged for pass interference. Warner hooked up with Fitzgerald for a score.
FINAL PLAY: Fitzgerald 1-yard touchdown
DRIVE TOTALS: 9 plays, 73 yards, 5:56
Eagles
DRIVE START: Philadelphia 27-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 2nd-10 McNabb was called for intentional grounding and Chike Okeafor was credi ted with a sack.
FINAL PLAY: Sav Rocca punted the ball 58 yards
DRIVE TOTALS: 5 plays, 9 yards, 1:35
Cardinals
DRIVE START: Arizona 16-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): After a completion to Boldin, Quintin Demps was hit with a personal foul after he put a late hit on Warner. On 3rd-15 Warner found Jerheme Urban for a gain of 18 yards and a Cardinals first down.
FINAL PLAY: Rackers connected on a 49-yard field goal
DRIVE TOTALS: 9 plays, 53 yards, 1:31
3rd Quarter
Eagles
DRIVE START: Philadelphia 39-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 2nd-10 Philadelphia was called for holding pushing them back 10 yards. 3rd-8 Adrian WIlson sacked McNabb who fumbled the ball.
FINAL PLAY: Fumble recovery by Bertrand Berry
DRIVE TOTALS: 6 plays, 4 yards, 2:53
CardinalsDRIVE START: Philadelphia 43-yard=2 0line
KEY PLAY(S):
FINAL PLAY: Graham punted the ball 32 yards.
DRIVE TOTALS: 3 plays, 1 yard, 1:55
Eagles
DRIVE START: Philadelphia 10-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 3rd-2 McNabb connected with Brent Celek for a first down. The very next play Adrian Wilson recorded his second sack of the game when he dropped McNabb for a loss of 8 yards. 3rd-19 McNabb found Curtis for a gain of 50 yards. McNabb found Celek Philadelphia's first touchdown of the day.
FINAL PLAY: Celek 6-yard touchdown
DRIVE TOTALS: 13 plays, 90 yards, 5:59
Cardinals
DRIVE START: Arizona 35-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 3rd-10 Warner was sacked by Victor Abiamiri for a five yard loss.
FINAL PLAY: Graham punted the ball 44 yards
DRIVE TOTALS: 3 plays, -5 yards, :40
Eagles
DRIVE START: Philadelphia 39-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): McNabb completed a 14-yard pass to Curtis. 3rd-6 found Jackson for a first down. 2nd-8 McNabb
FINAL PLAY: 31-yard touchdown pass to Celek
DRIVE TOTALS: 6 plays, 61 yards 2:39
4th Quarter
Cardinals (continued from 3rd Quarter)
DRIVE START: Arizona 20-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 3rd-3 Warner found James for a gain of 16 yards.
FINAL PLAY: Graham punted the ball 38 yards
DRIVE TOTALS: 6 plays, 28 yards, 2:49
Eagles
DRIVE START: Philadelphia 14-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): 1st-10 McNabb found DeSean Jackson for a 62-yard score
FINAL PLAY: Jackson 62-yard touchdown
DRIVE TOTALS: 4 plays, 86 yards, 2:15
Cardinals
DRIVE START: Arizona 28-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): Warner found Fitzgerald for a 16-yard gain. 4th-1 Hightower ran to the outside for a gain of six yards. Warner found Fitzgerald for a gain of 18 yards.
FINAL PLAY: Hightower 8-yard touchdown
DRIVE TOTALS: 14 plays, 72 yards, 7:52
Eagles
DRIVE START: Philadelphia 20-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): McNabb's 3rd and 10 attempt to Baskett incomplete to bring the game to the 2-minute warning
FINAL PLAY: Hood pass defense on 4th and 10
DRIVE TOTALS: 8 plays, 33 yards, 1:02
Cardinals
DRIVE START: Arizona 47-yard line
KEY PLAY(S): Hightower consecutive carries for 6 and 3 yards
FINAL PLAY: Graham 38-yard punt
DRIVE TOTALS:
Eagles
DRIVE START: Philadelphia 10-yard line
FINAL PLAY: Jackson fumble off lateral, recovered by Dockett.
*Final Score Cardinals 32 - Eagles 25
