Cardinals Barely Keep Hopes Alive

The Arizona Cardinals’ playoff hopes are still alive because one Chris got a second chance and the other didn’t.

After missing a 34-yard field goal at the end of regulation, Chris Jacke kicked a 32-yarder 4 1/2 minutes into overtime Sunday, giving the Cardinals a 20-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Both teams missed short field goals in the final 2 1/2 minutes of regulation. Philadelphia’s Chris Boniol started the “Chris miss show,” pushing a 33-yarder wide right with 2:29 left--his first miss in 68 tries inside 35 yards.

Jacke’s game-winning attempt sailed wide right with seven seconds left in regulation.

“The second one I came out there a little more focused and just went through the ball a little better,” Jacke said.

The Cardinals won the coin toss, took the ball and went on to complete their first sweep of the season series from Philadelphia (3-11) since 1984--when they were still the St. Louis Cardinals. Arizona (7-7) stayed in the running for the NFC wild card, but needs to win its final two games against New Orleans and San Diego--both at home.

“We needed this game,” said Jake Plummer, 18 for 26 for 234 yards, including a controversial, game-tying touchdown pass to Rob Moore. “We didn’t want to think about it, but our season would have been pretty much over. Now, we’re still in control of our own destiny, and that’s where we want to be.”

Moore caught Plummer’s low pass just inside the goal line for a touchdown. The Eagles argued that he trapped it, and replays appeared to show that the ball hit the turf.

Adrian Murrell rushed for 174 yards in 32 carries for the Cardinals, while Duce Staley had 141 yards in 30 carries for the Eagles.