Skelton rallies Cardinals over Eagles, 21-17

With John Skelton leading the way, the Arizona Cardinals sure look like a different team.

Skelton threw a 5-yard TD pass to Early Doucet with 1:53 left and the Cardinals rallied for a 21-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Starting for the injured Kevin Kolb, Skelton threw three touchdown passes to lead the Cardinals (3-6) to their second straight win. He threw a tying TD pass to Larry Fitzgerald in the fourth quarter of a 19-13 overtime win against St. Louis last week that snapped a six-game losing streak.

Fitzgerald had two TD catches and made a sensational, over-the-shoulder diving catch to set up the go-ahead score on Sunday.

The defending NFC East champion Eagles were expected to be Super Bowl contenders after a slew of big-name acquisitions in the offseason. Instead, they’ve struggled miserably and have lost seven of their past eight home games.

Alex Henery kicked a 36-yard field goal with 5:06 remaining after Nnamdi Asomugha’s interception to put the Eagles up 17-14.

But the Cardinals answered.

Skelton completed a 30-yard pass to LaRod Stephens-Howling on fourth-and-2 from the Cardinals 32 to keep the winning drive going. On third-and-10 from the Eagles 38, Fitzgerald made an incredible catch to the 1.

Vick’s desperation deep pass on third-and-20 was intercepted by A.J. Jefferson to seal Arizona’s win.

Vick was 16 of 34 for 128 yards and two interceptions. He’s hardly resembled the guy who was an MVP candidate and Pro Bowl starter last season.

Skelton completed 21 of 40 for 315 yards, three TDs and two picks.

Asomugha made up for a costly penalty by intercepting Skelton at the Cardinals 30 and returning it to the 26. Vick left the game after taking a hard hit to the side on a 7-yard run. Vince Young handed off on third down, setting up Henery’s field goal.

Cardinals kicker Jay Feely missed two field goals in the first quarter, hooking a 35-yard attempt wide left and a 43-yarder wide right.

Helped by a crucial penalty, the Cardinals tied it at 14 on Skelton’s 7-yard TD pass to Fitzgerald in the fourth quarter. An offside call on Asomugha allowed Arizona to extend the drive after an incomplete pass on third-and-10.

A few plays later, Fitzgerald caught a pass that was tipped by Joselio Hanson and scampered into the end zone for his franchise-record 70th career TD. Roy Green had 69 TDs for the Cardinals from 1979-90.

Vick made another poor pass that was intercepted by Richard Marshall at the Eagles 44 on the following series. But Philadelphia coach Andy Reid challenged after seeing several replays on the stadium’s video board and the play was overturned because the ball hit the ground.

The Eagles went ahead 14-7 late in the second quarter after a holding penalty on Marshall negated Adrian Wilson’s interception in the end zone. Vick scrambled 14 yards to the Cardinals 3 one play after his pass into triple coverage was picked.

A play later, McCoy scored for the ninth straight game, setting a team record.