Making Our Grades

Report Card on the Eagles-Cardinals Game:

RUSHING OFFENSE

Brian Westbrook averaged just 3.8 yards per carry, but that actually was his best rushing average of the postseason. Donovan McNabb had a 22-yard run on the Eagles' first offensive play, and set up a third-quarter TD with a nicely executed 10-yard draw.

Grade: C

PASSING OFFENSE

Donovan McNabb brought the Eagles back from an 18-point halftime deficit with a 17-for-28, 266-yard, 3-TD performance in the second half. But he came up short on the final possession after Arizona recaptured the lead.

Grade: B

RUN DEFENSE

A defense that had held its last nine opponents to just 3.5 yards per carry allowed Edgerrin James to average 4.6 on 16 carries. Eagles couldn't prevent Tim Hightower from picking up first downs on two crucial short-yardage situations on the game-winning drive.

Grade: C-minus

PASS DEFENSE

Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald owned the Eagles in the first half. Warner was 14-for-17 and threw three TDs, all to Fitzgerald. After the Eagles regained the lead in the fourth quarter, Warner engineered a game-winning, 14-play, 72-yard scoring drive.

Grade: F

SPECIAL TEAMS

This will not go down as one of David Akers' better days. Shanked an extra point. Missed a tough-but-certainly-makable 47-yard FG attempt, and curiously sailed a third-quarter kickoff out of bounds. Sav Rocca punted only once, but it was a 58-yarder.

Grade: C-minus

OVERALL

A pass defense that hadn't given up a touchdown pass in the last five games gave up three in the first half. Eagles got inside the Arizona 30 three times in the first half and came away with 6 points.

Grade: C-minus