Apparently, weary from relying on their field goal kicker to win a game with a kick from the other side of the 50-yard-line with a second left and relying on their offense to run out the clock so the defense won’t have to hold, the Philadelphia Eagles annihilated the Arizona Cardinals, 34-7, Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in an NFC game in front of almost 70,000 spectators.

When the fourth quarter started, it was obvious the Eagles would not need kicker Jake Elliott to perform something barely short of a miracle – as in a 61-yard field goal which beat the New York Giants in the third game of the season. The offense was confident it wouldn’t be up to them to keep the Cardinals from getting the ball back as time ran down. Last week, the offense did do that in the win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

This time the Eagles (4-1) were having none of that. The Cardinals  (2-3) were shell-shocked and a beaten team once the final stanza was underway. Their bags weren’t already packed and on the plane back to Arizona, but it would’ve been fine with them if they were.

The game was a real treat for all who attended. They were amazed the Eagles scored 21 first quarter points on three touchdown passes from their second-year quarterback Carson Wentz. His first TD went to Trey Burton from 15 yards out, the next was to Zach Ertz from 11 yards and the third was a 59-yard bomb to wide receiver Torrey Smith who really hadn’t done much all season. The score was 21-0, Eagles, and the quarter wasn’t even over.

Don’t let anyone tell you the Eagles don’t know how to celebrate after a touchdown. After the Smith TD, Wentz, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and Smith played their roles in a simulated baseball game. Wentz was the umpire, Jeffery the catcher and Smith, the batter who hits a home run. But the Eagles can get back to business when they have to. The special teams strapped on their helmets for the ensuing kickoff and it was back to work.

Arizona scored a second-quarter touchdown and the Eagles’  offense cooled off. With a chance to go into halftime down by 11, Arizona lined up for a 51-yard field goal. The kick was blocked and the lead remained 14 at the midway point, 21-7.

The second half was all Eagles. They scored 13 more points which weren’t even necessary. But the crowd loved it. The win puts the Eagles entrenched in first place in the NFC East. They have a game-and-a-half lead over the Washington Redskins who had a bye and are two games ahead of their rival, the Dallas Cowboys, who lost to Green Bay 35-31.

Each week the Eagles have to overcome a new set of obstacles to prove they belong in the conversation of Super Bowl contenders. This week is no different.They travel to take on the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. The Panthers lead the NFC South with a 4-1 record and are in first by a half-game over the Atlanta Falcons.