Cardinals outlast Eagles to reach first Super BowlKurt Warner
The Cardinals, who won their only National Football League crown in 1947 when they were based in Chicago, will face either Baltimore or Pittsburgh for this season's title in Super Bowl 43 on February 1 in Tampa, Florida “Tampa” redirects here. For other uses, see Tampa (disambiguation). Tampa is a United States city in Hillsborough County, on the west coast of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County.GR6. . The 61-season championship drought is the second-longest active span without a title in North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. professional sports The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. , eclipsed only by the 100-year gap since baseball's Chicago Cubs won the 1908 World Series crown. Warner connected with Fitzgerald on scoring tosses of one, nine and 62 yards in the first half to give the Cardinals a 24-6 half-time lead before the Eagles rallied late in the third quarter with two touchdowns just 3:19 apart. Donovan McNabb Donovan Jamal McNabb (born November 25, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He played college football at Syracuse University. connected with Brent Celek Brent Celek (born January 25, 1985) is an American football tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. He played high school football at La Salle High School in Cincinnati, and played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats. on touchdown passes of six and 31 yards to lift Philadelphia back into contention, although kicker David Akers was wide right on the conversion kick for the second score, leaving Arizona ahead 24-19. Akers had made 45 successful conversion kicks in a row before botching one in the critical situation. The Eagles struck again on their next possession to grab their first lead of the game. McNabb launched a long throw to rookie DeSean Jackson, who raced past Arizona defenders, made a juggling catch and high-stepped into the end zone to complete a 62-yard touchdown play. A two-point conversion pass was incomplete, leaving the Eagles ahead 25-24 with 10:45 remaining. But Arizona answered with a 14-play, 72-yard march that ended with Warner flipping a nine-yard touchdown pass to Tim Hightower and a two-point conversion toss to Ben Patrick, putting the Cardinals back in front 32-25 with 2:53 to go. Needing a touchdown to equalize e·qual·ize v. e·qual·ized, e·qual·iz·ing, e·qual·iz·es v.tr. 1. To make equal: equalized the responsibilities of the staff members. 2. To make uniform. , the Eagles drove to the Arizona 47-yard line with 1:57 remaining but a fourth-down pass by McNabb fell incomplete and the Cardinals surrendered the ball with time for only one play. Philadelphia attempted a rugby-style, razzle-dazzle series of laterals but Arizona intercepted the ball and ended the final Eagles hope. The Cardinals, who had won only two playoff games in their history before this season, have won three in a row to reach what will be Warner's third Super Bowl. He won with the St. Louis Rams Momentum shifted to Arizona's favor early in the second quarter after Akers, who had connected earlier from 45 yards, missed a 47-yard field goal attempt to snap his NFL-record streak of 19 successful kicks. On the next play, Warner connected with Fitzgerald on a 62-yard touchdown pass. Fitzgerald outraced defenders to the ball, stumbled over a fallen rival and ran into the end zone to give the Cardinals a 14-3 lead. Akers answered with a 33-yard field goal but the Cardinals marched 73 yards in nearly six minutes and Warner found Fitzgerald in the back left corner of the end zone to boost Arizona's edge. Fitzgerald grabbed a nine-yard touchdown pass from Warner just 5:40 into the game to give the Cardinals the early lead. Arizona's Neil Rackers kicked a 49-yard field goal on the last play of the second quarter to give the Cardinals a 24-6 lead. 
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