GLENDALE, Ariz. -- When Cody Parkey's 54-yard field goal sailed through the uprights with 7:19 remaining in the third quarter, the rookie entered some very selective company.
In just seven games, Parkey is one of only six kickers in Eagles history to have three field goals of 50 yards or more. The 54 yarder was the Eagles' longest field goal since David Akers nailed a 57-yard attempt in September 2003. Parkey's kick tied with Tom Dempsey, the former record holder for the longest field in NFL history, for the third longest in team annals behind only Akers and Tony Franklin (59 yards, 1979 at Dallas).
"We've hit that kick a bunch of times in warm-ups and in practice. I know I'm going to get a perfect snap and a perfect hold. I just have to go out there, ease my mind, pick a target and try to swing through it," said Parkey of the kick that cut the Cardinals' lead to 14-10. "I have a lot of confidence in the field goal team for me to execute."
Parkey wasn't done for the afternoon. With just 1:56 remaining in the game, He lined up for a straight-on kick that was shorter than an extra point attempt and calmly put the 20-yard attempt up and through to give the Eagles at the time a 20-17 lead before Arizona rallied to win 24-20.
"You've got to embrace the moment," Parkey said. "I know I'm going to get a perfect snap and a perfect hold. Just knowing that, I go out there and ease my mind and kick my kick."
Parkey is 14 of 15 in field goal attempts on the season. The rookie free agent from Auburn who was acquired in a trade with Indianapolis prior to the third preseason game has a walk-off game-winning field goal on his resume (at the Colts against his former team in Week 2). Parkey embraces that the coaches have faith in him to make the difficult attempts.
"I think it's awesome," he said. "I'll kick whatever kick (head coach Chip Kelly) wants me to. However short, however far it is, I think it's awesome. It goes back to training. We do that all of the time in training. He tests my leg and those are kicks that we make a lot of times. Coach has confidence in me and that instills confidence in me as well."
Not only has Parkey made a difference on the scoreboard, but he's impacted field position as well. Parkey was a perfect 5 of 5 in touchbacks on Sunday as well.
"I have a fast approach to the ball. I think that helps me," Parkey said. "There's always room to improve. I think it goes back to training. It's something that we work hard at. It's something I do with drive steps. I might take it more serious than most guys, who knows? But I take it seriously like any of my field goals."
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- When Cody Parkey's 54-yard field goal sailed through the uprights with 7:19 remaining in the third quarter, the rookie entered some very selective company.
In just seven games, Parkey is one of only six kickers in Eagles history to have three field goals of 50 yards or more. The 54 yarder was the Eagles' longest field goal since David Akers nailed a 57-yard attempt in September 2003. Parkey's kick tied with Tom Dempsey, the former record holder for the longest field in NFL history, for the third longest in team annals behind only Akers and Tony Franklin (59 yards, 1979 at Dallas).
"We've hit that kick a bunch of times in warm-ups and in practice. I know I'm going to get a perfect snap and a perfect hold. I just have to go out there, ease my mind, pick a target and try to swing through it," said Parkey of the kick that cut the Cardinals' lead to 14-10. "I have a lot of confidence in the field goal team for me to execute."
Parkey wasn't done for the afternoon. With just 1:56 remaining in the game, he lined up for a straight-on kick that was shorter than an extra point attempt and calmly put the 20-yard attempt up and through to give the Eagles at the time a 20-17 lead before Arizona rallied to win 24-20.
"You've got to embrace the moment," Parkey said. "I know I'm going to get a perfect snap and a perfect hold. Just knowing that, I go out there and ease my mind and kick my kick."
Parkey is 14 of 15 in field goal attempts on the season. The rookie free agent from Auburn who was acquired in a trade with Indianapolis prior to the third preseason game has a walk-off game-winning field goal on his resume (at the Colts against his former team in Week 2). Parkey embraces that the coaches have faith in him to make the difficult attempts.
"I think it's awesome," he said. "I'll kick whatever kick (head coach Chip Kelly) wants me to. However short, however far it is, I think it's awesome. It goes back to training. We do that all of the time in training. He tests my leg and those are kicks that we make a lot of times. Coach has confidence in me and that instills confidence in me as well."
Not only has Parkey made a difference on the scoreboard, but he's impacted field position as well. Parkey was a perfect 5 of 5 in touchbacks on Sunday as well.
"I have a fast approach to the ball. I think that helps me," Parkey said. "There's always room to improve. I think it goes back to training. It's something that we work hard at. It's something I do with drive steps. I might take it more serious than most guys, who knows? But I take it seriously like any of my field goals."
