NFL Week 5: Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles Recap

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NFL

Vikings Improve to 2-2-1 As The Eagles Slip Below .500

The NFC Championship rematch ended in redemption for the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 23-21. The Vikings controlled the tempo and momentum for much of the game. For the Eagles, it was the second straight week they “won” the stat book and lost the game.

Philadelphia outperformed Minnesota in passing yards, rushing yards, and red zone efficiency. However, consistent with their season thus far, the Eagles couldn’t get to the red zone, and their opponents didn’t need to be in it to score.

Game Overview

First Half

The first quarter started with Vikings kicker Dan Bailey missing a 28-yard field goal. This followed an impressive offensive campaign which included a 24-yard pass to wide receiver Adam Thielen from quarterback Kirk Cousins who was 5-6 on the drive. The Eagles were unable to move the chains the entire quarter and punted twice in between a Vikings field goal.

The Eagles looked abysmal in the second quarter. On the first play of the quarter, Eagles QB Carson Wentz threw a 48-yard pass to WR Shelton Gibson putting the Eagles on the Vikings 19-yard line. After an odd play call on 3rd and 3, an empty backfield incomplete pass led to a 30-yard field goal by kicker Jake Elliot.

That would be the Eagles’ high point of the quarter. A Wentz fumble was returned for a defensive touchdown on the next possession. Their final possession of the half didn’t include a first down and resulted in a punt. The Vikings, on the other hand, scored their second touchdown of that quarter in just eight plays.

Second Half

The Eagles’ best drive came at the beginning of the third quarter but ended in a fumble by RB Jay Ajayi on the six-yard line. Cousins took advantage of the turnover and immediately completed a 68-yard pass to Thielen and a 25-yard pass to Stefon Diggs.

Ultimately the Vikings would have to settle for a field goal on the 91-yard drive. In similar fashion, a 71-drive by the Eagles ended in a field goal after 16, 31, and 20-yard passes from Wentz. The first Eagles touchdown of the day came from in the fourth quarter from a 66-yard drive and a 12-yard pass to RB Wendell Smallwood.

After a two-point conversion, the score was 20-14, making it a one-score game for the Eagles. After a fumble by the Vikings, the Eagles couldn’t find a way to score and were forced to punt. The punt came after an awkward 4th and 20 rundown of the play clock, trying to draw the Vikings offsides.

After pinning Minnesota on their own 13-yard line, Philadelphia’s defense could not find a way to make a stop. The Vikings managed to get to the Eagles 34-yard line, and after two missed field goals, Bailey drilled a 52-yarder through the uprights. After going up 23-14 with less than three minutes left, the Vikings put the game out of reach for the Eagles.

How Minnesota Won

Minnesota controlled possession for over 19 minutes in the first half by garnering 13 first downs and only allowing the Eagles just four. They also outproduced the Eagles with 208 yards to a measly 91 yards in just that half. However, after going 1-3 in the red zone and missing two field goals, Minnesota left room on the scoreboard for Philadelphia to come back.

The Eagles went on to score 18 points in the second half but were ultimately held. The Vikings secondary played beyond expectation in their zone coverage throughout most of the game. Wentz was hit eight times and sacked three times while struggling to find an open receiver.

By forcing punts off quick drives and creating turnovers off long drives, defenses solidify wins. The Vikings offense did not often throw away their defense’s efforts. Cousins threw 30 completions off of 37 attempts to nine different receivers; by distributing targets as the offense does, it makes it nearly impossible for defenses to shut down receivers.

Minnesota didn’t let up big plays, forced punts,  and controlled the time of possession. Ultimately they scored what they needed to to win.

Final Thoughts

Michael Bennett Penalty

Near the end of the first half, DT Michael Bennett was flagged for roughing the passer on a highly questionable call. The more it was replayed, the fewer commentators, fans, and the players liked the call.

Due to the new additions to the roughing the passer penalty, defenders are no longer allowed to “go low” when tackling a QB. However, this is not what Bennett did. A clean sack started at Cousins waist where Bennett thereafter allowed Cousins to fall.

This play call was egregious both in why it was called, the explanation of the call, and its consequence which was a Vikings touchdown. The NFL and its competition committee need to take immediate action in clarifying the additions to the foul.

Minnesota Didn’t Play That Great

The Vikings should have won by a much larger margin than they did given Philadelphia’s performance. Minnesota’s offense only scored one touchdown the whole game and missed two field goals.

The Eagles’ offense is arguably more to blame for their performance than the Vikings’ defense. The Vikings’ pass rush didn’t beat the Eagles’ offensive line. The Eagles’ front five couldn’t control their gaps and were unorganized in their pass block.

With a series of different play calls the Eagles could have pulled off a win on Sunday. The sloppier team was by far Philadelphia who in no way looked like a Super Bowl Champion team. Minnesota, however, didn’t look like a formidable opponent to the Los Angeles Rams themselves.

It was not a great day of football for either franchise. However, the Eagles have a much steeper hill to climb.

Photo Credit

Featured Image courtesy of Highlight Store

 

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