Vikings - Eagles

 Week 1 was fun. 

Week 2 wasn’t fun. 

Minnesota Vikings 7

Philadelphia Eagles 24

The NFL is a week-to-week business and you’re only as good as your last game. The Vikings were not good last night. One might even say that they were bad. They struggled to move the ball consistently. When they did manage to find themselves in a position to score, they turned the ball over. Kirk Cousins threw three red zone interceptions. The turnovers were a joint effort. The defense couldn’t tackle. They couldn’t cover. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts often made defenders look silly. He was essentially playing catch with his receivers. The Vikings weren’t good at the football basics of blocking and tackling. 

Special teams was the only unit that did well, maybe even shined. Ryan White punted well. Greg Joseph converted his lone kick. The coverage units were very good. Patrick Peterson blocked a field goal and Kris Boyd recovered and advanced the ball. It was a huge play. It was also a play that the offense wasted. I feel like a blocked punt is coming. Through two games, the Vikings have often gotten close to getting one. 

The Eagles offense had their way with the Vikings defense in the first half. 367 often easy yards and 24 points. Perhaps the Eagles started to cruise but they only managed 119 yards and zero points in the second half. I really don’t know what to make of the Vikings relatively sturdy defense in the second half. The Eagles weren’t in a position to cruise. If the Vikings offense had managed to convert on either of their third quarter red zone trips, it’s a 10-point game with more than a quarter to play. This game really wasn’t over until midway through the fourth quarter when the Vikings turned the ball over the in the red zone. Again. 

This game was strange. The Vikings weren’t good yet they still could’ve won if they didn’t hand the Eagles those red zone interceptions. If they’d simply foregone the time and effort needed to score touchdowns once they passed the Eagles 20-yard line and kicked field goals, the score is 24-19. If Irv Smith Jr. had held onto that Cousins beauty late in the first half, the Vikings might have the game. At least they would’ve had the points to make it a much more competitive game.

The Smith drop was brutal. The Vikings needed a big play. The Eagles had dominated the opening half. Smith was running free of the defense. The pass was beautiful. The ball was in his hands. The 63-yard touchdown would’ve put the score at 21-14. Maybe the Vikings have the momentum going into the half. Maybe they tie it up with a strong drive to open the second half. That’s a lot of “maybes” and “ifs.” Too many. 

The Vikings are 1-1. When the schedule was released, an optimistic view of the Vikings opening the season with the Packers and Eagles had them at 1-1. That’s a tough two games. It’s probably the toughest two games on the schedule. It still sucks to see the Vikings play so poorly after their great game against the Packers. 

Move on. It’s time to take apart the Detroit Lions.