Vikings - Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles outlasted the Minnesota Vikings, 28-22. 

There are games in which the Vikings repeatedly make things difficult for themselves. This was one of those games. 

The Vikings frustrations against the Eagles can be summed up with this little nugget:

Red Zone appearances:

Vikings: 6

Eagles: 1

The only time the Eagles took a snap inside the Vikings red zone was on their final possession of the game. The Vikings, on the other hand, repeatedly drove the field. They took more than two dozen red zone snaps. Instead of touchdowns, the Vikings “settled” for five field goals. Things could’ve been so much better if they had managed touchdowns rather than field goals when they threatened the Eagles end zone.  The Vikings did have two touchdowns taken away by the officials. The first was an atrocious, fourth down holding call on center Blake Brandel. The Eagles defensive lineman dove to the ground after being stopped on his pass rush by Brandel. The officials bought the diving act as an indication of a forced takedown. Instead of a Jalen Nailor touchdown catch, the Vikings had to settle for a field goal. The second touchdown taken away by the officials was a diving catch in the end zone by T.J. Hockenson. It was one of those catch questions involving the ball touching the turf while still being controlled by the receiver. It was a coin flip catch and it’d be nice if the officials had stool with the call on the field. As the rule book states if there isn’t overwhelming evidence to reverse the call. There wasn’t overwhelming evidence. 

The Vikings had more first downs, more yards, and a greater time of possession. There was the red zone discrepancy. The Eagles punted three times. The Vikings punted once. The Vikings lost because of too many self-inflicted mistakes. They did far more to get in their own way than their opponent. Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz was intercepted twice on illegal-advised throws. One of those was returned for a touchdown. The Eagles played perhaps their best game of the season and it got them a six-point margin. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how close this game was to a Vikings win. In the end, the Vikings scored fewer points than the Eagles. It’s a loss and the Vikings are now 3-3. 

Next up is a Thursday night game against the Chargers in Los Angeles. I’ll be in the Sofi stands. Skol!