The Vikings, returning home after their two-game international trip and their bye week, find themselves with a losing record at U.S. Bank Stadium this year. Ahead of them are two challenging road games before they get another opportunity to turn things around on their home turf.
On Sunday, the Vikings lost to the Eagles 28-22 in a game they never led but had multiple chances to pull ahead of the defending Super Bowl champions. Instead, the Eagles, who had lost two in a row coming into the day, capitalized on turnovers and big third-down plays to secure the win.
The Vikings gained at least 46 yards on five of their last six drives, but only one of those drives resulted in a touchdown. Meanwhile, the Eagles scored four touchdowns as Jalen Hurts finished with a perfect passer rating. Hurts completed 18 of 23 passes for 326 yards and three scores.
With 1:45 left in the game, Hurts sealed the victory by connecting with A.J. Brown on a 45-yard gain on a third-and-9 in the fourth quarter. Brown faked inside to deceive Isaiah Rodgers, who was anticipating a throw at the sticks, allowing for the big play.
Defensively, the Vikings gave up just 27 net yards on Philadelphia’s next four possessions after their opening touchdown drive, and they held Saquon Barkley to 46 yards on his first 15 carries. However, Hurts repeatedly dismantled the Vikings defense with big gains on extended plays by holding onto the ball and finding receivers downfield. He had two crucial third-and-long conversions in the fourth quarter and completed 18 of his first 21 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
The Vikings also struggled in the red zone, settling for field goals four times after reaching Philadelphia’s 20-yard line. Their troubles started early when an errant Blake Brandel snap forced Carson Wentz to chase the ball down at the Eagles’ 41-yard line.
With the loss, the Vikings fall to 3-3 and suffer their second home defeat of the season in a game that seemed winnable on several occasions. Their red-zone inefficiency and Wentz’s two interceptions will sting, as they missed a chance to improve to 4-2 and hand the Eagles a third consecutive loss in what could be a crucial playoff positioning battle.
The Eagles also found success using play action under center, a scheme that had not worked well for them all season. Hurts executed a 79-yard touchdown throw to Devonta Smith off a play fake, beating Rodgers with a double move. That score made it 21-9 Eagles in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, with the Vikings down by two points and the home crowd roaring, Hurts evaded pressure from Dallas Turner and scrambled to his left, finding A.J. Brown for a crucial first down on third-and-13. Hurts capped the drive with a 21-yard pass to Smith in the middle of the Vikings’ zone coverage and followed up with a 26-yard touchdown strike to Smith against Byron Murphy.
Much like last year, the Vikings (3-3) face a quick turnaround, playing a Thursday night game on the West Coast just four days after a physical home matchup. They will travel to Los Angeles to face the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers currently hold a 4-2 record ahead of their Sunday late-afternoon game against the 5-1 Indianapolis Colts.
Less than nine months after leading Philadelphia to a Super Bowl, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks like a shell of himself, providing further proof that expectations should be tempered for J.J. McCarthy when he returns.
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-philadelphia-eagles-28-22-nfl-week-7-jalen-hurts-carson-wentz/601489058