The Philadelphia Eagles host the Minnesota Vikings in Monday Night Football’s home opener. It was a relatively big matchup between the two 1-0 teams at Lincoln Financial Field.
Birdies are taking on the Detroit Lions as As convincing as many hoped. Despite the many positive aspects of that game, there are still concerns about Philly’s defense. Can Jonathan Gannon find a way to fight a quarterback who isn’t exactly bad? Kirk Cousins has proven to cause trouble for the birdies in the past, and it’s hard to benefit Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator at the moment.
The Vikings are looking to follow up the Green Bay Packers’ big win with another strong effort. Minnesota’s defense limited the damage Aaron Rodgers could do in Week 1. If Justin Jefferson and Darwin Cook prove to be as challenging as they seem, the Hawks’ offense could endure a lot of scoring.
The winner of this game will feel good. They’ll have a 2-0 record and claim to be one of the best teams in the NFC. Losers may think they are good, but not good enough.
Bleeding Green Nation will cover the game with live updates in the form of highlights, analysis and more. Make sure to follow along and refresh the page often.
(Note: this is not a game thread; it’s a live blog that will turn into a game review. Use BGN’s designated game thread for each quarter to discuss in-game events there. Q1 thread is here.)
the first season
- The Eagles took aim at Devonta Smith in Game 1, a five-yard reception. Who would have thought the Birdies would have made him touch early? Jalen Hurts rolled right and found an open Dallas Goedert for the first bat. Miles Sanders’ first carry went for 12 yards. The injury was resolved with no gain to bring the third and ninth. On the third bat, Hurts found Kenneth Gainwell running after the catch to move the chain…but Landon Dickerson was illegally knocked out a lot. In the 3rd and 13th, Hurts stood well in the pocket and threw a strike to AJ Brown. Nice shot! Hurts found that Zach Pascal was shorter than switching 3rd-and-3. Pascal also made his third relegation conversion last week in Detroit; in those cases, he was a factor. Two games later, Hurts hit it for a touchdown through contact. Strong opening momentum. Strange sequence of extra points for the Eagles, they had to redo the extra points because “Vikings’ waiter” was on the floor. So why isn’t it a penalty kick? The Vikings were then penalized for offside…but the Eagles rejected the flag instead of trying to get two points from the 1-yard line. Eagles 7, Vikings 0.
- The Vikings’ first drive was a 3-pointer, and Darius Sly knocked down a Kirk Cousins pass for Justin Jefferson. Jefferson wanted a pass-interference call, but the referee didn’t give it to him. Slay did grab Jefferson’s hand quickly…but the referee didn’t always say that. Nick Sirianni runs down to celebrate with defenders after being fired.
- Devonta’s offensive pass interference turned 3 and 2 into 3 and 12. Hurts was dismissed from behind after grabbing the ball to force a punt. Jalen Reag drew boos as he lined up to return the Eagles’ first punt…and then cheered after he was tackled for just one yard by Zech McPhearson.
- The Vikings scored the 3rd and 5th as James Bradbury knocked down Irv Smith for the third pitch. Strong start to Jonathan Gannon’s defense.
- The Eagles were called for a fourth offense penalty in the third offense. It was their third ineligible, with Isaac Seumalo being called the culprit.
Q2
- The Hurts threw deep to the open Quez Watkins, who was frustrated that Vikings’ safety incorrectly helped Goedert instead of staying at the fast wide receiver. Eagles 14, Vikings 0.
- Jalen Regor Jets swept 3 and 1 for 17 yards…and boos from the Linc crowd. The Vikings drove into the red zone and Haason Reddick got into the screen of backup tight end Johnny Mundt, allowing a 17-yard reception to set up the first goal on the 2-yard line. Cousins then scored with a short pass to Owen Smith. Redick’s coverage must have felt like a waste. Eagles 14, Vikings 7.
- The Eagles finished 3rd and 12th, and Hurts ran out of bounds on an unmarked spot, but they were helped by the Vikings’ illegal touch penalty. The Hurts’ first turnover came in a game where Goedert was tightly covered and nearly caught, but Cameron Dantlzer hit the ball out before the tight end could establish possession. Just a great defense interrupting a good pitch in a good window. Hurts’ third down pass came without a stick to force a punt. The second offense of the night was scoreless.
- TJ Edwards knocked down Cousins’ third pass in the middle, forcing another 3-pointer out.
- In back-to-back games, Devonta was injured in the middle, gaining 19 and 16 yards. Then Boston Scott tied for 16 yards. Then Sanders hit for nine yards. Facing 3rd-and-2, the Hurts started running…but not just the first down. Instead of going out, he followed Goldett’s good lead block on Harrison Smith before extending the touchdown with a touch. Pretty impressive stuff! Eagles 21, Vikings 7.
- Josh Sweet fired Cousins…but grabbed his face shield and wiped out the sack. Wow. Cousins was nearly stripped on a deep shot that looked like he was under pressure…but it was almost done for Irv Smith…instead, he gave up what could have been a touchdown . what a break. Especially for CJ Gardner-Johnson. Cousins’ third down pass was incomplete and couldn’t be stopped again. Oddly, it wasn’t intentionally grounded when no one was near the ball. The referee said Darwin Cook was in the area, but…he wasn’t. Absolutely not.
- The Eagles took over at their own 5-yard line with 1:14 left in the second quarter. Hurts threw the ball to a soft spot with a nice touch and found DeVonta’s first down. The injury hit Goedert to catch and run 19 yards along the left sideline. Not sure why the Vikings made him so open. Hurts made a pass to Goldett in the middle, another high-level pass. The finish created a 38-yard field goal for Jack Elliott. To be able to get some points on that drive and make it a three-ball game is huge. It’s hard to be more impressed with Hurts! Eagles 24, Vikings 7.
the third quater
- The Vikings stormed into the red zone methodically in the second half. But then Javon Hargrave hit Cousins and he forced a bad pitch while throwing, which was intercepted by Darius Slay! After the draft, Sly ran to his seat on the court to celebrate, handing the ball to James Harden. Philly fan fiction comes to life.
- The Eagles took over their own 19-yard line and drove from the Vikings’ 21-yard line to lines 3 and 5. A mistake by Ryan Johnson started knocking down the Eagles. The Eagles completed a 41-yard field goal attempt…but it was blocked. Credit to Arryn Siposs for a tackle to prevent a touchdown.
- The Vikings took over the Eagles’ 24-yard line. That’s okay, because Cousins threw another pick, which went to Avonte Maddox.
fourth quarter
- Hurts threw a fine ball as he rolled left and hit Watkins along the touchline for a big gain. Unfortunately for him, it was erased by Jordan Mailata’s waiting free throw. The Eagles eventually had to point it out.
Lineup Description
- Quez Watkins is back to tee off.
Injuried
- Midway through the second quarter, AJ Brown was briefly glanced at in the medical tent. However, he didn’t miss any time.