NFC Game Of The Week
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
Vikings: They’re definitely not the team they were last year and we expected things to be different this year, but I didn’t expect them to get off to such a sloppy start to this season. They looked beyond dominant in the opening game against the 49ers, they should’ve won in Green Bay the following week. In week three, they were absolutely embarrassed in Buffalo and last Thursday in Los Angeles, they played better but ran out of gas to the Rams. After re-watching some tape, I now know exactly what the problem is: It’s their defense and this is supposed to be the strength of the team and Mike Zimmer’s specialty. They’ve given up a lot of big plays and they struggle to get off the field. I truly feel after the NFC Championship last year where they struggled all-around against Philly, teams have studied that film and used their own ways to attack the Vikings. I can’t fault their offense because they’ve done more than enough to help keep them in games and even win a few and Kirk Cousins has been worth the hype since signing the contract in the offseason. It makes sense now why they decided to move on from Keemun because they wanted more of a pop offensively and so far, they got it. This is a game they’ve waited for and it’s finally here when they go back to South Philadelphia for their rematch with the Eagles.
Eagles: Carson Wentz is back, Alshon is back so all is right with the world again, right? In the words of the legend Lee Corso, not so fast! The injury bug has really plagued the defending Super Bowl champions but I think they can overcome this challenge just as they did last season. Jason Peters goes down, the offensive line didn’t miss a beat and of course, we remember what happened to Carson Wentz when he tore his ACL. Nick Foles came in and kept the Eagles afloat and the rest is history. It truly makes me laugh when people say the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t as good as people make them seem and I just sit here and say that being healthy truly makes the difference and they aren’t even close to being 100 percent. It’s a different team, yes and when they’re healthy, they are still one of the best in the league. I was stunned they dropped that game last week in Tennessee because they did more than enough to win the game but when you lack communication as a defense, you’ll get attacked and that’s exactly what the Titans did. The Eagles babe two losses already and last year, they didn’t lose their second game of the year until December. They’ll look to bounce back on Sunday against a Vikings team looking to get back in the win column.
Vikings Player To Watch: Linval Joseph– He’s a bully on this Vikings defensive line. He has the ability to push an offensive lineman back into his own backfield and destroying the entire play. He’s a disruptive force that the Eagles offensive line will need to be worried about on Sunday.
Eagles Player To Watch: Jalen Mills– He’s been a very productive corner for the Eagles and he will have his hands full in this one on Sunday. I see him shadowing Thielen, more so Stefon Diggs.
Final Analysis: The last time we saw these two play, it was for the NFC title and the Eagles destroyed the Vikings to get to the Super Bowl. Case Keenum and Nick Foles were the quarterbacks in that game and this Sunday, we’ll see Carson Wentz and a guy who’s familiar with the NFC East in Kirk Cousins. This is a must win game for both teams as they’re both looking to get into a rhythm. The Vikings defense must play better all around. Pressure Wentz, stop Ajayi, double Ertz and get off the field. If I’m the Eagles, the discipline needs to be better all around and they need to hit Cousins early on and shut down Dalvin Cook.
Prediction: Eagles 30 Vikings 27
