Minnesota 23, Philadelphia 21
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, October 7, 2018
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Temperature:
79°
Head Official:
Walt Coleman
Attendance:
69696
By Field Level Media
Quarterback Kirk Cousins was 30 of 37 for 301 yards and one touchdown to lead the visiting Minnesota Vikings past the Philadelphia Eagles 23-21 on Sunday.
Wide receiver Adam Thielen had 116 yards receiving and a touchdown for his fifth straight 100-yard receiving game to open the season, becoming the first receiver since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to achieve the feat.
Kicker Dan Bailey converted three field goals, though he missed two others, and the Vikings (2-2-1) snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Vikings avenged a 38-7 loss to the Eagles in last year's NFC Championship game.
Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz was 24 of 35 for 311 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles (2-3) dropped their second in a row.
Bailey missed a pair of field goals in the first half -- from 28 and 45 yards. Bailey's 28-yarder clanged off the left upright on the Vikings' first drive, and he later missed wide right with 6:53 left in the half.
Bailey did give the Vikings a 3-0 lead with a 37-yarder on their second drive.
The Eagles tied the game at 3 when Jake Elliott converted from 30 yards out with 12:24 left in the half.
The Vikings went ahead 10-3 when Stephen Weatherly stripped Wentz, and the ball bounced into the arms of nose tackle Linval Joseph, and the 329-pounder returned the fumble 64 yards for a touchdown and a 10-3 advantage with 4:12 remaining in the half.
Minnesota extended its lead to 17-3 when Cousins connected on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Thielen with 21 seconds left.
The Eagles drove deep into Vikings territory on their first drive in the third before Eric Kendricks tackled Jay Ajayi, forced a fumble and also recovered it at the 5-yard line.
Cousins opened the next drive with a 68-yard completion to Thielen, and Bailey eventually hit a 22-yard field goal for a 20-3 lead.
The Eagles closed within 20-14 with 12:05 left in the fourth after Wentz tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Wendell Smallwood. They opted to go for two-point conversion, and Smallwood dove into the end zone by the pylon to convert.
Bailey made it a two-possession game with a 52-yard field goal for a 23-14 lead with 2:47 remaining.
Wentz found Zach Ertz for a 7-yard score with 1:09 left, but Thielen recovered the ensuing onside kick after initially bobbling it, sealing the game.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Rushing
| Minnesota |
|
Philadelphia |
|
Latavius Murray
|
Player |
Jay Ajayi
|
|
11 |
Attempts |
8 |
|
42 |
Yards |
29 |
|
3.8 |
Avg Yards |
3.6 |
|
0 |
Touchdowns |
0 |
|
12 |
Long |
9 |
Receiving
| Minnesota |
|
Philadelphia |
|
Adam Thielen
|
Player |
Zach Ertz
|
|
7 |
Receptions |
10 |
|
116 |
Yards |
110 |
|
16.6 |
Avg Yards |
11.0 |
|
1 |
Touchdowns |
1 |
|
68 |
Long |
23 |
Team Stats Summary
| |
Yards |
Scoring |
Defense |
| Team |
Tot |
Rus |
Pas |
TD |
FG |
INT |
Sck |
FF |
| Minnesota
|
375 |
77 |
298 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
3.0 |
1 |
| Philadelphia
|
364 |
81 |
283 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1.0 |
0 |
Upcoming Games
-
Philadelphia will play their next game on the road against N.Y. Giants. The Eagles have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .500 after a loss.
-
Minnesota will play their next game at home against Arizona. The Vikings have a W/L % of 1.000 after a win and .500 after a loss.
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