Although numerous tickets remain unsold for the Vikings-Eagles playoff game, that has more to do with the economic issues in the Twin Cities than the city shunning its football team.
In fact, while college football has the potential for great embarrassment if Utah beats Alabama Friday in the Sugar Bowl (there's no way in hell that the Utes win the national championship if that occurs, and we all know it), four outstanding games should transpire during NFL Wild card weekend.
While it may lack the offensive fireworks of Falcons-Cardinals or Colts-Chargers, or the defensive magnificence of Dolphins-Ravens, the Vikings-Eagles matchup should be good as well.
For starters, the crucial chess match in this game will pit the Eagles' impressive tailback, Brian Westbrook (1,338 yards of total offense and 14 TDs on the season), against a stout Vikings rush defense, which surrendered just under 77 yards on the ground a game in 2008 for the best mark in the NFL.
Now, the Minnesota pass defense is considerably weaker, but we all know that the Eagles have led themselves into ruin when head coach Andy Reid becomes a pass-aholic.
Therefore, they should try to run the ball whenever possible. Westbrook should be able to find holes, even against an excellent Vikings defense.
Additionally, quarterback play will be of paramount importance in this game, and surprisingly, Tarvaris Jackson (1,056 yards, nine TDs, two INTs) seems to have put his less than stellar past behind him.
However, despite talent at receiver in Bernard Berrian, and to a lesser extent, Sidney Rice, the Vikings don't really want to get into a shootout with the Eagles, as the prodigious Jackson is still not on par with one of the greatest signal-callers of this generation in Donovan McNabb (3,916 yards, 23 TDs, 11 INTs).
If the Eagles' running game proves to be successful, McNabb should be able to find numerous mismatches against the Vikings with weapons such as Kevin Curtis and Hank Baskett.
With all of this information compiled together, I think the Eagles are a team that has gotten hot at the right time, and while the Vikings will put up a good fight, Philadelphia will prevail in the end.
I say the Eagles prevail 34-28 in a game that will be just as good as its three predecessors on Wild Card weekend and thus sets the stage for an excellent divisional round.
6 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jeff Little 6 months ago
Interesting take, Brad,
A good read, I agree that the Eagles are hot at the right time and in my opinion win this game but I do not see the Vikings scoring 28 points. The Eagles defense will have a major impact on this game. Eagles Defensive Coordinator, Jim Johnson is going to literally throw the sink at Tavaris Jackson blitzing him from all angles and mixing up coverages on him while having enough guys at the line of scrimmage to control Adrian Peterson.
The Vikings have to attack the Eagles run defense with Peterson but the match up between McNabb v. Jackson will be the difference and one of the main reasons for the Eagles win.
It would be nice to see the Eagles run the ball more but this is a do -or- die playoff game and their advantage in this match up is their passing attack. The Eagles will be able to let the passing game open up the running game. You'll also see a lot of play action passes from the Eagles.
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Brad James 6 months ago
Thanks for your thoughts, Jeff. It's always nice to get insights from others.
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Chris Schei 6 months ago
I think Tavaris Jackson is going to have MAJOR problems with the philly blitzes. The vikes have to get the rush game going early and often, and pray that AP can actually hold on to the ball for a change. On defense, they are going to have trouble, as every team does, with westbrook and mcnabb. I think the eagles win this one.
As for the sell-out, a few weeks ago, the vikings were the good guys who said they werent going to raise ticket prices for next years games.
And then they jacked up the prices for the playoffs ridiculously high for season-ticket holders. And a lot of them are really upset about it.
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Brad James 6 months ago
That's hard for Vikes fans, Chris. Thanks for reading!
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Henry Gula 6 months ago
Yeah, I agree with you. The Eagles are most likely going to come out on top. Westbrook has to keep pounding until he gets openings, and Donovan has to have a good day (meaning not three interceptions and a fumble). If the Eagles can be effective enough on offense, I think that Adrian Peterson and the Vikings can be stopped. Jim Johnson is going to throw so many strange coverages and blitzes at Tavaris Jackson that he's not going to know what to do. And AP can't win the game on his own. Good preview, and I'll be excited to see the game.
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Sayre Bedinger 6 months ago
What does Philly have that Minnesota doesn't? Playoff experience. Donovan McNabb knows exactly how to approach this game, while the young bucks on the Vikes have no clue what is about to hit them. The only player on the Vikings with significant post-season prowess is Darren Sharper. The Eagles have all been there before, and they know exactly how to approach this game. I think the Vikings will come out hot, fired up, and excited, but their emotions could get the best of them. The Eagles have the perfect personnel, and are fresh off a dismantling of their top division rival.
That being said, since I have a personal vendetta against the Vikings, they will probably pull it out of their butts and win.
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