Minnesota Vikings Create The Blue Print To Defeat The Eagles In The Playoffs

While the Tuesday night game between the Vikings and Eagles didn't have the same consequences as the game between the Seahawks and Rams this coming Sunday, it certainly seemed like a game the Eagles could win, and one that they should win. 

Eagles fans weren't even thinking about the possibility of a loss; instead the debate before the game surrounded how much would the Eagles win by, how many touchdowns would DeSean Jackson score, or Maclin, or McCoy?

Even the Las Vegas line had the Eagles by over 14 points and no one would have argued that before Tuesdays match. Eagle's were coming off of the most stunning comeback victory of the year, the Vikings continue to lose more than just games, they lost their first and second string QB's. That meant Minnesota was leaning on the arm of rookie Joe Webb who in his first start last week threw two INT's and no touchdowns.

While it is difficult to figure out why the Eagles lost this very winnable game, the scary part is in the how.

It comes down to two strategies: Blitz to kill on Mike Vick and utilize the play action/short pass game.

If you watched the game it was incredible how many times the Vikings were in the Eagles back field. 

Vick was sacked six times, fumbling twice including once that went the other way for a Vikings TD. He was visibly shaken, he was off his throwing game all night. He threw two interceptions but there was four other throws that bounced in and out of defenders hands. Needless to say Vick's performance didn't do anything for a possible MVP campaign. 

It also didn't do enough to help the Eagles lock up a bye week in the playoffs. 

Vick did play hard, and brought the Eagles to within three at one point. And that's where the defense did their part in the loss.

The Eagles D has been questionable all year. There have been many games where if the offense hadn't gone above and beyond, the game would have been lost. That or the game was just too close for comfort. But in a playoff series where the Eagles could face Drew Brees, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, and (dare I say) Tom Brady; the Eagles defense gave all those QB's a reason to lick their chops. Uncovered receivers, poor tackling and unnecessary penalties.

On the other hand, this feels like another of the Eagles slip ups, which seem to happen every year. The Eagles do bounce back from losses quite well, I fully expect to see a stronger performance next week against the Cowgirls. 

It still leaves a blue print which will be deadly in the hands of the Eagles playoff opponents.