Ready or not the game is upon us. I am hoping that the game is competitive with a Vikings blowout victory being preferable. We still owe the Eagles. I want to see the team come out of the game injury free too. Who are you picking to win?
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
“I think Carson’s always had an axe for finding the tight end,” Hockenson told reporters on October 16. “I mean, he came into this league with [Zach] Ertz and then had a lot of guys with success throughout his career.
“He’s really good at finding us in the checkdown, and we’ve been trying to get out a little on some checkdowns and gain some yards after the catch in those late-game situations. He’s done a great job keeping the ball moving and in play. That’s what we need—a completion mindset and just rolling the ball down the field.”
That blur you see in the No. 2 Vikings jersey is making the most of his second chance
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-isaiah-rodgers-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-week-7/601488559
Will Ragatz: Eagles 27, Vikings 23
I truly can see this game going either way. Wentz starting probably gives the Vikings a better chance to win than J.J. McCarthy would’ve, and Minnesota should be able to move the ball against this Eagles defense. Defensively, Brian Flores’ group gets Blake Cashman back and can theoretically give Hurts a tough time with its various zone coverage looks.
At the end of the day, I just can’t quite bring myself to predict a third consecutive loss for an Eagles team that until recently had won ten straight games. This feels like a spot for Saquon Barkley to get going in the run game. Jalen Carter and Quinyon Mitchell playing for Philly — and Andrew Van Ginkel being out for the Vikings — has swung my pick narrowly towards the road team.
Joe Nelson: Vikings 23, Eagles 20
I’m not sold on the Eagles’ demise after two losses. They lost to Denver by giving up 18 points in the fourth quarter, and the loss to the Giants was on the road on Thursday night. Those games are always crazy. That said, Philly’s offense has been inconsistent and they’re about to face a Vikings defense that doesn’t give up many chunk plays. If Minnesota can prevent Saquon Barkley from wrecking the game, they’ll come away with a victory. That happens because Brian Flores has had two weeks to prepare for this matchup, and Minnesota will likely have its healthiest defense since Week 1.
Tony Liebert: Eagles 23, Vikings 20
Adam Uren: Vikings 27, Eagles 24
Eagles 24, Vikings 22 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
The Eagles have lost two straight and just don’t look right. The Vikings are coming off a bye and might have quarterback J.J. McCarthy back. If not, it’s Carson Wentz. It doesn’t matter. This will come down to the Eagles getting Saquon Barkley going, and he will run through the Vikings. Eagles will win a tight one.
Eagles 28, Vikings 24 – Bill Bender, Sporting News
Will J.J. McCarthy (ankle) return for the Vikings here? The Eagles have not lost three consecutive games since 2023, but the key will be improving a run defense that ranks 27th in the NFL. Saquon Barkley has been limited to 88 rushing yards or less in every game this season. He breaks out here on the road, and Jalen Hurts does the rest.
Eagles 23, Vikings 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Eagles need to stop their slide after two consecutive losses to the Broncos and Giants. If they can protect the ball in Minnesota, that should happen. The Vikings can give up yards and may struggle with the overall balance and versatility with the visitors, the Carson Wentz narrative aside.
2 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, NFL.com
0 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report
0 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB
2 of 10 experts (1 of 11 total had not submitted) pick the Vikings, ESPN
0 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, USA Today
Slow down Barkley and make Hurts throw
This feels like the No. 1 priority for the Vikings’ defense against the Eagles’ up-and-down offense, which ranks just 21st in EPA per play thus far. Philadelphia has struggled to get Saquon Barkley going on the ground this season after his incredible 2,000-yard, OPOY season in 2024. Last year, Barkley averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 125.3 rushing yards per game. Six weeks into this season, he’s at 3.4 and 54.2 — a dramatic fall-off.
If there were a week for Barkley and the Eagles’ ground game to get right, it might be this one. The Vikings’ defense easily leads the league in opponent EPA per play against the pass, but is just 25th against the run. Bijan Robinson, Kenneth Gainwell, and Quinshon Judkins have run all over Minnesota this year. The Eagles will undoubtedly try to replicate that success and generate explosive runs via Barkley, who surely hasn’t lost his home run ability.
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If the Vikings can limit Barkley and force Jalen Hurts into clear passing situations, their defense could be primed for success. Hurts is certainly capable of making high-level throws, but since the start of last season, PFF has charted him with 29 big-time throws and 23 turnover-worthy plays. He threw a crucial interception last week against the Giants, his first of the season, and he’s struggled to get on the same page with No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown this year. Hurts holds onto the ball (averaging 3.12 seconds to throw, fourth-highest in the league) and thus will take sacks (18 of them, tied for third-most).
Exploit an exploitable secondary
The biggest mismatch in favor of Minnesota’s offense this week is their receiving duo against the Eagles’ leaky secondary. Philadelphia’s No. 1 cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell, is questionable to play this week due to a hamstring injury. If he can’t go, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison would line up across from outside corners Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo, both of whom have sub-50 PFF coverage grades this season. Two other players with sub-50 coverage grades? Eagles starting safeties Reed Blankenship and Andrew Mukuba (a second-round rookie).
Cooper DeJean is a very good football player, but he primarily lines up in the slot. Even if the Mitchell ends up playing, the Vikings will like their chances with Jefferson against Mitchell and Addison getting the Jackson or Ringo matchup on the other side.
Limit negatives on offense
This is an obvious one that applies to every team in every game, but it’s worth mentioning again because of how critical it is to the Vikings’ success. When the Vikings haven’t hurt themselves with negative plays on offense, they’ve moved the ball effectively and put points on the board. But they’ve been plagued all year by things like sacks and turnovers and penalties that have made it hard to sustain success. That’s been a point of major emphasis for Kevin O’Connell over the bye week.
YORE MOCK
R1:18 Francis Mauigoa | Miami (FL) | OT | 6’6” | 315 | JRR2:50 Amari Washington | Oregon | DT | 6’3” | 330 | JRR3: 82 Jake Goldey | Cincinnati | LB | 6’4” | 240 | RS SRR3: 97 Kaytron Allen | Penn State | RB | 5’10” | 220 | SRR4: 118 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren | Toledo | S | 6’2” | 202 | SRR5: 157 Davison Igbinosun | Ohio State | CB | 6’2” | 193 | SRR5: 167 Logan Jones | Iowa | OC | 6’3” | 293 | RSRR5: 173 Domani Jackson | Alabama | CB | 6’1” | 201 | SRR6: 196 Rayshaun Benny | Michigan | DL3T | 6’3” | 296 | RSRR6: 206 Taylen Green | Arkansas | QB | 6’6” | 230 | RSRR6: 210 Eric Gentry | USC | OLB | 6’5” | 215 | RSRR7: 231 Eric McAlister | TCU | WR | 6’3” | 205 | RSR
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