Joe Buck: Vikings May Not Be Ready For Eagles Fans

Any great play – even an incredible Stefon Diggs’ walkoff touchdown to save the Vikings’ season and end the Saints’ playoff run – is diminished by the fans’ need to wait for a league official in NY to confirm that the play actually happened as witnessed. Recognize that all of these challenges are subjective and that there is no more critical game-turning call than interference.

Neither team has lifted the trophy in the Super Bowl era, with both set of fans even believing their teams are cursed by bad luck. The Eagles would be unwise to settle for running to win them this game. Every week. No longer is the Vikings’ offense being dragged along by the defense. Minnesota ranks first at defending running backs in the passing game and second in defending tight ends (per Football Outsiders’ DVOA), which could lead to some ill-advised throws by Nick Foles, who won’t have any security blankets to rely on. The Eagles’ Fletcher Cox was sensational against Atlanta last weekend, and is complemented by Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett and Chris Long.

LeGarrette Blount, who recorded 766 yards rushing on 173 carries for Philadelphia this season, spoke from the other side of the ball on the challenge that Minnesota’s defense poses. They’re a dome team playing in the cold on the road against one of the best defenses in the league.

“I didn’t really think twice about it”, said Morstead. Maybe a little. I think Alshon’s a better player. “And sometimes even tempo, hurry-up, no-huddle offense can get your quarterback into that kind of rhythm”. If a very capable Eagles offensive line somehow keeps an inexorable Minnesota pass rush from getting a lot of pressure, they can do it. I haven’t started watching their defense yet but their front guys are really good. “We have 21 districts, we had each of those 21 captains identify hotspots, historical locations where people come out to celebrate when one of our sports teams wins”, said Deputy Chief Dennis Wilson. The Vikings allowed the Saints to get back in the game when Case Keenum was intercepted early in the third quarter. Jeffery’s reception total was his lowest since he caught 24 passes in 10 games as a rookie and his touchdown total was a career-low, coming two seasons after he had caught 10 scoring passes. Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon are averaging close to four yards per carry.

Foles said that the players having a familiarity and consistency with each other helps them to play as a unit, and to play fast. “And so I’ve just got to make sure that I continue to stay aggressive with the week of practice and prepare the guys just like we have the last couple of weeks and just try to stay in our lane and try to block out some of the noise”.

The Eagles’ secondary exceeded expectations this season, but they are simply not on the same level as the Vikings’ defensive backs.

Philadelphia doesn’t need a reason get motivated for this game. In their first-round playoff game at home against Buffalo, the Jags barely scored 10 points and quarterback Blake Bortles was 12 of 23 for 87 yards with a TD.

Unfortunately, the Eagles’ chances of winning on Sunday are slim – hence the underdog masks. That means to win just $100, you’d have to pony up two grand.