Eagles Enter Minnesota Feeling the Heat vs. the Vikings
When the Minnesota Vikings sealed the win against the Cleveland Browns in London, they moved to 3-2. The Philadelphia Eagles had won all their first four games, and everything looked rosy for the reigning Super Bowl champions.
VikingsTerritory looks at how the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves under pressure as they head to Minnesota to face the Vikings after back-to-back losses.
Two defeats later, the Eagles come to Minnesota in Week 7 under pressure to stop the slide, with most of the focus on an offense that managed only 17 points in each of those two losses.
New Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo needs to find a spark for the offense. Patullo replaced Kellen Moore, who left to become head coach of the New Orleans Saints after one year with the Eagles. Replacing a guy who helped the team win it all last season was never going to be easy.
Eagles May Be in Desperation Mode at Vikings
Sports fans aren’t known for their patience, and some are already calling for the OC to be fired. I don’t think we are there yet, but with players like QB Jalen Hurts and veteran tackle Lane Johnson speaking to the media about the offense’s problems following the last defeat, it’s clear that all is not well.
Johnson criticized the offensive play-calling, suggesting that the offense had become too predictable. Star wide receiver AJ Brown said the team is trying to find its identity, even with a new OC, which is a concern for a team that was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy back in February.
Hurts, who worked closely with Patullo during his tenure as the Eagles’ pass game coordinator, was the man to stand up and take responsibility himself rather than subtly point the finger Patullo’s way.
Patullo’s relationship with Hurts was a major factor in his receiving the promotion, rather than Philadelphia looking outward for their next offensive playcaller. The pair needs to find a spark for the Eagles’ offense and soon, if that move is not to be viewed as a mistake when all is said and done.
Having a weapon like Saquon Barkley should help, especially against a Vikings defense that has struggled to stop the run this season.
Eagles’ Defense Not without Problems
On the other hand, the Eagles’ defense is not without its own problems. It’s not as if the Denver Broncos and New York Giants entered the games with a reputation as offensive powerhouses. However, the Broncos moved the ball well enough to win a close game. While the Giants’ offense thrived, racking up 366 offensive yards that were almost split evenly between the run and the pass.
First-round rookie passer Jaxson Dart impressed again in just his third start, and rookie running back Cam Skattebo punched in three touchdowns and fell just two yards short of a century in what was a surprisingly dominant win for the Giants. Monday saw former Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith surprisingly inform the Eagles that he was retiring.
With injuries to key defenders like Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, Nolan Smith, and Ogbo Okoronkwo, the Eagles’ defense struggled to contain the Giants’ offense, which should give the Vikings confidence heading into this game.
Most teams in the league would love to be having a crisis with a 4-2 record, but with where the Eagles started from, there are certainly issues to be fixed. What looked like a very tough game that most would have marked down as a Vikings loss shouldn’t be viewed with such trepidation right now. If and it’s a big if, Minnesota can get some healthy bodies back and get their offense producing consistently.
The ultra-competitive NFC North division once again sees all four teams starting the season with a winning record. The Vikings need to be able to keep the pace. This would be a huge win if they can pull it off, and Flores and his defense putting the Eagles’ offense under pressure is the key to achieving it.
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