As it usually does, Week 1 came with some shocks and surprises, not the least of which was the Minnesota Vikings opening 0-1 and the Philadelphia Eagles looking downright pedestrian in their victory over a significantly inferior opponent. Both teams will have the chance to fix what went wrong in their opening games when they face off on Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football at Lincoln Financial Field.
The series between these two teams goes all the way back to 1962, with the all-time record tied 15-15. The Eagles won their matchup last season, 24-7, on Sep. 19. Kirk Cousins went 27of 46 passing for 221 yards, one touchdown and three picks. He led the team rushing with 20 yards. Justin Jefferson caught six passes for 48 yards.
Jalen Hurts was 26 of 31 for 333 yards, a TD and a pick and rushed for 57 yards and two touchdowns. Miles Sanders rushed for 80 yards. DeVonta Smith caught seven passes for 80 yards.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-7, O/U: 48.5)
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.
Broadcast: Prime Video
Kickoff: Sep. 14. 8:15 p.m.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-1)
Kirk Cousins put up the stats, but couldn’t get the win, dropping a shocker, 20-17 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday. Cousins was 33 of 44 passing for 344 yards, two touchdowns and one pick, so let’s not point the finger at him here. He had a 102.8 passer rating and was sacked twice. He had no help from the running game, with Alexander Mattison rushing 11 times for 34 yards. He hauled in three passes for 10 yards and a score. Justin Jefferson was his usual self, catching nine passes for 150 yards. Rookie Jordan Addison caught four balls for 61 yards and a TD. Camryne Bynum led the team with 10 tackles. Denielle Hunter had seven tackles, two for a loss and a sack.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-0)
I don’t want to hear about Bill Belichick’s game prep. I don’t want to hear about playing on the road. The Eagles should have obliterated the New England Patriots last week and instead barely held them off at the end of the game to escape, yes, ESCAPE, with a 25-20 victory over a team that’s going to have the HBO Hard Knocks cameras shoved into their faces next season. Jalen Hurts was 22 of 33 passing for just 170 yards and a touchdown with no picks. He added nine rushes for 37 yards on the ground and was sacked three times. Kenneth Gainwell had 14 carries for 54 yards. AJ Brown had seven grabs for 79 yards. Reed Blankenship finished with 12 tackles and two passes defended. Rookie first round pick Jalen Carter finished his first game with a tackle and a sack. Darius Slay had three tackles and a pick.
THE PICK
The Super Bowl hangover is a real thing and it’s proven every single year. Still, the Eagles managed to shake it off and at least win their game. This isn’t college football so style points don’t count. It’s the mismatch that they had, in talent, that should have shown up more. As for Minnesota, their offensive line did not put forth the best performance and allowing a 10-play, three-plus minute game-ending possession from the Bucs and Baker Mayfield was something the defense will struggle to live down. Philly is the safe pick, but I don’t like the spread. Eagles 27, Vikings 24
Last week
Straight up: 10-6
Against the spread: 9-7
Season
Straight up: 10-6
Against the spread: 9-7
Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.
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