One more game. That is the thought of every Eagles fan. For the first time since 2005, the Eagles are headed back to the Super Bowl. It will come against the same team they faced in that game, the New England Patriots. The Eagles first had handle business at home against the Minnesota Vikings.
A Shaky Start
It wasn’t a pretty start. The Eagles looked weak out there and gave up seven points on a 75-yard drive by the Minnesota Vikings. There was bad tackling, miscommunication, and not much pressure. The Eagles then got the ball for the first time and continued the mistakes. There was a dropped ball by Torrey Smith and then Trey Burton couldn’t keep his feet on a third-down attempt. Then the whole perspective of the game changed in a glimpse.
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It was a third-down for the Vikings with eight yards to go as the Vikings were trying to go up by two scores. Then came Chris Long off the edge. The son of Hall-of-Famer Howie Long made his dad proud as he disrupted Case Keenum enough to make have a bad throw. That throw was ended being a touchdown, not for the Vikings though. Keenum underthrew Adam Thielen and threw it right to Patrick Robinson who took it to the house. Tied ball game now.
Eagles take the lead
It was followed by a three-and-out stop by the defense than a methodical 12-play drive by the Eagles. The Eagles came away with seven points off the drive as LeGarrette Blount pummeled his way into the end zone from 11 yards out.
A Slight Scare
The Eagles then had another little hiccup as they weren’t able to score on the offensive next possession. The Vikings then drove down the Eagles throat down to the red zone, it was looking like the Vikings were going to tie things up. That was all for naught though. Rookie Derek Barnett, who’s pick was acquired through the Vikings in the Sam Bradford trade, made a clutch strip-sack that was recovered by Chris Long.
Two-Minute Drill of Perfection
The Birds then got back the ball with just over three minutes left in the first half looking to make it a two-possession game. After a third down conversion and a two-minute warning, the Eagles took full advantage of the Vikings not having all-Pro corner Xavier Woods on the field. Nick Foles was able to then find Alshon Jeffrey thanks to a bad play by Terrance Newman. That ended up in a 55-yard touchdown on a beautiful throw that would put the Eagles up by 14 with under a minute left.
The Vikings got the ball back as they were trying to decrease the deficit before halftime. Jim Schwartz and the Eagles defense denied that of happening as they forced a three-and-out. Now there were only 29 seconds left in the second half and the ball at their own 31. Most coaches would’ve thrown in the white towel and just kneeled their way into the second half. Not Doug Pederson though. The going to be 2017 coach of the year put his big boy pants on as he usually does and decided he wanted more. His team abided. Nick Foles and company were able to drive down the field to get in field position for Jake Elliott.
That’s All She Wrote
Now up 24-7, the Eagles didn’t look back. The rest of the game was filled with pure dominance. Nick Foles put on a clinic in route to his 352 yards, three touchdown day. This was one of the best postseason performances by a quarterback in NFL history. The defense also dominated in the second half as they held the Vikings scoreless in that half. There is not much to be said other than the Vikings proved no match for the Eagles in the second half. The Eagles finished this slaughter with a win with a 38-7 score.
Underdogs
This team is just full of resurgence. The number of obstacles this team has to face this year is unbearable. This team has the ability to win no matter the circumstances they are faced with. Doug Pederson and the players in that locker room are just focused on one thing. That is to bring that Vince Lombardi down Broad Street in front of the NFL’s greatest fans.
– Christian Gotzman is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage College Football. He covers College Football and is also a staff writer for the Philadelphia Eagles. Follow @C_Gotzman
