Insights and Takeaways from Eagles’ Triumph over Vikings on Thursday Night

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1. The Eagles Shifted Their Approach with a Run-Heavy Drive

   In the second game of the season, the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator, Brian Johnson, made some significant changes. After a narrow Week 1 victory where key players like Dallas Goedert and D’Andre Swift had limited involvement, Johnson recognized the need for adjustments. He emphasized the importance of shifting their strategy and was determined to make it happen. His efforts paid off, as Goedert caught six passes on seven targets and Swift had a career-best performance with 175 rushing yards and a touchdown. Johnson also deserves credit for going back to basics when the Eagles’ offense struggled. Despite facing a tough defensive scheme from Brian Flores, Johnson utilized a run-heavy approach that proved successful. Even without Kenneth Gainwell, the Eagles ran the ball on 13 of 16 plays during their first touchdown drive. This change in strategy seemed like a breakthrough moment for Johnson, who was calling plays for just the second time and had faced criticism from the crowd.

2. Turnovers at the End of the First Half Continue to Haunt the Vikings

   The Vikings once again found themselves in a troubling situation at the end of the first half. In Week 1, they had the opportunity to take the lead against the Buccaneers but ended up turning the ball over. This time, they were down by three points with 45 seconds left on the clock and possession of the ball on the Eagles’ 31-yard line. Just like before, they failed to capitalize and committed a costly turnover. Justin Jefferson fumbled the ball at the Eagles’ 1-yard line, and to make matters worse, it went through the end zone for a touchback. Not only did the Vikings miss out on a potential score, but they also allowed the Eagles to extend their lead by giving up a 61-yard field goal. Consistently making key errors at critical moments and surrendering touchdowns at the start of the third quarter is a recipe for losing football games.

3. Jalen Hurts Shows Improvement, but There’s Room to Grow

   Jalen Hurts had a mixed performance in Week 2, showing signs of progress compared to his previous game. Although he started slowly, he managed to connect with DeVonta Smith on a 54-yard pass that could have been a touchdown if it were better placed. However, Hurts struggled to read the Vikings’ defensive schemes and threw an interception when they faked pressure and dropped into a zone. As the game progressed, the Eagles found a rhythm in their passing game, with Hurts completing 18 of 23 attempts. However, the lack of downfield production, despite the impressive Smith catch, was notable. Hurts and A.J. Brown need to work on improving their chemistry and creating more impactful connections. The offensive line’s performance also played a role, as they allowed four sacks. Additionally, there were missed opportunities, such as a potential touchdown pass to Brown that was called back due to a penalty. Overall, Hurts and the Eagles’ offense have room for improvement in terms of downfield success.

4. Minnesota Vikings Struggle with Fumbles at an Alarming Rate

   The Vikings have had a disastrous start to the season when it comes to fumbles. In just 31 minutes of play in Week 2, they lost four fumbles, adding to the two fumbles lost in Week 1. Their six fumbles lost in the first two games are the most by a team since the 2003 St. Louis Rams. Last season, the Vikings had a total of 10 fumbles lost over the entire regular season. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been responsible for three fumbles and an interception in the first two games, putting his team at a significant disadvantage. However, it’s important to note that the Vikings are dealing with multiple issues on their offensive line, including injuries and ineffective play. The fumble problems extend beyond just one player, with four different Vikings fumbling in Thursday’s game. This issue needs immediate attention if the Vikings want to turn their season around.

5. Eagles’ Secondary Struggles with Injuries and Inexperience

   The Eagles’ secondary faced several challenges in this game. With key players like James Bradberry and Reed Blankenship inactive and Avonte Maddox getting injured midgame, the secondary had to rely on backups who were not fully prepared for their expanded roles. Mario Goodrich and Josh Jobe had their difficulties, with Goodrich being targeted repeatedly after replacing Maddox and Jobe allowing a 62-yard touchdown. Even Darius Slay, who had previously dominated matchups against Justin Jefferson, struggled to contain him, allowing Jefferson to rack up 11 catches for 159 yards. The Eagles can take solace in the fact that they have a mini-bye before their Week 3 Monday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This break will give them much-needed time to recover and regroup in the secondary, as the backups showed signs of being overwhelmed in prime time.

Next Gen stat of the game: Against the blitz on Thursday, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts completed 8 of 11 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown (145.1 passer rating). When the Vikings didn’t blitz, Hurts completed 10 of 12 passes for 40 yards and one INT (45.8 passer rating).

NFL Research: Justin Jefferson and Randy Moss are the only players in NFL history with 5,000 or more career receiving yards before turning 25 years old.