Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Eagle Scout: Vikings, Eagles are going in different directions

The Eagles are coming off a historic comeback, have won eight of their last 10 games, and need just one more victory to lock up the NFC East (if the Giants don't hand it to them by losing to the Packers earlier Sunday). They also have a shot at the No. 2 seed in the conference.

The Eagles have vaulted into the NFC East lead while the Vikings have not lived up to many expections. (Yong Kim /Staff Photographer)
The Eagles have vaulted into the NFC East lead while the Vikings have not lived up to many expections. (Yong Kim /Staff Photographer)Read more

The Eagles are coming off a historic comeback, have won eight of their last 10 games, and need just one more victory to lock up the NFC East (if the Giants don't hand it to them by losing to the Packers earlier Sunday). They also have a shot at the No. 2 seed in the conference.

The Vikings? Their season imploded and then their dome did, too. At quarterback, they are likely to start unheralded rookie Joe Webb, unless the battered Brett Favre tries one more comeback.

Still, the Vikings have a powerful running game. Hey, this space calls for strengths and weaknesses.

Eagles strengths

The Eagles have scored 26 points or more in all seven games since the bye week. Even when the Giants slowed them down, the Eagles showed how quickly they can erupt. Behind Michael Vick, the team has put up more than 400 yards of total offense in each of the last three weeks.

Jeremy Maclin has 10 touchdowns, leading an offense that ranks second in the NFL in scoring and first in total yards. Here's the surprising thing: As much as the Eagles love to throw, they rank higher in rushing yards per game (fourth) than passing (sixth). The Eagles' 17 rushing touchdowns were tied for most in the NFL entering the week.

The defense leads the NFL in interceptions with 23.

David Akers has had an outstanding season, punctuated by his timely onside kick last week.

Eagles weaknesses

The defense has allowed 24 or more points in each of the last four weeks and has been frequently burned through the air. The Eagles have allowed 30 passing touchdowns, worst outside of the state of Texas, where the Cowboys and Texans have each given up 31.

Vick has been sacked 10 times in the last four weeks and hit even more. He has thrown an interception in each of the last four weeks.

Vikings strengths

The Vikings' defense has put up respectable statistics, ranking sixth in total yards allowed, eighth in rushing defense, and 10th against the pass. It features a talented defensive line and active linebackers but is still in a middling 17th-place tie in points allowed, giving up 22.4 per game.

Adrian Peterson ranks eighth in the NFL in rushing yards and is tied for third in touchdowns with 11. If injury keeps him out of the game, rookie Toby Gerhart is a powerful backup who gained 77 yards on 16 carries against a tough Bears defense last week.

Vikings weaknesses

With injuries plaguing the offense, the Vikings have sputtered. They rank 30th in the NFL in scoring (17.4 points per game). Vikings quarterbacks have been sacked four times in each of the last two games.

The Vikings are not well-equipped to take advantage of the Eagles' flaws in pass defense and pass protection. Minnesota has just 14 touchdowns through the air, the fifth-lowest total in the NFL. Can the Vikes get to Michael Vick? Their 24 sacks rank as fourth lowest.

Facing the Vikings last week, Bears return man Devin Hester brought back a punt 64 yards for a touchdown and added a 79-yard kickoff return. What might DeSean Jackson do against that kind of coverage?