Stat Sheet: Numbers that made a difference
Here are some numbers that made a difference in Tuesday night's Eagles-Vikings game: 1-5 The Eagles failed to convert on four of their first five third downs. That's one reason they scored just once in the first quarter and allowed the Vikings to stick around and tie the game in the second quarter. The big problem for the Birds was the pressure applied by the Vikings' rush. And that pressure forced a Michael Vick fumble in the second quarter that Antoine Winfield returned for a TD.
Here are some numbers that made a difference in Tuesday night's Eagles-Vikings game:
1-5
The Eagles failed to convert on four of their first five third downs. That's one reason they scored just once in the first quarter and allowed the Vikings to stick around and tie the game in the second quarter. The big problem for the Birds was the pressure applied by the Vikings' rush. And that pressure forced a Michael Vick fumble in the second quarter that Antoine Winfield returned for a TD.
1
Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson had just one catch for 21 yards in the first half even though Vick threw 21 times in the first 30 minutes. With Jackson not returning punts to keep him fresh - that had to make the Vikings happy - the Eagles needed No. 10 to make some plays on offense. Heck, he had as many catches as Clay Harbor in the first half. That is not good. Things did not improve in the third quarter, either, as Jackson had just one more catch.
4.8
Vick completed 13 passes on 21 attempts in the first half. That's not bad. They went for just 100 net yards. That's an average of 4.8 yards per attempt. Tight end Brent Celek had four catches in the first half, and Jeremy Maclin had three. But other than his 3-yard TD pass to Harbor in the first quarter, Vick failed to come up with the big completion that has typified his season so far.
2
Fumbles lost by Vick. One of his greatest achievements all season was avoiding the critical turnover, but Vick could not keep it up against the Vikings. The first fumble was returned 45 yards for a touchdown. The second stalled an Eagles drive. You have to wonder whether this is a blip in Vick's season or . . .
5
All five Eagles named to the Pro Bowl Tuesday struggled against the Vikings. Vick, Jackson, David Akers, Jason Peters and Asante Samuel all had subpar games. Coincidence?