Eagles-Vikings scouting report

Recent history: Eagles won at Minnesota last season, 23-16.

Eagles: 350.5 yards per game, 9th

Vikings: 330.5 yards per game, 17th

Eagles: Donovan McNabb's transformation since his Week 12 benching has been amazing. In the last five games, four of which the Eagles have won, he's thrown nine TDs and just one INT and has a .643 completion percentage. In the five previous games: six TDs, seven INTs and a .526 completion rate.

Vikings: Benched two games into the season, Tarvaris Jackson got a second chance when Gus Frerotte injured his back in Week 14. He's performed well, completing 64 percent of his passes in the last four games and throwing eight TD passes and just one INT. Jackson has the mobility to extend plays and run for first downs against an Eagles defense that plays a lot of man coverage.

ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

Eagles: Brian Westbrook's knee and ankle injuries clearly have affected his play this season. He has averaged four fewer touches per game (20.5) than last year (24.5), and his rushing average (4.0) and receiving average (7.4) both are career lows. His backup, Correll Buckhalter, is averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 12.5 yards per catch.

Vikings: Adrian Peterson has now-you-see-him, now-you-don't explosion through a hole. He's a tackle-breaker who rarely is brought down by one defender. He's rushed for 100 yards in eight of the Vikings' last 11 games. Their record in those games: 7-1. His backup, Chester Taylor, usually gets 6-7 carries a game.

ADVANTAGE: VIKINGS

Eagles: Wideouts have caught 197 passes this season, the most ever in the Andy Reid era. But their 11 TDs are the fewest since 2003. Rookie DeSean Jackson has a team-high 62 catches, but just 2 TDs. Wide receivers also haven't been very productive in the red zone lately. Take out the Arizona rout, and they have just four red-zone receptions in the last six games.

Vikings: With a running threat like Peterson, corners and safeties often can get caught peeking into the backfield, which has helped wide receiver Bernard Berrian average 20.1 yards per catch this season. But Jackson has been throwing mostly high-percentage stuff underneath to his backs, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (seven TDs, 14.2 yards per catch) and possession wide receiver Bobby Wade.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

Eagles: Left tackle Tra Thomas, who did an exceptional job last week neutralizing Cowboys sackmeister DeMarcus Ware (20 sacks), faces another big challenge this week in Vikings right end Jared Allen (14 1/2). Eagles' interior three will have their hands full with Vikes' mammouth defensive tackle tandem of Kevin and Pat Williams.

Vikings: While this unit has blocked adequately for Adrian Peterson, it has not done a very good job of protecting the quarterback. The Vikings are 28th in the league in sacks allowed per pass play. Right tackle Ryan Cook has struggled in both pass protection and with penalties. He was benched at one point and replaced by ex-Eagle Artis Hicks.

ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

Eagles: 274.3 yards per game, 3rd

Vikings: 292.4 yards per game, 6th

Eagles: Absence of left end Victor Abiamiri (foot sprain) could be a problem against the Vikings' rushing attack. His replacement, undersized Juqua Parker, isn't nearly as good a run defender as Abiamiri, who helped the Eagles hold their last seven opponents to 3.11 yards per carry.

Vikings: Vikings are hoping to get run-stuffing defensive tackle Pat Williams back for Sunday's game. He's been out for 2 weeks with a broken shoulder. In first 14 games with him, Vikes held opponents to 3.1 yards per carry; in the two games without him: 4.4.

ADVANTAGE: VIKINGS

Eagles: This unit really has blossomed since defensive coordinator Jim Johnson replaced weakside linebacker Omar Gaither with Akeem Jordan in Week 13. They linebackers have been exceptional against both the pass and the run. It will be absolutely critical for them to swarm to the ball against the explosive Peterson.

Vikings: Strongside linebacker Chad Greenway, the Vikings' 2006 first-round pick, has really come on this season. He leads the team in tackles and also has six sacks, five in the last 10 games. Middle linebacker Napoleon Harris, who was claimed off waivers and has replaced injured E.J. Henderson, doesn't have much range anymore, and can be exploited in the passing game.

ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

Eagles: With the addition of cornerback Asante Samuel, Jim Johnson has played more man coverage than ever before, and it's paid off big-time. Eagles have held opponents to an NFC-best .541 completion percentage. In the last seven games, they've allowed just 5.58 yards per attempt. Strong safety Quintin Mikell has done a good job in coverage against opposing tight ends.

Vikings: Minnesota's pass defense has improved from 32nd last year to 18th this year, but its interception total dropped from 15 to 12. Other than Antoine Winfield, the Vikings don't really have an above-average cover man. Their other starting cornerback, Cedric Griffin, has just one interception in the last two seasons.

ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

Eagles: Punt returner DeSean Jackson and Kickoff returner Quintin Demps both need to have productive performances against the Vikings' struggling coverage units. Placekicker David Akers' 82.5 percent field-goal success rate is his highest since 2004. He's also sixth in the league in touchbacks on kickoffs with 17.

Vikings: The coverage units are suspect. They are 32nd in the league in punt coverage and 21st in kickoff coverage. Punter Chris Kluwe owns the league's fourth worst net average (35.0). He's had 57.5 percent of his punts returned, the fourth highest percentage in the league. Placekicker Ryan Longwell is 6-for-6 from 50-plus yards.

ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

1. Eagles LT Tra Thomas vs. Vikings RDE Jared Allen. Allen has 14 1/2 sacks, but Thomas shut down Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware last week. ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

2. Eagles SS Quintin Mikell and WLB Akeem Jordan vs. Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe. Mikell and Jordan held Cowboys' Jason Witten to 7.1 yards per catch last week. ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

Eagles MLB Stewart Bradley vs. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson. Peterson leads the league in rushing and has a league-best 20 runs of 20-plus yards. ADVANTAGE: VIKINGS

HOT:

Eagles: DE Chris Clemons. Had two sacks and returned a fumble 73 yards for a touchdown vs. Cowboys.

Vikings: RB Adrian Peterson. Has rushed for 100-plus yards in eight of the last 11 games.

NOT:

Eagles: WR Jason Avant. Has just two catches for 16 yards in last two games after catching five for 101 yards vs. Browns.

Vikings: WR Sidney Rice. Has just two catches for 15 yards in the last three games.

Eagles 17, Vikings 13.