| Sunday's contest between the Eagles and Vikings | | | | scrimmage, trailing Peterson by just 68 yards. As |
| will pit two teams that are trying to climb up | | | | on the defensive side of the ball, the passing |
| from the bottom of the pile against one another. | | | | game is a difference maker in comparing these |
| While the 2-4 Eagles have seen several winnable | | | | teams. While the Eagles are 8th in the conference |
| games slip away, despite veteran leadership, the | | | | at 219.7 yards per game, the Vikings are 15th of |
| 2-4 Vikings are going through growing pains with | | | | 16 teams, with just 151.8 yards per game. The |
| young players in key positions. The teams have | | | | Vikings are led at QB by Tavaris Jackson, in his |
| other similarities too. | | | | first season as a starter. He has had his struggles |
| Both squads have defenses that are | | | | and only threw for 72 yards last week against |
| outperforming their offenses. The Eagles have | | | | the Cowboys. |
| only allowed 16.8 points per game, 2nd best in the | | | | The scoring averages for the clubs are nearly |
| NFC. The Vikes have allowed 19 per game, | | | | identical at 19.2 for the Vikes and 19.3 for the |
| making them the 7th stingiest team. The icings | | | | Birds. That is ironic, as the Vikings are led by 2nd |
| are the conferences best against the run, allowing | | | | year head coach brad Childress, who is a |
| only 76.5 yards per game. The Eagles are 4th | | | | protégé of Andy Reid, and was |
| against the run at 88 yards per outing. Where the | | | | the Eagles offensive coordinator from 2002-2005. |
| Vikings have trouble is in pass D. They are last in | | | | Given the Eagles inability to score TDs from inside |
| the conference against the pass, allowing 282.5 | | | | the 20, and the Vikings difficulties in passing the |
| per game. Andy Reid commented in one of his | | | | ball, I expect a low scoring game. I have written |
| press conference this week that the Vikes play a | | | | several times on my blog that the Eagles are |
| lot of the Tampa 2 zone coverage. That bodes | | | | missing in the end zone by a small margin. The |
| well for the Birds as their receivers play better | | | | difference as I see it is Donovan McNabb is not |
| against zone D. The Eagles pass D does not rank | | | | 100% recovered from his knee injury of last |
| in the conference leaders either, but they are | | | | year. Each week he has shown various signs of |
| better than the Vikes on paper, allowing only | | | | regaining his form. Last week, he seemed more |
| 220.2 yards per game. Despite their issues in pass | | | | elusive in the pocket and had a couple of nice |
| defense, the Vikings have 7 INTs in their 6 | | | | scrambles, one for a key first down. The one |
| games, and the Eagles only have 5. Minnesota has | | | | area that has yet to snap back is his red zone |
| also forced 9 fumbles and scores 4 touchdowns | | | | passing. When that happens, suddenly, Andy Reid |
| on D. The Eagles have not scored any. | | | | will again appear to be a coach at the top of his |
| On offense, both teams are in the top 5 in the | | | | offensive game. I just don't know when to |
| conference in rushing. Minnesota is 1st at 163.7 | | | | expect that to materialize. I have not picked |
| yards per game and the Eagles are 5th, averaging | | | | against the Eagles yet this year. I know I am a |
| 129.7. Both teams have explosive backs. The | | | | pathetic homer, but I have believed that they |
| Vikings feature rookie Adrian Peterson, who | | | | would win each game, and they could very well |
| gained 361 yards from scrimmage in one game | | | | have been 4-2 at this point had they not blown |
| against the Bears. That is the 3rd highest total in | | | | the Bears game last week and the Packers game |
| league history. The Eagles showcase Brian | | | | in week 1. All of that said, I still think the Eagles |
| Westbrook, who is 2nd in the NFC in yards from | | | | win this week. |