NFL
Minnesota misplaced 4 fumbles in its loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts pressured a throw into double protection, one in every of his worst passes in years, and was picked off. A.J. Brown — he of the practically 1,500 yards receiving a yr in the past — threw a tantrum on the sidelines when the ball didn’t come his manner.
And sure, already, within the Eagles’ residence opener, followers booed the NFC champions within the first half when a string of offensive performs went nowhere.
All that, and Philadelphia is 2-0.
The Eagles already knew they’d be examined as they attempt to return to the Tremendous Bowl. Oh, it gained’t be simple, however they’ve been sloppy and feisty, and people highlight-reel performs are behind final yr’s tempo.
However they’ll take it.
Hurts ran for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns and threw a 63-yard TD go to DeVonta Smith, D’Andre Swift ran for 175 yards and a rating, and the Eagles held off the turnover-prone Minnesota Vikings 34-28 on Thursday evening.
“We’re a piece in progress,” Hurts mentioned. “We try for progress, not perfection. We need to develop and discover our identification.”
Hurts, the MVP runner-up, shook off a sluggish passing efficiency within the first half and awoke the group when he linked with Smith for the scoring strike within the third quarter that made it 27-7.
“We Personal UR SKOL Tonight,” one Eagles fan signal learn after the TD.
It nearly wasn’t sufficient.
Kirk Cousins hit Jordan Addison for a 62-yard landing that made it 27-14 within the fourth and located Ok.J. Osborn for a 10-yard TD that lower it to 27-21 and put the Eagles on edge.
However Swift scored on a 2-yard run for a 34-21 lead with 4:13 left and the Vikings didn’t have sufficient time to attain twice.
“He confirmed a imaginative and prescient, an explosiveness,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni mentioned.
Minnesota (0-2), which had three first-half turnovers in a season-opening loss to Tampa Bay, misplaced three fumbles within the first half in Philly and 4 general. In maybe probably the most deflating second for the Vikings, Justin Jefferson fumbled a 30-yard catch into the top zone and out of bounds for a touchback with Minnesota trailing 10-7 within the second quarter.
“Nobody’s extra torn up about that one than Justin,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned.
Cousins threw for 364 yards and 4 touchdowns, two to T.J. Hockenson. Jefferson had 11 catches for 159 yards.
“Very deflating,” Jefferson mentioned.
Hurts completed 18 of 23 for 193 yards — largely to Smith, who additionally hauled in a 54-yard catch. He completed with 131 yards on 4 receptions.
Brown, the Eagles’ different star receiver, appeared sad with Hurts on the sidelines and Sirianni needed to step in and calm the scenario. At that time, Brown had solely 4 targets. He completed with 4 catches for 29 yards.
“The conversations we now have on the sphere are going to be personal,” Sirianni mentioned. “Y’all don’t have to know what was happening on the market.”
Brown’s complaints had been no large deal to Hurts.
“All people desires to make performs. All people desires to contribute,” he mentioned. “I’ve no worries about him. He’s an incredible teammate, an incredible pal.”
Jake Elliott kicked a pair of subject targets for the Eagles, together with a 61-yarder to conclude the primary half after Jefferson’s fumble.
Perhaps it’s the adjustment to new offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, perhaps it was the quick week, perhaps it was Hurts and the majority of the starters sitting out preseason video games, however regardless of the purpose, the Eagles had been sluggish early for the second straight week and lacked that big-play spark that made them a must-watch offense final season.
The Vikings blitzed and pressured Hurts early and he couldn’t break performs open as simply as he routinely did final season.
With Hurts not his ordinary self once more after a pedestrian effort in a win at New England, the Eagles turned to the run sport. And run and run and run they did, 13 instances on a 16-play drive that ended with Hurts utilizing his signature rugby-style QB sneak to attain on a 1-yard run for a 10-7 lead.
“We didn’t play our cleanest sport,” Sirianni mentioned. “I believe the primary week was a cleaner sport for the protection and never as clear for the offense and vice versa with tonight. We’re 2-0. A whole lot of groups wish to be sitting 2-0. If you end up on this place, and guys don’t know that we aren’t taking part in to one of the best of our talents, that’s when you may make plenty of progress.”
SLOPPY VIKINGS
The Eagles may need to provide a sport ball to veteran Justin Evans.
Evans’ hit on punt returner Brandon Powell pressured a fumble within the first quarter and the Eagles recovered. The Vikings’ first play after they picked off Hurts resulted in a turnover. Operating again Alexander Mattison fumbled and Evans scooped the ball.
The Vikings have already misplaced six fumbles this season.
UH-OH & 2
Since 1990, 270 groups started a season 0-2. Solely 31 of these superior to the postseason (11.5%). Minnesota was a playoff crew final yr after a 13-4 common season.
INJURIES
Vikings LT Olisaemeka Udoh left on a cart within the fourth quarter with a knee harm.
Eagles CB Avonte Maddox (shoulder) and WR Quez Watkins (hamstring) had been injured within the sport.
UP NEXT
Vikings: Host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 24.
Eagles: At Tampa Bay on Monday, Sept. 25, for the second of their 5 scheduled prime-time video games.
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