Eagles Blow Out Vikings, Advance To Super Bowl For 3rd Time In Franchise History
It just wasn’t the Vikings day. The top-ranked defense did not play like the top-ranked defense today. Nick Foles, a backup quarterback played like an MVP today, and the Eagles defense played like the top-ranked defense.
The Vikings came out hot, getting four first downs and only taking them nine plays to drive down and get a 25-yard touchdown catch from Kyle Rudolph from Case Keenum.
Philadelphia couldn’t get anything going, having to punt from their own 42 yard line all the way to the Minnesota 14 yard line where Minnesota would take over. On the sixth play of the Viking drive Eagle cornerback, Patrick Robinson picked off Keenum and took it 50 yards to the house to tie it up, 7-7.
After forcing a Viking punt, the Eagles drove down the field and Legarrette Blount punched it in for six from 11-yards out to give Philly the 14-7 lead with 13:37 left in the first half.
After another Viking punt, and an Eagle punt, Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett forced a fumble from Keenum, and the ball was recovered by Philadelphia. With a minute left in the half, Nick Foles let one rip all the way down field to a wide-open Alshon Jeffery for a 53-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 21-7 lead.
Just before the half the Eagles forced another punt and took over at their 20 yard line with 29 seconds left. After a Jay Ajayi first down catch, Foles hit Zach Ertz for 33-yards to the Minnesota 20 yard line. Foles hit Ajayi again for 13 yards to setup a 38-yard Jake Elliott field goal to close out the half. The Eagles led 24-7.
The Eagles got the ball to start the second half and foles continued to be red hot, dishing out a 41-yard pass to Torrey Smith for another touchdown, giving Philly a 24-point lead, 31-7 with 10:05 left in the third quarter.
Foles and the Eagles just wouldn’t stop. After the defense forced a turnover on downs by the Vikings, Foles hit Nelson Agholor for a 42-yard pass, which ultimately led to a Jeffrey 5-yard touchdown catch. Eagles were just dominating, 38-7.
After the Vikings defense forced an Eagle punt, Keenum got one more shot to score, but was picked off again by Corey Graham. The Eagles would then run out the clock. For the third time in franchise history, the Philadelphia Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl.
In the loss, Keenum threw 48 times, completing 28 of those passes for 271 yards and 1 touchdown. Jerick McKinnon ran 10 times for just 40 yards, but also caught 11 passes for 86 yards.
Nick Foles was electrifying, throwing the pigskin 33 times, completing it 26 times, for 352 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ajayi finished with 73 yards on the ground, while Zach Ertz caught 8 passes for 93 yards. Alshon Jeffery also stepped up with 5 catches, 85 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Eagles will head to Minnesota to play the Patriots in the 52nd Super Bowl!
