After an encouraging start in the NFC Championship Game, the Minnesota Vikings put together one of their worst stretches of football this season to fall behind by three possessions at halftime.
The Eagles deferred the coin toss, giving Minnesota the opening crack on offense. They followed with a methodical nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a gorgeous corner fade to Kyle Rudolph that resembled Case Keenum’s touchdown pass to him on Thanksgiving in Detroit. Vikings quarterbacks routinely work with Rudolph on red-zone throws each Friday, and it’s paid off this season.
Starting things off with a 75-yard touchdown drive.#BringItHome pic.twitter.com/K6n1VaAZcX
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 21, 2018
The consensus going into the game was that whichever quarterback made fewer mistakes would be the winner. Keenum made the first significant error in the first quarter when he threw the ball short to Adam Thielen — his arm getting hit during his release. Patrick Robinson smartly switched fields during his return and beat Minnesota’s offensive linemen to the goal line for Keenum’s first pick-six this season.
P-Roblematic throw.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/9JZhjDCSDb
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 22, 2018
The interception by Keenum swung the momentum of the game. The Vikings went three and out on their next possession and gave it back to Philadelphia, who put together a surgical offensive drive of their own. The Eagles needed 12 plays to go 75 yards, and on nine of the 12 plays they gained six yards or more. Minnesota surrendered three catches to Zach Ertz and two to Alshon Jeffery on the drive, and LeGarrette Blount pounded the ball in from 11 yards out to give the Eagles the lead.
.@LG_Blount making money moves.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/aIeuODZKjt
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 22, 2018
The Vikings nabbed some mojo back with an 11-play drive that reached the edge of the Eagles red zone, but defensive end Derek Barnett came clean off the edge on a third down, getting around David Morgan, and strip-sacked Case Keenum — his second lost fumble of the season.
What followed was a back-breaking touchdown drive in which the Eagles converted a third-and-6 and a third-and-10. The third-and-10 was a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jeffery, who got free behind the Vikings’ safeties as Foles bounced around in the pocket.
Foles to @TheWorldof_AJ. Six points.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/NPIlrQc4pl
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 22, 2018
Philadelphia did what no other team could this season: Succeeded on third down. They went 5 of 7 in the first half and totaled 242 yards.
Their final exclamation point came as time expired as they gained 60 yards in 29 seconds to conclude the half with a field goal.
The halftime score: Eagles 24, Vikings 7.
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