Eagles fans should feel deeply indebted to Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer today—-on Monday night, he revealed to us the ultimate defensive game plan for containing the New York Giants’ three-receivers attack— keep two safeties deep and wide, and bring a cornerback underneath on OBJ at all times…
That the Vikings have one of the best defenses in the NFL should not be in dispute, not after they flustered Odell Beckham Jr. and dulled the impact of the league’s third-ranked passing attack on the heels of victories over Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton.
Add to that the Vikings’ much-maligned offensive line didn’t allow Bradford to be sacked; Jeremiah Sirles, who did an impressive job filling in for Alex Boone at left guard last week, played so well in relief of an injured Andre Smith that he might have a chance to keep the right tackle job. As the Vikings cleared enough room for RB Jerick McKinnon, Boone was a commanding presence along the line of scrimmage after an uneven first three weeks.
As for Sam Bradford? He is Eagles family, for want of a better term. He was ours, and now he is theirs. I couldn’t be happier for an ex-Eagles QB.
Bradford continued to make most of the right decisions on Monday night (his too-high pass to Stefon Diggs off an impressive double move notwithstanding).
Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph for the third straight game and kept his turnover-free streak intact, helping the Vikings (4-0) lead from start to finish after falling behind in each of their first three wins.
Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon each ran for a touchdown as the Vikings rushed for a season-high 104 yards. Bradford went 26 for 36 for 262 yards.
Granted, the Giants defensive backs are so depleted by injuries that wide receivers were playing safety in practice this week. Andrew Adams, promoted from the practice squad last week, started at safety for Nat Berhe. Trevin Wade started at cornerback for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and struggled all game.
But still, here’s Sam Bradford learning a new offense language on the fly, and he puts up this line in prime time:
Minnesota Passing
| C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | SACKS | RTG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Bradford | 26/36 | 262 | 7.3 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 101.9 |
| TEAM | 26/36 | 262 | 7.3 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 101.9 |
Dang, that’s a beautiful line for a game-managing-type quarterback. Maybe that’s what a knee-healthy Sam Bradford was supposed to be all along?
Perhaps.
Anyway, right now it looks like the Vikings and the Eagles made a beautiful deal—they got their quarterback, and we were liberated to unleash ours.
But first things first as the Eagles prepare to meet the Detroit Lions at Ford Field this weekend. We’ve got our own issues, and I am not even about to get into Nigel Bradham’s situation with a loaded gun found in his luggage at a Miami airport.
Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson’s appeal hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. He is facing a possible 10-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy a second time. An arbitrator will rule soon thereafter whether to uphold that suspension.
If the appeal does not go in Johnson’s favor, the Eagles will go to Plan B, which would be to move Allen Barbre out to right tackle and have Stefen Wisniewski take his place at left guard. Knowing a suspension was possible, head coach Doug Pederson went with that look for part of the preseason.
Meanwhile positive health reports from two other positions—Tight end Zach Ertz (rib displacement) and cornerback Leodis McKelvin (hamstring) both missed the Eagles’ last two games against Chicago and Pittsburgh, but say they’re ready to go for Sunday’s game against the Lions in Detroit.
“I got an MRI this morning, and they saw what they needed to see,” Ertz said on Monday. “I’m very excited. We took our time with it and we were being very cautious with everything, but I’m at where I need to be and I’m really excited for this week.
“I went out there in practice today and it felt pretty good to me,” McKelvin said. “That’s a good sign coming in for this Sunday. “Medically, I’ve been cleared to go out there and test it out, see how things go. I finished the practice today and didn’t have any problems with it. I’m just going to go out there (Wednesday) and see how things go.”
The addition of Ertz and McKelvin will be reassuring to the Birds as they return to the scene of the crime of last Thanksgiving Day’s 45-14 loss to the Lions.
They went into that game with a 4-6 record, and coming off consecutive losses to Miami and Tampa Bay. They were also without their starting quarterback Sam Bradford, without tight end Zach Ertz and then lost tackle Jason Peters and cornerback Nolan Carroll to injury all before halftime.
“I missed that one. Obviously, guys remember that one vividly,” Ertz said. “It was a tough game for us, being a short week on Thanksgiving to go out there and kind of lay an egg. It was very difficult to watch for me personally, not being able to play. But, guys vividly remember that game and it’s definitely in the back of our minds.”
“We’re a different team. We’re sitting in a different position,” tight end Brent Celek said. “I think we’re playing better, but we have to bring it every single game. It’s all about how we do this week.”
“As I say week in, week out, every day when people ask me about other teams, I don’t think it’s about other teams,” NFC Defensive Player of the Month Fletcher Cox said. “I think it’s about us and what we do in this locker room, the way we prepare, the way we practice. Obviously, I think we control what happens on Sunday.”
“No revenge factor. It’s just we want to go out there and get the W and go 4-0,” Detroit-native Brandon Graham said. “That’s the whole goal. But, you know I do, because it’s my hometown, I do want to get a win. Last year did give me a bad taste because I had to eat in front of my family, who are big Lions fans. They’re B.G. fans, but at the end of the day, I do want to go in there and get a win. You can call it what you want it, but I’m not going to say revenge. I just say, we want to go 4-0.”
The Eagles began preparations for the Detroit Lions on Monday and did so with Lane Johnson manning the right tackle spot with the first team, according to multiple players.
“We’re assuming Lane is playing this week,” said tight end Zach Ertz, “and we’ll go from there.”
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