Vikings pull off shocker
PHILADELPHIA >> Considering everything else the Minnesota Vikings have endured this season, it was silly to think two extra days sitting around a hotel room would bring ’em down.
No way a determined rookie quarterback named Joe Webb was going to let that happen.
Webb threw for 195 yards and ran for a touchdown in his first career start filling in for an injured Brett Favre, and the lowly Vikings stunned Michael Vick and the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles 24-14 in the NFL’s first Tuesday game since 1946.
"It was a big win, especially with what we have gone through," Webb said. "It was a long trip for us and to get a win against the Eagles, we are trying to finish the season on a high note."
Adrian Peterson ran for 118 yards and a score, helping the 14-point underdogs knock Philadelphia out of contention for a first-round playoff bye.
The Eagles (10-5) could’ve secured a first-round bye with a victory over the Vikings (6-9) and Dallas and with a loss by either Chicago or Atlanta next week.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
"We don’t deserve it after that performance," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "Every phase was terrible. We didn’t coach well enough. We didn’t play well enough. I’m disappointed in myself. It’s embarrassing."
Now the Eagles are locked into the NFC’s No. 3 seed and will host the No. 6 seed on Jan. 8 or 9. Their final game against the Cowboys is meaningless in the standings, so it’s likely Vick and most of the starters will rest.
Two days after a winter storm forced a postponement, there wasn’t even a snowflake visible at the Linc. The game was switched from Sunday because of a howling storm that dumped about a foot of snow in the area—perhaps a good idea considering Philadelphia’s history of snowball-throwing fans.
But 42 years after fans got a bum rap for tossing snowballs at Santa—the man in the costume said it was playful pelting—the Eagles said snowballs didn’t factor in the decision to move the game.
"There were a lot of issues considered, but that was absolutely not among them," said Pamela Browner White, the Eagles senior vice president of public affairs and government relations.
Nine days after rallying from a 21-point deficit in the final 7:18 to beat the New York Giants on DeSean Jackson’s 65-yard punt return on the final play, there would be no miracle at the Linc for the Eagles.
The Vikings looked more like a team with a lot at stake rather than a group that’s ready to start a vacation. The win could help interim coach Leslie Frazier get the job permanently.
"It was a great effort by our players to battle the way that they had to all week and they showed perseverance that has become the hallmark of our team over the last few weeks," Frazier said. "I can’t say enough about our players and the attitude they showed this week and I’m glad they were rewarded for it."
This has been a miserable season for the Vikings, who nearly reached the Super Bowl last year. They’ve endured numerous injuries, an ongoing Favre saga, the firing of head coach Brad Childress and the collapse of their stadium.
Vick, selected as the NFC Pro Bowl starter shortly before the game, mostly struggled after his 3-yard TD pass to Clay Harbor in the first quarter gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead. He lost two fumbles, threw an interception and was sacked six times.
Vick has been battered in recent games and he looked gimpy, gingerly walking to the huddle and off the field most of the night. Vick suffered a quad contusion on the first play of the game.
"I just tried to tolerate it throughout the game and I did. I have a strong will to win and I’ll do anything to win a football game. I just tried to go out and get through it."
Trailing 17-7 to start the fourth quarter, the Eagles cut the deficit to 3 when Vick scored on a 10-yard TD run. But the Vikings answered on the ensuing drive. Peterson ran in from the 1 to put Minnesota up 24-14 with 6:43 left. The Pro Bowl running back showed no signs of the right knee injury that had him listed as questionable.
Favre was inactive for the Vikings because of a concussion, missing his second game in three weeks after an NFL-record 297 consecutive regular-season starts.
He watched in street clothes on the sideline and enthusiastically thrust his arms in the air when Webb scored a TD.
The 41-year-old Favre got hurt last week against the Chicago Bears and was listed as doubtful. Frazier said on Monday that Favre still hadn’t passed initial concussion testing.
With the way Webb played, the Vikings didn’t need Favre.
"He came out and did his job and did it well," Peterson said.
Minnesota had a touchdown overturned on the opening possession of the second half. Webb’s 2-yard TD toss to Sidney Rice was reversed when replays showed the ball was juggled out of bounds. Juqua Parker sacked Webb on the next play and the Vikings settled for Ryan Longwell’s 30-yard field goal that put them up 10-7.
Vikings 24, Eagles 14
Minnesota | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | — | 24 |
Philadelphia | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | — | 14 |
First Quarter
Phi–Harbor 3 pass from Vick (Akers kick), 7:42.
Second Quarter
Min–Winfield 45 fumble return (Longwell kick), :44.
Third Quarter
Min–FG Longwell 30, 12:24.
Min–Webb 9 run (Longwell kick), 7:03.
Fourth Quarter
Phi–Vick 10 run (Akers kick), 10:17.
Min–Peterson 1 run (Longwell kick), 6:43.
A–69,144.
Min | Phi | |||
First downs | 21 | 24 | ||
Total Net Yards | 337 | 331 | ||
Rushes-yards | 31-161 | 22-107 | ||
Passing | 176 | 224 | ||
Punt Returns | 2-8 | 1-9 | ||
Kickoff Returns | 1-27 | 4-66 | ||
Interceptions Ret. | 1-0 | 0-0 | ||
Comp-Att-Int | 17-26-0 | 25-43-1 | ||
Sacked-Yards Lost | 2-19 | 6-39 | ||
Punts | 6-38.7 | 5-42.8 | ||
Fumbles-Lost | 1-1 | 2-2 | ||
Penalties-Yards | 5-74 | 12-62 | ||
Time of Possession | 30:21 | 29:39 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Minnesota, Peterson 22-118, Webb 6-31, Harvin 2-6, Gerhart 1-6. Philadelphia, Vick 8-63, McCoy 13-44, D.Jackson 1-0.
PASSING—Minnesota, Webb 17-26-0-195. Philadelphia, Vick 25-43-1-263.
RECEIVING—Minnesota, Harvin 7-100, Shiancoe 3-32, Berrian 2-16, Rice 1-16, Peterson 1-11, Tahi 1-11, Booker 1-6, Kleinsasser 1-3. Philadelphia, Celek 10-97, Maclin 6-74, McCoy 4-41, D.Jackson 2-32, Avant 2-16, Harbor 1-3.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Philadelphia, Akers 54 (SH).
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
East | ||||||
W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | |
y-New England | 13 | 2 | 0 | .867 | 480 | 306 |
x-N.Y. Jets | 10 | 5 | 0 | .667 | 329 | 297 |
Miami | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 266 | 295 |
Buffalo | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | 276 | 387 |
South | ||||||
W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | |
Indianapolis | 9 | 6 | 0 | .600 | 412 | 368 |
Jacksonville | 8 | 7 | 0 | .533 | 336 | 385 |
Tennessee | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | 336 | 316 |
Houston | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | 356 | 410 |
North | ||||||
W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | |
x-Pittsburgh | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 334 | 223 |
x-Baltimore | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 344 | 263 |
Cleveland | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | 262 | 291 |
Cincinnati | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | 315 | 382 |
West | ||||||
W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | |
y-Kansas City | 10 | 5 | 0 | .667 | 356 | 295 |
San Diego | 8 | 7 | 0 | .533 | 408 | 294 |
Oakland | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 379 | 361 |
Denver | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | 316 | 438 |
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
East | ||||||
W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | |
y-Philadelphia | 10 | 5 | 0 | .667 | 426 | 363 |
N.Y. Giants | 9 | 6 | 0 | .600 | 377 | 333 |
Washington | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | 288 | 360 |
Dallas | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | 380 | 423 |
South | ||||||
W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | |
x-Atlanta | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | 383 | 278 |
x-New Orleans | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 371 | 284 |
Tampa Bay | 9 | 6 | 0 | .600 | 318 | 305 |
Carolina | 2 | 13 | 0 | .133 | 186 | 377 |
North | ||||||
W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | |
y-Chicago | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 331 | 276 |
Green Bay | 9 | 6 | 0 | .600 | 378 | 237 |
Minnesota | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | 268 | 328 |
Detroit | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | 342 | 356 |
West | ||||||
W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | |
St. Louis | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | 283 | 312 |
Seattle | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | 294 | 401 |
San Francisco | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | 267 | 339 |
Arizona | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | 282 | 396 |
x-clinched playoff spot
y-clinched division
Thursday
Pittsburgh 27, Carolina 3
Saturday
Arizona 27, Dallas 26
Sunday
Kansas City 34, Tennessee 14
St. Louis 25, San Francisco 17
Chicago 38, N.Y. Jets 34
Baltimore 20, Cleveland 10
New England 34, Buffalo 3
Detroit 34, Miami 27
Washington 20, Jacksonville 17, OT
Indianapolis 31, Oakland 26
Denver 24, Houston 23
Cincinnati 34, San Diego 20
Green Bay 45, N.Y. Giants 17
Tampa Bay 38, Seattle 15
Monday
New Orleans 17, Atlanta 14
Yesterday
Minnesota 24, Philadelphia 14
Sunday
Oakland at Kansas City, 8 a.m.
Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 8 a.m.
Miami at New England, 8 a.m.
Minnesota at Detroit, 8 a.m.
Carolina at Atlanta, 8 a.m.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 8 a.m.
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 8 a.m.
Cincinnati at Baltimore, 8 a.m.
Arizona at San Francisco, 11:15 a.m.
San Diego at Denver, 11:15 a.m.
Chicago at Green Bay, 11:15 a.m.
Jacksonville at Houston, 11:15 a.m.
N.Y. Giants at Washington, 11:15 a.m.
Dallas at Philadelphia, 11:15 a.m.
Tennessee at Indianapolis, 11:15 a.m.
St. Louis at Seattle, 3:20 p.m.