The Vikings return home after splitting their two international games, and come back from their bye week to start a daunting stretch of their schedule. Even though the Eagles, the first team on the list, have lost two in a row, the defending Super Bowl champs are still atop the NFC East and represent one of the Vikings’ toughest tests this season.
Here’s a look at what to expect at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday between the Vikings and Eagles:
Wentz leads Vikings as Eagles try to end losing streak: The Vikings will keep Carson Wentz at quarterback this week, as J.J. McCarthy continues to rehab his right high ankle sprain, which means Wentz will face the team that drafted him second overall in 2016 before winning Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium after the following season. Other than owner Jeffrey Lurie and General Manager Howie Roseman, most of the key Eagles figures from Wentz’s time with the team have moved on, and Wentz said this week there’s “not really” any extra motivation for him against the Eagles. “Maybe earlier in my career, I would have felt differently,“ he said. He faces an Eagles team that’s lost two in a row after starting 4-0, and will be eager to avoid a third straight loss this Sunday.
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Vikings offense vs. Eagles defense
Vikings could run on Eagles: Philadelphia has allowed 4.7 yards per carry this season, which is tied for the seventh-highest figure in the league, and gave up 172 yards in last Thursday’s loss to the Giants, when Cam Skattebo ran for 98 yards and three touchdowns. The Eagles have played with a light box 58.7 percent of the time, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That’s typical of a Vic Fangio defense, which often trades run defenders for coverage players who can prevent downfield shots, but it also creates an opportunity for the Vikings as Jordan Mason gets another large workload with Aaron Jones out.
Fangio’s coverages have some new contours: While Fangio’s scheme, which has been copied across the league for years, is known for two deep safeties that force offenses to throw underneath, the veteran coordinator has taken a different tack with the Eagles this year. Philadelphia has been in Cover 1 schemes a league-high 47.9 percent of the time, according to data from FTN, after using safety Reed Blankenship as a robber at times in the Eagles’ Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. The Vikings don’t see much man coverage with Justin Jefferson on the field, and the Eagles’ lack of secondary depth could force them to revert to deep safeties, especially with cornerback Quinyon Mitchell dealing with a hamstring injury.
Vikings defense vs. Eagles offense
Even after a slow start, Barkley a reason for concern: Saquon Barkley, last year’s NFL offensive player of the year, has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry this season, failing to run for more than 88 yards in a game this season as defenses have stacked the box 29.5 percent of the time against him (according to NFL Next Gen Stats). The Vikings have allowed 132.2 rushing yards per game this season, even after giving up just 53 against the Bengals in Week 3, and the Eagles figure to test the Vikings’ run defense with Barkley and Jalen Hurts.
Rodgers looks for big day against former team: The Eagles let cornerback Isaiah Rodgers leave in free agency this offseason, before he signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Vikings. Rodgers has thrived in his first year as a starter with the Vikings, scoring twice in the team’s blowout win over the Bengals before blocking a field goal in Dublin. He’ll have a key matchup on Sunday against big Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.