Is this week vs. the Eagles a must-win game for the Vikings?

The Minnesota Vikings are potentially facing a three-game losing streak if they fall to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

After beating the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, the Minnesota Vikings are just 0-2-1 since.

The Vikings’ record would actually be 1-3 right now had Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews not been called for a roughing the passer penalty in Week 2, which negated a game-sealing interception and allowed Minnesota to eventually tie the score.

Losing to the Los Angeles Rams last week was expected by many as soon as the schedule came out. But the Vikings’ defense giving up 38 points was the big shocker.

Yes, the Rams are very good on offense and Minnesota was without Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen, but allowing 38 points is still too much.

The Vikings’ offense scoring 31 points last Thursday was a nice positive though.

The Week 3 loss at home to the Buffalo Bills was a huge surprise. This was a game many expected Minnesota to win. The Bills are currently sitting at 1-3 and they lost by a score of 47-3 in Week 1 to the Baltimore Ravens.

Looking at what has already taken place in the Vikings’ season so far, should this week against the Philadelphia Eagles be considered as a must-win for Minnesota?

One can make a case either way.

Going into 2018, this upcoming matchup was already considered to be one of the toughest games on the Minnesota’s schedule and even with a loss on Sunday, they can still turn things around at 1-3-1. But a loss to the Eagles this week would make things tougher for the Vikings.

Los Angeles is currently the best team in the NFC. But outside of them, it is still a very wide open conference so far.

A victory for Minnesota this week could not only be the beginning of a nice possible winning streak, but it would also give the Vikings the advantage in a head-to-head tiebreaker over Philadelphia this season, which could really help in the playoff standings down the road for Minnesota.

The Vikings winning on Sunday would also help make up for their embarrassing loss to Buffalo. It was still an awful result, but Minnesota getting a victory this week would be very huge, especially since it is one of the toughest games on the team’s schedule so far this year.

This Sunday’s result could have an impact on which teams in the NFC end up with first-round byes in the playoffs this season. Having a first-round bye has been critical to Minnesota’s past postseason success.

The last four times the Vikings advanced to the NFC Championship they had a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Minnesota’s expectations since last season ended have been very high, but for good reason. Given that the majority of their key players returned in 2018 and they added Kirk Cousins and Sheldon Richardson in free agency this year (both have been very nice additions).

Winning their Week 5 matchup with the Eagles would make it easier for the Vikings to reach those expectations. Certainly there are no guarantees when it comes to Minnesota, but a victory over Philadelphia would be a nice step in the right direction.

Minnesota Vikings

Getting a win this week certainly won’t be easy for the Vikings though. The Eagles have Carson Wentz back starting under center and coming away with a victory in the City of Brotherly Love is never easy for any opponent.

This game really could go either way. Will it be a blowout loss again for Minnesota? Probably not. It seems like it could end up being a much closer game than last season’s NFC Championship.

To get a win though, the Vikings’ defense needs to get back on track. Even without Griffen, they cannot afford another bad game.

Yes, Cousins and Minnesota’s passing attack has looked very good so far this year, but they cannot do this alone. The Vikings’ run game also needs to start picking it up.

Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook is dealing with a hamstring injury lately and has not been a big factor in on the ground. But the Vikings’ still have Latavius Murray, who filled in nicely for Cook last year and could be in for a good game soon.

Minnesota defeating the Eagles 24-21 on Sunday seems like a believable prediction to make. The Vikings know how critical this week’s matchup is and the team is just too talented to lose three games in a row.