The Viking Age
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How the Minnesota Vikings can beat the Eagles in Philly in Week 5

By Mike Greitzer

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 21: Torrey Smith #82 of the Philadelphia Eagles attempts to catch a pass defended by Trae Waynes #26 of the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 21: Torrey Smith #82 of the Philadelphia Eagles attempts to catch a pass defended by Trae Waynes #26 of the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Wide receiver Aldrick Robinson #17 of the Minnesota Vikings makes a catch in front of cornerback Marcus Peters #22 of the Los Angeles Rams to score a touchdown and take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 27: Wide receiver Aldrick Robinson #17 of the Minnesota Vikings makes a catch in front of cornerback Marcus Peters #22 of the Los Angeles Rams to score a touchdown and take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Use that number three receiver

I’m not a fan of Laquon Treadwell. I mean, you have to produce to get support, don’t you? I hope so.

But if number 11 wants to change my mind, this is the game to do it. The Philadelphia secondary is an area of vulnerability in 2018. They are allowing 271 yards a game and will be facing one of the most prolific passing attacks in the league in Minnesota.

The fact that Minnesota Vikings wideouts Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs are the primary sources of those high numbers will be the reason that Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will game-plan directly with them in mind.

So, be it Treadwell, new receiver Aldrick Robinson, or even rookie Brandon Zylstra, make yourself available to your quarterback. He has certainly proven that–if given time, he can find you for a first down or a big play.

Use everything that John DeFilippo knows to win

Eagles head coach Craig Peterson is a very good coach, but he’s not a genius. Neither is Jim Schwartz. If new Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo wants to be the person who turns Minnesota’s fortunes around in the right direction, he has the knowledge of his former team (where he was the QB coach in 2016 and 2017) to zero in on the offensive opportunities and potential mismatches in this game.

Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings /

Minnesota Vikings

If we have seen anything to signify this a credible advantage it was the Detroit Lions drubbing of the New England Patriots two weeks ago in Detroit. Lions head coach Matt Patricia (formerly the Patriots defensive coordinator for the last 5 years) wrote up a game-plan that tied up Tom Brady like a calf.

In this case, it is hoped that the Vikings OC has some keys and game indicators that would help on Sunday. In fact, if they don’t, Vikings fans may start making negative comparisons between DeFilippo and his predecessor, New York Giant head coach, Pat Shurmur.

In summary, it would occur that both the Vikings and the Eagles have a solid chance to win on Sunday. Both teams have lost a couple of tough games, as well as missed a win when they had an opportunity to grab one.

That’s life in the big city of the NFL. No one will be terribly surprised if a good game on Sunday propels one team or the other to a string of victories, considering both teams have Super Bowl caliber talent and excellent coaching staffs.

4 bold predictions for Vikings vs Eagles. dark. Next

If the losing team is the Minnesota Vikings, they will face a 1-3-1 record and the task of needing a string of victories just to climb back into the ring of respectability. If they pull out a win, they’re 2-2-1 and close to where they were last year.  But feeling much better about themselves.

Let’s hope they’re paying attention to details.

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