10 quick thoughts on the Vikings loss to the Eagles in Week 2

More quick thoughts from Minnesota’s loss to Philadelphia

Hurts could do whatever he wanted:

Heading into the 2022 season, some wondered if Jalen Hurts was talented enough to help the Eagles contend. Well, on Monday night, Hurts proved he has what it takes to perform at a high level in this league.

Philadelphia’s quarterback picked apart the Vikings’ defense on Monday with both his arm and his legs, especially in the first half. In the first two quarters of the matchup, Hurts threw a 53-yard touchdown, and he rushed for two more scores. He finished the contest with 333 passing yards, 57 rushing yards, and his three total touchdowns.

Smith finds the end zone, drops another: In just his second game since the 2020 season, Irv Smith Jr. was a bit more involved than last week. Smith caught a short pass from Cousins in the first quarter, and then in the second quarter, the young tight end hauled in an easy two-yard touchdown pass to give Minnesota their only points of the night. Smith’s trip to the end zone on Monday was his first since Week 16 of the 2020 season.

He also almost had another touchdown catch a little later in the second quarter on a deep route, but he failed to come up with the reception.

Connection to 2017: The last time the Vikings took on the Eagles in a night game was back during the 2017 NFC Championship. Unfortunately, Philadelphia led at the half 24-7 in that contest just like they did on Monday when they went in the locker room after the first two quarters.

Bynum’s ice is thinning: This summer, Camryn Bynum was able to beat out rookie Lewis Cine for the starting safety job next to Harrison Smith. On Monday, however, Bynum’s hold on his spot in the starting lineup definitely loosened up.

The Minnesota safety’s poor decision in coverage led to the Eagles scoring on a 53-yard touchdown pass. And then a little later, Bynum couldn’t bring down Hurts on the Philadelphia quarterback’s second touchdown run of the night.

With Cine making his debut on Monday, it might not be much longer until we see him in the starting lineup if Bynum keeps making big mistakes like he did against the Eagles.