Coming into the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7, most people expected the returning Super Bowl champions to attack the Minnesota Vikings early and often on the ground with their strong rushing attack
Instead, the Eagles only had 45 rushing yards on the day. Star running back Saquon Barkley had 18 carries for 44 yards, Tank Bigsby had one run for 11 yards, and quarterback Jalen Hurts lost 10 yards in the game, with none of them running in a score.
Instead, the Vikings were dominated through the air by the Eagles. Hurts had a perfect passer rating against Minnesota, gaining 326 yards on 19 completions and tossing three touchdowns against Brian Flores' defense.
Minnesota Vikings CB Isaiah Rodgers takes responsibility for team's struggles against Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7
Blame for the Eagles' torching of the Vikings was pointed in many directions. Social media was quick to blame multiple players, but the player most often targeted with the blame was cornerback Isaiah Rodgers.
Rodgers is having an excellent season in his first year with the Vikings. Outside of this game, he was emerging as a shutdown corner in Minnesota's secondary, but it didn't take long for some "fans" to turn on the young defender.
Following Sunday's loss, Rodgers shared a screenshot online from a harassing and racially-driven DM exchange with a fan that reminds everyone that NFL players are still people and that kind of behavior isn't welcome in any fandom.
It's not as though Rodgers was unaware of his struggles in Week 7. In fact, the 27-year-old defensive back took responsibility for the big plays that his former team made against him on Sunday.
"I put it on me. I put the whole team on my back. I just got to make those plays, and I came here for a reason, and those type of plays I know I can make. So I put it on me."
Through seven weeks of the NFL season, Isaiah Rodgers has played one game where he struggled mightily. Still, he felt the need to own his mistakes despite not needing to apologize or explain anything from Sunday's loss.
Rodgers will face another test in Week 8 when the team plays in California against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. This will be an opportunity for him to return to form and help a Minnesota team that is struggling to find an offensive identity get a much-needed win on the road.
This is especially important since the team currently sits in the basement of the NFC North with a 3-3 record and several more tough games coming up on the recent schedule.