The Eagles were able to end the Vikings undefeated streak at the Linc on Sunday, but not in a conventional manner. In a game where turnovers plagued both teams early on and Offenses stagnated due to the wrath of both Defenses, it would take something special to find an edge..and that’s exactly what Doug Pederson gave his team in week 7.
It would be easy to overlook Doug Pederson’s playcalling and the impact it had on the game..but until the phenomenal 98-yard kick return touchdown from Josh Huff, the Eagles failed to make any kind of progress.
Drive one: Punt
Drive two: Interception
Drive three: Fumble
Drive four: Interception
Drive five: Punt
After Huff found the endzone, Pederson made a bold decision to go for the two-point conversion. The thought process was extremely similar to that during the Chiefs Divisional round loss to the Patriots..one that centralizes around the bigger picture and is simply fascinating.
The Eagles were inefficient on Offense..plain and simple. The landscape didn’t look as though it was going to change anytime soon. By going for two and expanding the lead to five, it means that the Vikings have to get outside of their comfort zone. Sam Bradford averaged 4.9 yards per pass against the Eagles Defense..and with a less than successful run game, he would have to challenge down the field if the Vikings were going to score. To do that he needed time to make his reads and wait for the play to develop, time he simply did not have with Brandon Graham, Jordan Hicks and others consistently breathing down his neck.
Pederson went for two, utilizing the athleticism of Carson Wentz and sending him careering into the endzone to give the Eagles a slight burst of Offensive momentum, despite the major points coming from the special teams unit.
In fact, in their next six drives, the Eagles would score 50% of the time..a stark contrast to a stagnant opening five..and a lot of that came as a result of Pederson’s playcalling, showing trust in his players and allowing their confidence to flourish in a game where it looked to lack.
Then, with 21 seconds left on the clock before halftime and the ball near midfield, the Eagles were stuffed on third down, leaving them with 4th-and-1. The Eagles could have punted, forcing the Vikings to concede those last few seconds and enter the second half with a narrow, yet steady lead.
Instead, Doug Pederson adapted the same mindset as before sent his Offense back onto the field and called a read-option. A fumbled snap may have tilted the success of the play, but Wentz was able to scoop it up and carry the ball six yards up the field for a first down, which sat extremely well with the Philadelphia faithful.
That play may not seem like a huge deal, but the end result was a field goal..and the Eagles went into halftime with an 11-3 lead, a huge difference.
The Eagles then went on to find the endzone in the second half, with Dorial Green-Beckham scoring his first touchdown as an Eagle..but that knife through the heart of the Vikings Defense may never have found its way through the armor, if it wasn’t for Doug Pederson’s aggressive yet brilliant way of thinking.
