After a mini-bye weekend and some time to heal and rejuvenate, the Eagles are back at it on Sunday in Minnesota against the Vikings. They know what to expect: a high-powered, explosive offense, a pressure-oriented defense, a special teams that covers all the bases, and a hostile environment at U.S. Bank Stadium.
In other words, the Eagles need to be at their best to end a two-game losing streak and win an important conference game. Here are some storylines to consider for Sunday’s 1 p.m. kickoff (FOX, Eagles Radio Network) …
1. Eagles striving for consistency on offense
This is something the Eagles have talked a lot about all season. At times, the offense looks devastating with a fluid passing game, a strong ground attack and an NFL-best touchdown efficiency in the red zone. But there haven’t been enough of those times for the offense, so how can the Eagles put it all together here?
That’s what they have been working on all week. Minnesota’s defense is excellent, ranking sixth in the NFL allowing just 290 yards per game. They’ve allowed only 19.4 points per game and are second in the NFL in third-down defense. They are tied for fourth in red zone defense.
Minnesota blitzes 38 percent of the time, among the most in the NFL. To counter that, the Eagles are looking for more production on first and second down to give them options on third downs. Communication in the noisy environment will be critical. Play sound, assignment-solid football is so important. Key statistic to watch: Minnesota has held each of its first five opponents to 200 passing yards or less. Let’s see what the Eagles come up with as they attack the Vikings.
