The Philadelphia Eagles' Week 2 victory against the Minnesota Vikings provided valuable insights into the team's strengths and weaknesses. Here are five key takeaways from the game:
1. Pregame initiative and Mid-game adjustment
New offensive coordinator Brian Johnson deserves credit for his pregame initiative and mid-game adjustment. After a lackluster Week 1 performance where key players like Dallas Goedert and D’Andre Swift were underutilized, Johnson emphasized the need for change. Goedert caught six passes on seven targets, while Swift had a career night with 175 rushing yards and a touchdown. Johnson's back-to-basics approach when the Eagles' offense stalled was particularly impressive.
2. Late First-Half Turnover Proves Costly Again
In Week 1, the Vikings missed a crucial opportunity to take the lead into halftime, and the same story repeated itself in Week 2. With the ball at the Eagles' 31-yard line and 45 seconds left in the first half, Vikings had a chance to seize control. However, a turnover, this time a fumble by Justin Jefferson at the Eagles' 1-yard line, resulted in a touchback. To make matters worse, the Eagles capitalized by scoring a 61-yard field goal just before halftime.
3. Jalen Hurts Shows Improvement with Room for Growth
Jalen Hurts had an up-and-down performance in Week 2, following a so-so outing in Week 1. He started slow but eventually found rhythm in the passing game. Despite only five incompletions on 23 attempts, the Eagles lacked downfield production, especially when targeting A.J. Brown. Offensive line issues contributed to four sacks, but missed connections also played a part.
While Hurts improved, there is still room for growth, particularly in establishing downfield connections. The partnership between Hurts and Brown will be crucial in achieving this.
4. Vikings' Fumbling Woes Continue
The Vikings have had a historically bad start to the season when it comes to fumbles. In Week 2 alone, they lost four fumbles, bringing their total to six fumbles lost in the first two games of the season. This trend is a stark contrast to last year when the team had only 10 fumbles throughout the regular season.
5. Eagles' Banged-Up Secondary Faces Challenges
The Eagles' secondary faced challenges in Week 2 due to injuries and absences. Key players like James Bradberry and Reed Blankenship were inactive, and cornerback Avonte Maddox got injured midgame. This forced the secondary to rely on less-experienced players in significant roles.
The backups struggled, with some players being exposed in coverage. Even Darius Slay, who had dominated against Justin Jefferson in the past, faced difficulties this time. The Eagles will need time to get their secondary healthy, particularly with a tough matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the horizon.
