Eagles pluck Vikings again

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 1/17/2005

 

Philadelphia, PA — The Philadelphia Eagles proved that their way is the right way — start the season 7-0, win 13 of your first 14 games, and then rest your veterans and starters. Sunday’s rematch between the Vikings (9-9) and the Eagles (14-3) at Lincoln Financial Field was just like the first. It was a knockout — Eagles 27, Vikings 14.

The birds get it done again, this time without Terrell Owens. Quarterback Donovan McNabb was brilliant again, passing for 286 yards and two touchdowns in out-dueling Daunte Culpepper.

Philadelphia built a 14-0 first-half lead and put heavy pressure on Culpepper to advance to the NFC Championship game for the fourth straight year. In September, the two teams, both undefeated, met on Monday night, and the Eagles won 27-16.

The Eagles took away the Vikings’ running game; Culpepper was sacked three times for 28 yards and was under constant pressure. He was intercepted twice and had several passes dropped.

The Eagles took advantage of the Vikings’ mistakes, like seven costly penalties for 108 yards. Defensively, the Vikings had stopped the Eagles at the 36-yard line on third down in a scoreless game when a late flag hit the Vikings with a hold and the Eagles were given a first down. McNabb then drove the Eagles to the game’s first score, a two-yard TD pass to Freddie Mitchell.

It was apparent early that it was going to be the Eagles’ day when McNabb and the Eagles took advantage of another break. Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield made what looked like a game-saving play, busting Eagles tight end L.J. Smith at the Vikings four-yard line and dumping him on his head, forcing a fumble. However, the ball caromed into the air in the end zone and was grabbed by Mitchell for a touchdown.

It gave the Eagles a 21-7 lead. The Vikings had two other chances to score and blew both opportunities before the half. After getting a first and goal at the eight-yard line and driving to the Eagles three, Culpepper tried to hit Randy Moss in the end zone. It was incomplete.

On fourth down, the Vikings tried a fake field goal that backfired. Gus Frerotte threw incomplete. He had no receiver to throw to because Moss had come to the sideline. A field goal at that point in the game made it 21-10, still in the first half.

It was another example of Head Coach Mike Tice gambling at the wrong time. There was clear confusion on the play. He should have taken a timeout and not wasted the field position and scoring opportunity.

To make things worse, the Eagles fumbled at their own 42-yard line on the next possession and Vikings linebacker Chris Claiborne recovered. However, the officials reviewed the play and the Eagles retained possession when it was clear that Claiborne had stepped out of bounds just prior to recovering the fumble. A player cannot step out of bounds and then come back on the field and recover a fumble.

Moss had three receptions for 51 yards, but was a non-factor. He even short-armed a certain first-down reception when he spotted Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter charging toward him. Moss was fined $10,000 for his fake moon against the Packers last week by the NFL.

So it goes; the 24th Vikings playoff appearance ends like the previous 23 with a Vikings loss.

“Randy and I go hand in hand,” said Culpepper. “He’s my man. I’m going to win with him, and I’m going to go down with him. He’s just got to keep fighting and battling and we’re going to get it.”

When you look back over this season, Culpepper was remarkable. He combined to pass and run for an incredible 5,803 yards, threw 44 touchdown passes, and ran for three more. That’s 47 in 18 games. It’s one of the best seasons in NFL history and the best ever by a Vikings quarterback.

“We’re real close,” said Culpepper. “We’re closer than a lot of people might think right now. I think we took two steps: Getting into the playoffs is a step, and winning a game is a step. If we make those same strides next year, two more steps and we’re right there in the championship game.”