Eagles too much for Vikings

 

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 9/15/2004

Culpepper, Moss lose their duels with McNabb, Owens

It’s true — the Vikings are not ready for prime time. After waiting nearly three years to be featured on Monday Night Football, the Vikings proved they should not come out at night. Or play on the road, for that matter, after losing for the sixth straight time away from the Metrodome.

Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb threw two touchdown passes, one to Terrell Owens of 45 yards in the fourth quarter, and ran for another in the Eagles’ 27-16 knockout Monday night. McNabb was sensational, completing 19 of 28 for 245 yards while scrambling for 24 yards, including a brilliant 20-yard run when he dodged the entire Vikings defense to give the Eagles a 17-6 third-quarter lead.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Tice, now 0-2 on Monday Night, attributed the loss to “Missed opportunities in the red zone, a fumble at the goal line, and Daunte Culpepper being stopped at the one. They [Philadelphia] made the plays, and we did not. We had a touchdown called back. We missed a field goal. But it’s a very long season, and we’ll continue to work to get better.”

The Vikings simply imploded in the red zone twice with first and goal, failing to score touchdowns at the one-yard line. Both times, Culpepper runs were stopped by the tough Eagles defense that forced two turnovers. As if that were not enough, Culpepper ran for a touchdown in the third quarter that was called back on a phantom holding call on Pro Bowl center Matt Birk.

The Vikings dominated statistically, keeping the football for nearly 38 minutes and amassing 410 yards of total offense and 25 first downs. However, the Eagles defense stuffed the Vikings and Culpepper at the goal line, frustrated Randy Moss, and took away the Vikings’ running game.

The Vikings were held to only 78 yards rushing; Culpepper led the Vikings with 41 yards. “You’re not going to beat a good team at their stadium making mistakes like that on the road,” said Birk, who had two holding penalties. “You have to play better than you do at home. The good news is [that] a lot of that stuff we can fix. It’s not a talent issue or effort issue; it’s having a little more attention to detail, and what we have to do is learn from this.”

Culpepper, who lost his personal quarterback duel with McNabb, had 384 yards in total offense. “That play at the goal line was a big play,” he said. “But there’s nothing that I can do about that [fumble] now except to make sure that the next time in that situation it does not happen.” Culpepper has fumbled 69 times in 60 games.

Eagles defensive end Javon Kearse played a strong game. He was matched up against Vikings right tackle Mike Rosenthal, who left the game early in the first half after sustaining what is feared to be a broken right foot.

Moss had eight receptions for 69 yards and one touchdown. He lost his duel with Owens, who had four catches for 79 yards, including the knockout punch 45-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, when he beat cornerback Antoine Winfield for the game-clinching score.

Moss said, “Philadelphia is a good team. We made some good plays, but we did not put points on the board.”