The Eagles made it back in the win column Sunday, edging the Minnesota Vikings 28-22 in a nail-biter. Jalen Hurts was outstanding, throwing for 326 yards, three touchdowns, and an almost perfect passer rating of 158.3. A.J. Brown scored twice and came down with the game-sealing third-down catch, while the defense stepped up to punish old friend Carson Wentz just enough to secure the victory.

Of course, it came down to the wire — and for better or worse, this is just how the 2025 Eagles operate. But for now, they’re 5-2. Here’s a closer look at how they beat the Vikings to do it.

### Wait for a Break

The Eagles’ offense found themselves in a painfully familiar spot on their first drive. After some initial progress with the run game, the offense stalled once they crossed into Minnesota territory. Jalen Hurts lost a yard on first down, followed by a quick pass to Saquon Barkley behind the line, which lost another two yards. Suddenly, the Eagles faced a 3rd-and-13, with the threat of another stalled drive looming.

Barkley broke a nine-yard run on third down, bringing the Eagles closer — but still four yards short of the first down. The Eagles elected to go for it on fourth.

Hurts lined up in the shotgun with solid protection, facing only four rushers. Patiently, he waited for his window. He signaled A.J. Brown to break downfield, and the star receiver quickly pulled away from Minnesota safety Joshua Metellus, finding open space. Hurts delivered the ball perfectly in stride, giving Brown a clear path to the end zone and a 7-0 lead.

This extended play with crisp execution bailed the Eagles out of an annoying early-season habit and put valuable points on the board.

### Over Your Head

The Eagles’ defense also made key plays on their side of the ball — but they got some help from Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz and a few self-inflicted errors.

A big 34-yard pass from Wentz to star receiver Jordan Addison moved Minnesota deep into Philadelphia territory. The Vikings followed that with a chip-shot trip into the red zone. However, they couldn’t finish the drive.

Wentz threw consecutive incompletions on 3rd-and-1, then suffered a critical miscue when the snap flew over his head and back to midfield, resulting in a fumble. Though Wentz scrambled to recover it, the drive was over, as Minnesota faced 4th-and-32 from Philadelphia’s 41-yard line.

All the Vikings could salvage was a 59-yard field goal from Will Reichard to make the score 7-3.

### Wrecking Crew

That botched snap was just the start of Wentz’s troubles. On Minnesota’s next possession, facing 3rd-and-5, Wentz came under immediate pressure and threw a pick-six. Jalyx Hunt intercepted the errant pass and returned it for a touchdown, extending the Eagles’ lead to 14-3.

Philadelphia’s defense showed some serious bite Sunday, with Jalen Carter standing out as a major factor. He blasted through Minnesota’s offensive line right at the snap, forcing a hurried throw by Wentz that Hunt capitalized on.

### Nowhere to Go

Carson Wentz flashed some of his old brilliance Sunday — both good and bad. There were moments when broken coverage allowed him to connect for big gains, reminiscent of his 2017 form. But there were also moments when, under pressure, he forced risky throws and rolled out unnecessarily, echoing struggles from 2020.

The Vikings’ possession following Hunt’s pick-six felt like a throwback to those 2020 struggles. A holding penalty after the kickoff pushed them back 10 yards, followed by a botched screen pass that Wentz threw backwards and out of bounds, setting up a daunting 2nd-and-25 behind their own 10-yard line.

Despite having time on the ensuing snap, Wentz began seeing pressure and rolled right. He heaved the ball into the purple-painted end zone, hoping for a miracle catch by Addison. But cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and rookie safety Andrew Mukuba were perfectly positioned. Mukuba leapt in front of the pass for the pick, resulting in a second straight turnover credited to Wentz.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, their offense couldn’t capitalize. Hurts and company went three-and-out, slipping back into the stagnant sloppiness that had plagued them for weeks.

### A Crucial Stand Before the Half

The Eagles weren’t in the clear, and the Vikings certainly weren’t counting themselves out. Wentz responded with a screen to Justin Jefferson, who slipped tackles and raced 40 yards deep into the red zone.

Minnesota then hit another snag — a mix of their own execution issues and clutch plays from Philadelphia’s defense. Cooper DeJean forced an incompletion in the end zone on a pass headed for Jefferson.

Minnesota went for it on 4th-and-1, but a holding penalty on backup center Blake Brandel nullified what appeared to be a sure touchdown. Everyone on the field knew the play was coming back immediately.

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The Eagles survived mistakes and stalled drives with timely execution on both sides of the ball to secure a hard-fought 28-22 victory. With their record now 5-2, Philadelphia looks to ride this momentum forward as the 2025 season continues.
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