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The rushing stat is a surprise. They can't run the ball and that's the base of their offense. Regardless they are 4-1 against a tough stretch. It will be interesting how they handle a division rival tomorrow. If they can't run the ball again maybe something is wrong this year. Maybe it's the SB hangover. It happens. Expect the unexpected fits better.VikingLord wrote: ↑Wed Oct 08, 2025 11:00 am There is perception and then there is reality, and reality suggests the Eagles are far from a dominant team this year, while the Vikings have held their own despite a rash of injuries and some unfavorable breaks. But let's look at the numbers for starters:
Offensive rankings for the Eagles:
Rushing - 99.8 yards/game (25th)
Passing - 161.8 yards/game (31st)
Total yards - 261.6 yards/game (30th)
Scoring - 25.0 points/game (14th)
Offensive rankings for the injury-ravaged Vikings who started a rookie QB for the first 2 games:
Rushing - 106.8 yards/game (23rd)
Passing - 198.2 yards/game (20th)
Total yards - 305.0 yards/game (25th)
Scoring - 24.6 points/game (16th)
I don't know about you guys but these numbers surprised me. Sure, neither offense is lighting the world on fire, but the Eagles have established stars at QB and RB and have not had to deal with a lot of injuries at other positions on their offense and yet have under-performed the Vikings who have none of those things. The rushing stat in particular surprised me.
OK, so if the Eagles aren't succeeding because of their offense, surely their defense must be jumping off the page, right? Well, let's take a look at those stats:
Defensive rankings for the Eagles:
Rushing - 126.8 yards/game (22nd)
Passing - 211.4 yards/game (15th)
Total yards - 338.2 yards/game (20th)
Scoring - 21.8 points/game (16th)
Defensive ranking for the Vikings:
Rushing - 132.2 yards/game (25th)
Passing - 157.6 yards/game (3rd)
Total yards - 289.8 yards/game (6th)
Scoring - 19.4 points/game (5th)
So a couple of things jump out in these stats. First and foremost is the Eagles are a pretty pedestrian defense, both in terms of specific aspects and overall. If the refs aren't outright ignoring blatant defensive holding by them like they did when the Eagles played the Bucs, they can struggle to consistently stop their opponents. And I've complained a lot about how bad the Vikings run defense has been thus far, but the Eagles have struggled almost as much and are only marginally better in that aspect. Heck, if the Vikings could defend the run they'd likely have one of the top 3 overall defenses in the NFL. Maybe that is something that can still be fixed. But overall, the Vikings should not be afraid to attack that defense, and if they can manage against that front four of the Browns with their makeshift OL, they should be able to handle the Eagles just fine.
What else is a factor? Well, one reason the Eagles have enjoyed more seeming success thus far is their turnover ratio which currently stands at +4. That compares to the Vikings who stand at -2. For scoring differential, the 4-1 Eagles sit at +16 (125 points for, 109 points against), while the 3-2 Vikings sit at +26 (123 points, 97 points against).
In short, the Eagles have done less despite having fewer overall challenges from an injury or continuity standpoint. They are statistically a very average overall team on both sides of the ball, at least so far. I would be shocked if the Vikings are favored in the upcoming game, and I do think a return to JJ McCarthy at QB could result in a major regression of the offense, but the Eagles are far from a juggernaught and all things considered I think the Vikings are well-positioned to compete with them. If they get decent QB play and avoid penalties and turnovers I see no reason the Vikings can't beat them.
Speaking of Superbowl hangover, I am sure glad Chiefs have the Superbowl hangover, I really hope the Chiefs will not make the playoffs or be eliminated in the playoffs, I am sick and tired of seeing the Chiefs in the Superbowl every yearCharVike wrote: ↑Wed Oct 08, 2025 12:08 pmThe rushing stat is a surprise. They can't run the ball and that's the base of their offense. Regardless they are 4-1 against a tough stretch. It will be interesting how they handle a division rival tomorrow. If they can't run the ball again maybe something is wrong this year. Maybe it's the SB hangover. It happens. Expect the unexpected fits better.VikingLord wrote: ↑Wed Oct 08, 2025 11:00 am There is perception and then there is reality, and reality suggests the Eagles are far from a dominant team this year, while the Vikings have held their own despite a rash of injuries and some unfavorable breaks. But let's look at the numbers for starters:
Offensive rankings for the Eagles:
Rushing - 99.8 yards/game (25th)
Passing - 161.8 yards/game (31st)
Total yards - 261.6 yards/game (30th)
Scoring - 25.0 points/game (14th)
Offensive rankings for the injury-ravaged Vikings who started a rookie QB for the first 2 games:
Rushing - 106.8 yards/game (23rd)
Passing - 198.2 yards/game (20th)
Total yards - 305.0 yards/game (25th)
Scoring - 24.6 points/game (16th)
I don't know about you guys but these numbers surprised me. Sure, neither offense is lighting the world on fire, but the Eagles have established stars at QB and RB and have not had to deal with a lot of injuries at other positions on their offense and yet have under-performed the Vikings who have none of those things. The rushing stat in particular surprised me.
OK, so if the Eagles aren't succeeding because of their offense, surely their defense must be jumping off the page, right? Well, let's take a look at those stats:
Defensive rankings for the Eagles:
Rushing - 126.8 yards/game (22nd)
Passing - 211.4 yards/game (15th)
Total yards - 338.2 yards/game (20th)
Scoring - 21.8 points/game (16th)
Defensive ranking for the Vikings:
Rushing - 132.2 yards/game (25th)
Passing - 157.6 yards/game (3rd)
Total yards - 289.8 yards/game (6th)
Scoring - 19.4 points/game (5th)
So a couple of things jump out in these stats. First and foremost is the Eagles are a pretty pedestrian defense, both in terms of specific aspects and overall. If the refs aren't outright ignoring blatant defensive holding by them like they did when the Eagles played the Bucs, they can struggle to consistently stop their opponents. And I've complained a lot about how bad the Vikings run defense has been thus far, but the Eagles have struggled almost as much and are only marginally better in that aspect. Heck, if the Vikings could defend the run they'd likely have one of the top 3 overall defenses in the NFL. Maybe that is something that can still be fixed. But overall, the Vikings should not be afraid to attack that defense, and if they can manage against that front four of the Browns with their makeshift OL, they should be able to handle the Eagles just fine.
What else is a factor? Well, one reason the Eagles have enjoyed more seeming success thus far is their turnover ratio which currently stands at +4. That compares to the Vikings who stand at -2. For scoring differential, the 4-1 Eagles sit at +16 (125 points for, 109 points against), while the 3-2 Vikings sit at +26 (123 points, 97 points against).
In short, the Eagles have done less despite having fewer overall challenges from an injury or continuity standpoint. They are statistically a very average overall team on both sides of the ball, at least so far. I would be shocked if the Vikings are favored in the upcoming game, and I do think a return to JJ McCarthy at QB could result in a major regression of the offense, but the Eagles are far from a juggernaught and all things considered I think the Vikings are well-positioned to compete with them. If they get decent QB play and avoid penalties and turnovers I see no reason the Vikings can't beat them.
The Chiefs aren't done. I don't see a team that can beat them in the playoffs. I'm sick of them also but they can change the roster and style of play quickly. There is no competitive rebuild with them. They just flick the switch. Many have predicted there downfall starting when they traded WR Hill. Once they gave Mahomes the big pay day they were also done. They just kept rolling along. That comes from drafting and coaching at the highest level.VikingsFan12345 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 08, 2025 2:19 pmSpeaking of Superbowl hangover, I am sure glad Chiefs have the Superbowl hangover, I really hope the Chiefs will not make the playoffs or be eliminated in the playoffs, I am sick and tired of seeing the Chiefs in the Superbowl every yearCharVike wrote: ↑Wed Oct 08, 2025 12:08 pm
The rushing stat is a surprise. They can't run the ball and that's the base of their offense. Regardless they are 4-1 against a tough stretch. It will be interesting how they handle a division rival tomorrow. If they can't run the ball again maybe something is wrong this year. Maybe it's the SB hangover. It happens. Expect the unexpected fits better.
As of right now the Chiefs have been pretty average. Their offense remains top half of the league and their defense is about middle of the pack. They have a plus/minus on par with the Vikings to this point and like the Eagles enjoy a +4 in turnover differential.CharVike wrote: ↑Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:04 pmThe Chiefs aren't done. I don't see a team that can beat them in the playoffs. I'm sick of them also but they can change the roster and style of play quickly. There is no competitive rebuild with them. They just flick the switch. Many have predicted there downfall starting when they traded WR Hill. Once they gave Mahomes the big pay day they were also done. They just kept rolling along. That comes from drafting and coaching at the highest level.VikingsFan12345 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 08, 2025 2:19 pm
Speaking of Superbowl hangover, I am sure glad Chiefs have the Superbowl hangover, I really hope the Chiefs will not make the playoffs or be eliminated in the playoffs, I am sick and tired of seeing the Chiefs in the Superbowl every year
. For those that can comprehend it, the aforementioned article provides some decent sets of data points and provides some pretty damn solid evidence that even Hall of Fame QB’s rookie seasons can be a dumpster fire.Many of these rookie QBs are on a horrible team so the chance of being successful is gone. How success is measured is also all over the board. Darnold is a perfect example. He is playing good this year. Others might post same old bum just like post last year when the Lions and Rams beat us again. It wasn't KOC who made him either because the guy has talent especially throwing the long ball which I like to watch. I have no idea what JJM will be. When he missed Nailor along the sideline for a possible TD during our lay down against the Falcons I was pissed because that pass needs to be made for a chance to win. But I saw Hurts last night miss a wide open WR at the start of the 2nd half for an easy TD and he's considered elite. Some comments by Eagle fans from an article about the miss were funny. Same old stuff like how is that an elite QB. Our team carried him to a SB championship and it went on and on. The time line depends on many things. If our OL gets destroyed and either Wentz or JJM gets sacked 6 times again we will get beat. It happened this year twice already. One for each. If our OL plays well and hopefully dominates the point like against the Browns either QB will have success.Alaskan wrote: ↑Fri Oct 10, 2025 12:21 am https://www.dailynorseman.com/minnesota ... j-mccarthy
All the JJ McCarthy is a bust or JJ isn’t ready blah blah blah that I see in most every thread is a bunch of horse. For those that can comprehend it, the aforementioned article provides some decent sets of data points and provides some pretty damn solid evidence that even Hall of Fame QB’s rookie seasons can be a dumpster fire.
The kid has 2 games as a starting QB in the NFL. No excuses. That’s just a fact. It’s gonna take some time. Every indication is that the coaches believe in him and his teammates believe in him. It’s time for fans to have some realistic expectations! Give the kid a chance!
I agree with the trump card. Mahomes really is one of the best ever and he still has a long way to go. The guy can make plays that most can't even attempt. The Colts are interesting. Are they playing over their head or will they continue to improve or like us last year fall off big time at the end. I get the feeling Reid would like to get that bad taste from last years humiliation in the SB out of him.VikingLord wrote: ↑Thu Oct 09, 2025 6:44 pmAs of right now the Chiefs have been pretty average. Their offense remains top half of the league and their defense is about middle of the pack. They have a plus/minus on par with the Vikings to this point and like the Eagles enjoy a +4 in turnover differential.CharVike wrote: ↑Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:04 pm
The Chiefs aren't done. I don't see a team that can beat them in the playoffs. I'm sick of them also but they can change the roster and style of play quickly. There is no competitive rebuild with them. They just flick the switch. Many have predicted there downfall starting when they traded WR Hill. Once they gave Mahomes the big pay day they were also done. They just kept rolling along. That comes from drafting and coaching at the highest level.
If injuries don't play a role for them I imagine we'll see them turn things up as the season ends. Their major AFC rivals remain more or less the same - the Bills and the Ravens (assuming they get healthy) are near-peer in terms of overall talent. There are some potential surprise teams as well in the Colts, Chargers and even the Jags who might finally be seeing Lawrence coming into his own at QB.
As long as Mahomes remains healthy, however, he's their playoff trump card. He seems to find a way once the playoffs arrive and at least so far his rivals at QB on those other AFC teams have not matched that.
Which is terrible news for the Vikings that can't seem to stop any run game. Gonna get a pissed off Eagles team next week.
That's true. Perhaps Cashmam will be ready to go which should be a big help. Plus the Eagles haven't run the ball well this year. Some say they are predictable and aren't winning match ups at the LOS. I would imagine a weaker ground game also hurts their defense. Like most games this one is hard to pick a winner.
I was thinking the same, I was hoping the Eagles would win so they will not be pissed off but Vikings might be screwed so I am honestly worried about the Eagles next week