Webb Weaves 24-14 Upset Over Philadelphia Eagles

(Sports Network) - Rookie quarterback Joe Webb was very effective in his first career start, throwing for 195 yards and rushing for a touchdown, as the Minnesota Vikings stunned the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-14, at Lincoln Financial Field.

Webb completed 17-of-26 passes in the first Tuesday night NFL game since 1946. The contest was postponed Sunday night due to a major snowstorm that hit the Philadelphia region.

Brett Favre was unable to start for the Vikings after suffering a concussion in last Monday's loss to Chicago. Favre failed to pass his concussion tests.

Adrian Peterson, who missed last week's contest, carried the ball 23 times for 118 yards and scored with 6:43 remaining for the Vikings (6-9), who won in Philadelphia for the first time since December 1, 1985.

Percy Harvin caught seven passes for 100 yards for Minnesota, which snapped a two-game skid.

Michael Vick, who was selected to start for the NFC in the Pro Bowl, was contained all night long. He connected on 25-of-43 passes for 263 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Eagles (10-5), who were coming off an improbable road win over the New York Giants, scoring 28 points in the final eight minutes for a 38-31 victory.

Vick also carried the ball eight times for 63 yards and a score for Philadelphia, which is locked in as the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. The loss by the Eagles handed the Bears a first-round bye.

LeSean McCoy rushed for 44 yards on 13 carries and caught four passes for 41 yards. Brent Celek hauled in 10 passes for 97 yards.

Minnesota Vikings 24, Philadelphia Eagles 14 - Peterson And Webb Get It Done

Joe Webb what may be the play of the game on this drive, and looked like a 10-year veteran in doing so.

Facing a third-and-11 from the Philadelphia 47, Webb took a shotgun snap, looked into the teeth of a heavy Philadelphia blitz, and delivered a laser over the center of the field right into the hands of Percy Harvin for 19 yards and a first down. Adrian Peterson followed that up with a 27-yard run down to the Eagles’ 1-yard line, and eventually Peterson found his way into the end zone. Ryan Longwell’s extra point pushed the Minnesota lead back to 10.

The Vikings’ scoring drive took 8 plays to move 60 yards, taking 3:34 off of the clock to do so.

With just a shade under seven minutes left in the game, the Vikings now lead the Eagles by 10, 24-14.

Minnesota Vikings 17, Philadelphia Eagles 14 - Back Come The Eagles

The Eagles just put together a very impressive drive to get themselves back to within three points of the Vikings.

The drive included a fourth down conversion by running back LeSean McCoy on a play where Kevin Williams had him dead to rights for a loss in the backfield, but McCoy got the needed yardage.

The drive concluded with Michael Vick taking it in on a 10-yard run. Their drive took 12 plays to move 53 yards, taking 4:57 off of the clock.

With 10:17 left in the football game, the Vikings still lead, but the Eagles are now within a field goal at 17-14.

Minnesota Vikings 17, Philadelphia Eagles 7 - The Webb Show Continues

After forcing the Eagles into a three-and-out on their first drive of the second half, the Vikings marched right down the field again on the legs of Adrian Peterson and some impressive play from young Joe Webb.

Peterson started the drive with three carries for 30 yards on the drive, and then caught a pass for 11 yards as well. After a pass to Sidney Rice that was aided by a helmet-to-helmet cheap shot by Asante Samuel, the Vikings had first and goal. A swing pass to Harvin lost five yards, and then Webb rolled to his right, avoided a couple of tackles, and raced into the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown run.

The Vikings’ scoring drive covered 75 yards in 7 plays, taking 3:41 off of the clock.

With just under seven minutes left in the third quarter, the Vikings hold a 17-7 lead over the Eagles.

Minnesota Vikings 10, Philadelphia Eagles 7 - It's The Joe Webb Show!

This may be a bit premature. . .but, ladies and gentlemen, we might have ourselves a quarterback.

The Vikings came out firing in the second half, with young Joe Webb rolling to his left on the first play and firing a bullet to Percy Harvin to cover 46 yards into Eagles’ territory. He followed that up with a 23-yard pass to Visanthe Shiancoe to put the Vikings at first and goal. After a personal foul penalty on the Eagles and a carry for no gain by Adrian Peterson, Webb dropped back and lofted a perfect fade pass to Sidney Rice along the sideline for a 2-yard touchdown, the first touchdown pass of Webb’s career.

Or, at least, it should have been.

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid challenged the play, and the call of a touchdown was overturned, because a touchdown would have been a positive for the Vikings, and we simply can’t have that. Webb was sacked on the next play, and the Vikings had to settle for a 30-yard Ryan Longwell field goal.

The Vikings’ scoring drive went 62 yards in 7 plays, taking only 2:36 off of the clock in order to do so.

With 12:24 left in the third quarter, the Vikings. . .improbably. . .have taken the lead over the Eagles in Philadelphia, 10-7.

Minnesota Vikings 7, Philadelphia Eagles 7 - Winfield Does It All

Antoine Winfield has been blitzing Michael Vick all night long, and the Eagles haven’t been able to pick it up. This time, it finally cost them.

On a second down play with the Eagles driving, Winfield came from Michael Vick’s left again, and this time Vick couldn’t get away. Winfield knocked the ball out of Vick’s hand, evaded Vick, picked it up, and returned it 45 yards for the tying score.

This game has been much, much closer than anybody. . .yours truly included. . .could have anticipated coming in. With 37 seconds left before halftime, the score is tied at 7.

Philadelphia Eagles 7, Minnesota Vikings 0 - And So It Begins

After stoning the Eagles on their first series, followed by going three-and-out themselves, the Vikings have allowed the Eagles to go downfield and put a touchdown on the board to take an early lead.

The Vikings had the Eagles in a third-and-long situation, but Michael Vick overthrew Jeremy Maclin on a long pass play. However, Asher Allen was flagged for pass interference on the play, and the Eagles’ drive continued. After a long pass to Maclin that the Vikings probably should have challenged (and did so too late), the Eagles got into the end zone on a three-yard pass from Vick to rookie tight end Clay Harbor in the back of the end zone. Leslie Frazier challenged that play. . .and, predictably, lost the challenge.

Philadelphia’s scoring drive took seven plays to move 50 yards and took 3:34 off of the clock.

With 7:42 left in the first quarter of play, the Vikings trail the Eagles, 7-0.

Vikings And Eagles Inactive Lists

Both the Vikings and the Eagles have released their inactive lists for this evening’s game. They are as follows:

Minnesota

WR Hank Baskett
QB Rhett Bomar (#3 QB)
DT Fred Evans
QB Brett Favre
S Tyrell Johnson
WR Greg Lewis
OT Thomas Welch
S Madieu Williams

Philadelphia

LB Stewart Bradley
LB Keenan Clayton
T Austin Howard
CB Brandon Hughes
QB Mike Kafka (#3 QB)
CB Gerard Lawson
DE Daniel Te’o-Neshein
G Reggie Wells

The Vikings will have Jamarca Sanford starting in place of Williams, next to Husain Abdullah at safety.

Adrian Peterson is active and will start for Minnesota.

Brett Favre Inactive; Joe Webb To Start At Quarterback

If Brett Favre has any more football left in him, he won't get a chance to prove it until the season finale in Detroit.

Per Pro Football Talk, the Vikings have made Favre inactive for this evening's game in Philadelphia. Favre still, as far as anyone knows, has not passed the first concussion test he would have need to pass in order to play this evening.

This means that Joe Webb will get the start at quarterback for the Vikings, with newly-signed Patrick Ramsey backing him up and even more newly-acquired Rhett Bomar serving as the emergency quarterback.

Vikings To Start Joe Webb In Place Of Brett Favre Against Eagles

Joe Webb, the rookie quarterback out of Alabama-Birmingham, will start for the Minnesota Vikings against the Philadelphia Eagles tonight on NBC’s Tuesday Night Football according to NFL.com’s Jason LaCanfora on Twitter.

There was a bit of speculation in the media that Brett Favre might be able to play after being given two extra days to recover from his concussion, but the weather delay was apparently not enough as he’s been deemed inactive for tonight’s game.

Webb completed 15 of his 26 passes for a total of 129 yards and two interceptions in a 40-14 loss against the Chicago Bears last week. He was better on the ground, however, as he carried the ball six times for 38 yards and a touchdown. It might be an interesting battle of running quarterbacks tonight as Philadelphia's Michael Vick has also been known to be prolific as a rusher.

Patrick Ramsey, signed prior to last week’s game, will be the backup quarterback for tonight’s game.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell Loses His Mind Over Postponement

There were plenty of people that were a slight bit unhappy that the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles got moved to Tuesday night rather than its originally scheduled Sunday kickoff. It would appear, however, that nobody was as unhappy about the game being changed as Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.

The governor. . .who, it just so happens, is a huge Eagles fan. . .had this to say about the game being moved from Sunday to Tuesday.

"We’ve become a nation of wusses. The Chinese are kicking our butt in everything…If this was in China do you think the Chinese would have called off the game? People would have been marching down to the stadium, they would have walked and they would have been doing calculus on the way down."

Because Asian folks love themselves some advanced maths, I guess. Doesn't this guy have speechwriters or a guy to smack him upside the back of the head when he's about to say something dumb or something along those lines?

One can only imagine what the governor would have said if he had been around during the time of the NFL's last Tuesday game on October 1, 1946. That game was supposed to be played on a Monday as well, but was also postponed because of weather. . .more specifically, due to "a deluge of rain that drenched downtown Boston throughout the morning."

An NFL game getting called off on account of rain? Man alive, don't tell Ed Rendell, whatever you do.

Brett Favre Has Not Passed Concussion Test; Still Doubtful For Tuesday

Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre still has not passed his initial concussion test, and is a long shot. . .at best. . .to play on Tuesday night when the Vikings take on the Philadelphia Eagles in their snow-delayed matchup.

Favre suffered the concussion on a sack by rookie Corey Wootton of the Chicago Bears in the second quarter of last week's 40-14 loss at TCF Bank Stadium. Favre has said through the course of this week that the hit actually knocked him unconscious, saying he was out for around 20 seconds before he came to.

"That concussion is such a tenuous deal that we’ll see what happens (Monday)," Frazier said. "But there is a battery of tests that he still has to pass that he hasn’t passed, so it’s hard to change his status right now."

The Vikings have been preparing all week as though rookie quarterback Joe Webb would get the start behind center this week, and it appears to have been the prudent thing to do, as it doesn't sound like Favre will be able to answer the bell tomorrow night in Philadelphia.

In other Vikings concussion-related news, safety Madieu Williams has passed his initial concussion test and could be upgraded prior to tomorrow's game.

Vikings At Eagles POSTPONED Until 7 PM Central Time Tuesday

The season just continues to get stranger for the 2010 Minnesota Vikings.

The National Football League has just announced that the game between the Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles. . .which was supposed to be played tonight after getting flexed into NBC’s prime-time Sunday slot a couple of weeks ago. . .will now be played on Tuesday night at 7 PM Central time due to the blizzard conditions that are occurring on the East Coast.

I’m not sure when the last time the NFL played a game on Tuesday was. . .I’m pretty certain that it’s been a while. . .but it’s only right that the 2010 Minnesota Vikings are involved with such a thing after all the craziness that this team has been through this season.

No word on television arrangements or anything like that yet, but as this game was set to be broadcast on NBC and since it won’t have an ESPN game to compete against like the game against the Giants a couple of weeks ago did, NBC could easily broadcast this one on a national scale as planned.

Be sure to keep an eye on The Daily Norseman for the latest news and updates on this developing story.

Vikings At Eagles: Fantasy Football Focus

Back when the schedules were made at the beginning of the year, this one looked like it could play a huge role in determining fantasy football championships in leagues across America. And there's a very good chance that it still might. . .for whoever owns the most Eagles.

Yes, after the past couple of weeks, it's really, really hard to recommend any members of the Minnesota Vikings for fantasy purposes at this point. With the raw, untested rookie Joe Webb starting at quarterback, it takes down the value of players like Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe. Even Adrian Peterson is a bit of an iffy proposition. There's a solid chance that Peterson won't even play this evening, and if he does, he's going to be seeing a lot of eight and nine-man fronts from the Philadelphia defense, which will make for tough sledding for the NFL's best running back.

Don't even get me started on the Vikings' defense. . .after the listless efforts that they've put together the past couple weeks, I wouldn't recommend Minnesota as your fantasy defense if they were lining up this week against a Big Ten team.

In short, to put this the best way I can, if you're playing for a championship this week, play as many Eagles as you can. Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek. . .heck, go see if Ron Jaworski and Mike Quick are available on the waiver wire, too. The defense looks to be a pretty solid start, too, as they'll load up to stop whoever the Vikings are playing at running back this evening and blitz the heck out of Joe Webb, which means that there will likely be plenty of mistakes for them to feast on.

Vikings Continue Playing Out String With Trip To Philadelphia

(Sports Network) - The emotion of joy probably wouldn't feel so good had it not been for pain. The mental state of Philadelphia Eagles fans was a mix of both when franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb was traded on Easter Sunday.

Several pundits had the Eagles tabbed to finish near the bottom of the NFC East when head coach Andy Reid pulled the trigger on the blockbuster deal that sent McNabb to Washington and opened the door for Kevin Kolb to be the team's starting quarterback.

Open doors eventually close, however, and it slammed shut on Kolb. The NFC East-leading Eagles are now Michael Vick's team, and the former incarcerated star has a chance to give Reid his sixth division title since taking over in 1999 when the Minnesota Vikings make a stop at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday night.

Vick and the Eagles are coming off an improbable road win over the New York Giants, scoring 28 points in less than eight minutes to go in the game for a 38-31 victory and a chance to wrap up the club's first NFC East crown since 2006.

Vick earned NFC Player of the Week honors by accounting for three touchdowns, two of which were through the air, 242 passing yards and 130 yards rushing. The dynamic MVP candidate has captured the conference honor three times this season and understands the ramifications of this weekend's game.

"We know the magnitude of this game and what's at stake, and we have to go out and get it," Vick said. "Nothing is going to be given to you; everything has to be earned. We just have to continue to move forward. This is just one stepping stone, with plenty more hurdles to cross."

The Eagles could also be NFC East champions if Green Bay defeats the Giants at Lambeau Field earlier in the day. The Giants still control their own playoff destiny and hold a one-game lead over Green Bay and Tampa Bay for the conference's final postseason berth.

Philadelphia will be searching for its fourth straight win and seventh in eight weeks, and has won 10 or more games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since turning the trick from 2000-2004.

Already assured of their first losing season since the 2006 campaign, the Vikings' role has been relegated to spoiler.

Minnesota has dropped two straight, four of six and six of its last nine games, including an embarrassing 40-14 defeat at the hands of the NFC North- rival Chicago Bears on Monday night. Besides having the game relocated to the University of Minnesota's outdoor TCF Bank Stadium after the Metrodome's roof collapsed the previous week following a heavy snowfall, the Vikings got a surprise return of quarterback Brett Favre, who shook off an injured shoulder to make the start.

Favre's heroics were short-lived, however, as he was knocked out of the game in the second quarter after sustaining a concussion on a sack. With backup Tarvaris Jackson already on injured reserve, the Vikings could be forced to turn to rookie Joe Webb for his first NFL start, though completely ruling out Favre is always a quandary.

Webb came on in relief of Favre against the Bears and threw for 129 yards with no touchdown passes and a pair of interceptions for the Vikings, who have been outscored by a 61-17 margin in their last two games.

"My stubbornness, hardheadedness and stupidity at times has enabled me to play for 20 years and play the way I've played," the 41-year-old Favre said after the game. "It's just the way I've always approached it, the way I play. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Vikings interim head coach Leslie Frazier has stood by the future Hall of Famer and said things could change if Favre is cleared by the doctors. Under the rules of the NFL, a player who suffers a head injury must undergo post- concussion testing on a daily basis until proving there are no symptoms.

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson also has to show that he is ready to return from a leg issue after he missed the Chicago game. The NFC's second- leading rusher will not be put at risk if he's unable to go at 100 percent, according to Frazier.

Peterson suffered the injury against the Giants on Dec. 13 and is listed as questionable for Sunday. Rookie Toby Gerhart would handle backfield duties again if the former University of Oklahoma star is unable to go.

The Vikings could use their top offensive weapon, since they haven't won in Philadelphia since 1985.

SERIES HISTORY

Minnesota holds an 11-9 edge in its all-time regular-season series with Philadelphia, but the Eagles have won three straight and six of the last seven meetings in the set. The clubs last squared off in a non-playoff setting in 2007, a 23-16 Philadelphia triumph at the Metrodome, and the Vikings were 41-17 losers in their most recent regular-season trip to the City of Brotherly Love, which took place at Veterans Stadium in 2001.

The last matchup between the teams occurred in the 2008 NFC Wild Card Playoffs, with the Eagles besting the North Division-champion Vikings by a 26-14 count. Philadelphia also prevailed in two other postseason bouts against Minnesota, scoring a 31-16 win at home in a 1980 Divisional Playoff and a 27-14 verdict at Lincoln Financial Field in the 2004 Divisional Round.

Counting the postseason, the Vikings have lost six consecutive times in Philadelphia since a 28-23 victory on Dec. 1, 1985. Minnesota's last win of any kind over the Eagles was a 28-19 home decision on Sept, 28, 1997.

Reid has never lost in five lifetime encounters with Minnesota. Frazier, who served four seasons under Reid as the Eagles' defensive backs coach from 1999-2002, will be opposing both his former boss and one-time employers for the first time as a head coach.

WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL

It seems the Vikings will most likely settle with Webb for Sunday's road bout, and the rookie out of UAB has appeared in only two games this season. Webb (137 passing yards, 2 INT) first saw action in Week 14 setback to the Giants and completed 2-of-5 passes for eight yards. He then played an extended amount of time Monday night in frigid conditions, passing for 129 yards and completing 15 of his 26 attempts with two interceptions. Webb's also rushed for 54 yards this season and compiled 38 yards and a score on six scrambles last week. Recently-signed quarterback Patrick Ramsey is expected to back up Webb for the rest of the season if Favre is unable to play in either of the final two games. It's been a tumultuous season for the Vikings, who have also been ravaged by injuries to key players such as wide receivers Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin, Favre and now Peterson. The in-season firing of head coach Brad Childress may have soothed some of the players' minds, but it still represents turmoil within an organization, especially for a team is coming off an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2009. Gerhart (304 rushing yards, 1 TD) led the ground attack with 77 yards on 16 carries against the Bears, while Peterson (1,149 rushing yards, 11 TD) needs 151 yards to join Earl Campbell as the only players to rush for 1,300-plus yards and 10 touchdowns in each of their first four NFL seasons.

Philadelphia has been able to handle the run lately and will still prepare for Peterson, since his true status is unknown. Gerhart is a beast of a man much like the Giants' Brandon Jacobs, but the Eagles limited New York's power back to 34 yards on 12 carries. Eagles rookie middle linebacker Jamar Chaney (35 tackles) made his first NFL start at the New Meadowlands Stadium last week and finished with a game-best 16 tackles and a forced fumble. Chaney did a fine job calling the signals in place of injured starter Stewart Bradley, who's unlikely to return with a dislocated elbow. Speaking of not returning, Eagles rookie and starting safety Nate Allen (48 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INT) is done for the year after suffering a knee injury on Sunday. He already underwent successful surgery to repair his ruptured right patella tendon, but has been placed on injured reserve. Fellow rookie Kurt Coleman (29 tackles, 1 INT) has some big shoes to fill and will take over Allen's spot. Coleman had four tackles and a pass defensed against the Giants, but has to be wary of Vikings all-purpose receiver Harvin. Cornerback Asante Samuel (25 tackles) owns seven interceptions this season and returned from a three-game absence due to a knee injury last week, posting two tackles. The Eagles have forced a total of 11 turnovers in their last four victories.

WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL

Philadelphia's explosive offense is one of the best in the NFL this season and has scored at least 26 points in each of the past seven games, averaging 34.3 points per contest over that stretch. The Eagles have been able to turn it on down the stretch, right about the time Vick took over for good under center. They averaged 372.6 yards per game over the first seven contests of the season, but have posted 435.3 yards per week in the last seven. Philadelphia has been able to rally from fourth-quarter deficits four times since mid-November and has outscored the opposition by a 66-21 count in the final stanza in that time. Vick (2.755 passing yards, 20 TD, 5 INT) is a main reason for that, as he's accounted for nine touchdown passes and three rushing scores in his last four games. The left-hander out of Virginia Tech, who owns eight rushing scores in 2010, has thrown for two or more touchdown passes in a game seven times this season and is the NFC's top passer with a 103.6 rating. Philly's receiving corps is led by DeSean Jackson (45 receptions, 1,024 yards, 6 TD) and Jeremy Maclin (64 receptions, 890 yards, 10 TD). Jackson was the hero in the miracle win over New York with a game-ending punt return for a score and is a home-run threat nearly every play. Maclin had two touchdown catches last week. Running back LeSean McCoy (1,036 rushing yards, 7 TD) leads the Eagles with 74 catches and is averaging 5.3 yards per carry as well. McCoy hasn't scored in the last two games, however.

The Vikings have given up 61 points in their last two games and are in for a long evening Sunday if they fail to stop Philadelphia's potent offense. They have to be prepared for Vick, who can kill defenses with both his legs and cannon of an arm. Minnesota will most likely drop some players back in coverage and make sure Vick has no running lanes around the ends. End Jared Allen (52 tackles, 10 sacks) will be up for the challenge and has 8 1/2 sacks in his last seven games. Ray Edwards (28 tackles, 7 sacks) plays on the opposite side of Allen and returned from injury to post a sack against the Bears. Minnesota is eighth in rushing yards allowed this season (101.5 ypg) and still has veteran tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams plugging the lanes. The two mammoth defenders could easily make it difficult for Vick and McCoy to find running room inside, though Bears running back Matt Forte posted 92 yards on 17 carries in Monday's win. The Vikings played tough pass defense that game and held Jay Cutler to 194 yards, but he also had three touchdown strikes to go along with an interception. Cornerback Asher Allen (50 tackles, 2 INT) has posted his first two picks of the season in each of the last two games for Minnesota's 10th-rated pass defense. Safety Madieu Williams (75 tackles, 1 INT) suffered a concussion last week and is questionable for Sunday.

FANTASY FOCUS

If Peterson doesn't play Sunday, Gerhart will get the nod again for fantasy owners. Harvin, Rice and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe are solid options against Philadelphia's suspect pass defense. Give kicker Ryan Longwell a chance as well.

The Eagles are loaded with fantasy talent, starting with Vick. Maclin, DeSean Jackson and McCoy are capable of totaling more than 60 combined points, while kicker David Akers is enjoying one of his finest seasons.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Eagles are 5-0 in primetime games this season and will be making their sixth appearance on national television. Vick's redemption song is clearly bringing in all the ratings and has Philadelphia on the brink of NFC East supremacy as well. The talented veteran will have a raucous crowd cheering him on at Lincoln Financial Field and looks to avoid any possible chances of a letdown after what he and his teammates were able to accomplish a week ago. Minnesota has pulled out some stops along the way, but this time the upset train gets derailed.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Eagles 31, Vikings 23