Instant observations from Eagles 28, Vikings 22: Jalen Hurts’ huge game gets Eagles to 5-2

In case you did not know, Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts made up the Philadelphia Eagles‘ quarterback room for the 2020 season. Not the Eagles’ best. Five years later, and a couple of Eagles Super Bowl appearances later, Hurts and Wentz squared off on Sunday as the 4-2 Eagles faced off against the 3-2 Minnesota Vikings.

Despite moving the ball consistently with the Vikings, Wentz threw a couple of key interceptions and struggled in the red zone. And Hurts played his best football of the season, particularly in the second half. Hurts threw for 326 yards, three touchdown passes, two to A.J. Brown and one to DeVonta Smith. And the Philadelphia Eagles improved to 5-2 on the season.

Here is the PHLY Eagles staff’s observations from the Eagles’ 28-22 victory in Minnesota.

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EJ Smith

Whether or not it was a prototypical “get-right game” or not, the Eagles managed to stop the skid with a 28-22 win over the Minnesota Vikings that will represent a meaningful step in the right direction.

The offensive approach was more balanced and explosive as Kevin Patullo knocked the dust off the under-center play-action game. The defense was opportunistic with takeaways and red-zone stops, both of which proved instrumental against the familiar chaotic experience trademarked by Carson Wentz.

There’s steps left to take, but the Eagles avoided the first three-game losing streak since the 2023 season. All in all, a 5-2 record atop the division through seven imperfect weeks isn’t a bad place to be.

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Fran Duffy

All eyes were on how this team would respond on both sides of the ball after an embarrassing loss last Thursday night against the Giants. The results? Mixed.

The offense leaned a bit more into the run game, even incorporating some under center looks, personnel packages with six offensive linemen on the field, and multiple play-action passes from those sets! And yet … there were still numerous three-and-outs, frustrating moments, and long stretches of futility from the most expensive offense in football. But also – Jalen Hurts played some of his best ball of the season.

Defensively, the Eagles were able to get Carson Wentz to make multiple mistakes. The Vikings were able to move the football, but between Wentz and center Blake Brandel (who was benched in the second half), self-inflicted wounds did Minnesota’s offense in. Nakobe Dean had some outstanding flashes playing on defense for the first time this season, sliding Jihaad Campbell to the outside where, based off the broadcast, he didn’t look great. We’ll see if the film checks out on that front.

It was important for them to come out of this with a W. Mission accomplished. But they still have work to do.

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Bo Wulf

Such is the curse of Eagles fandom that you watch Jalen Hurts toss touchdown passes of 79, 37 and 26 yards to DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, the final of which gave Hurts the best EPA per dropback and passer rating of his career, and instead of celebrating that performance it moves you instead to yell at Nick Sirianni for completely giving up on the final possession of the first half. “THIS IS THE GUY YOU DON’T TRUST?!?!?!”

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Jamie Lynch

All the pundits were right, they wanted to get Saquon Barkley going & they did with a nice opening drive. Capped off by a beautiful Jalen to AJ TD which was what every single Birds fan needed to see. Jalen Carter on the surface has had a slow start to the season, but boy oh boy was that sticking of Carson Wentz which led to a pick 6 refreshing to see. Carson’s going to be feeling that hit all week long. The offense went back to being anemic again before the half with several 3 & outs.

Good to see the Jalen & DeVonta connection on the deep ball TD, been needing one of those “get right” plays for a while now. The 3rd & 15 play where AJ was leveled & Jalen found DeVonta was one of the low key pivotal points in the game & Jalen answered the call. And then it came down to a 3rd & 5 where AFTER A TV TIMEOUT, Kevin Patullo & Nick Sirianni trot out an AWFUL running play that was unsuccessful & led to a missed FG.

Jalen picked up an incredible 3rd & 13 that was perhaps his most impressive play of the year & found AJ Brown on the sideline. Jalen Hurts played great football today.

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Rich Hofmann

It worries me that the Eagles are never better than their opponent on a play-by-play basis. The fourth-down pass to A.J. Brown? Great. The under-center deep ball to DeVonta Smith? Phenomenal. The sim pressure that led to Jalyx Hunt’s pick-six? Straight outta Ithaca.

But the offense, after scoring on their first drive, had three straight three-and-outs and then a four-play drive before the half that ended in Nick Sirianni cowardice. And when Carson Wentz was not making catastrophic mistakes, the Vikings offense was moving the ball on this Eagles defense with ease. Vic Fangio’s defense needs so much work.

That said, shoutout to Jalen Hurts. Great game by him, some fantastic plays in the second half. Shoutout to under-center play-action. Shoutout to the scramble drill. We were looking for an identity the Eagles can lean on, and based on this game, it might just be trusting Hurts to let it loose.