Eagles vs Vikings Highlights

January 5, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS – Highlights, lowlights and other observations from the Eagles’ 26-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome, which kept the Birds unbeaten in seven opening playoff games under Andy Reid.

Play of the game: Brian Westbrook hadn’t done much until the midway point of the fourth quarter, when he did the sort of thing that makes him one of the best players in the game by taking a routine play and making it something special, catching a screen pass from Donovan McNabb and weaving his way through traffic for a 71-yard touchdown that clinched the win for the Eagles.

Best call: Brian Westbrook found no room to run and was well covered when the Eagles tried to throw it to him, too, so give the Birds credit for still calling his number and giving their best offensive player more chances in the hope that he would eventually break free. Which, of course, is exactly what he did on a game-clinching 71-yard touchdown catch with 6:53 left.

Worst call: The Eagles faced third-and-1 at their own 47-yard line in the final minute of the first half when they tried a long pass down the sideline for Kevin Curtis that was intercepted by Cedric Griffin.

Best pass: Standing in his own end zone with pressure closing, Donovan McNabb snapped off a 12-yard bullet to Jason Avant on third-and-11 on the Eagles’ first series of the third quarter.

Worst pass: Tarvaris Jackson tried to throw a sideline out to Sidney Rice midway through the second quarter, but didn’t do much to disguise the throw. Asante Samuel had broken on the pass almost as soon as Jackson threw it and turned the play into his fourth playoff touchdown with an interception and 44-yard return.

Best catch: DeSean Jackson only caught one pass, but it was a big one, for a 34-yard gain down the right sideline in the second quarter that set up David Akers’ go-ahead 31-yard field goal for a 9-7 Philadelphia lead.

Worst drop: The Eagles were clinging to a 16-14 lead in the fourth quarter when Sheldon Brown stepped in front of Bernard Berrian for what seemed a certain interception, but failed to hold on to the ball despite getting both hands on it.

Best hit: Eagles defensive end Chris Clemons planted quarterback Tarvaris Jackson just in front of the end zone on Asante Samuel’s 44-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Did you notice? Punter Sav Rocca played a big part in the victory for the Birds with an outstanding day. He averaged 44.3 yards on four punts, including a 58-yard bomb to the Minnesota 9 on his first kick, and placed all of his punts inside the 20. The Vikings started drives at their own 10, 19 and 15 following punts, and turned the ball back over to the Birds within six plays each time.

Telling statistic: League-leading rusher Adrian Peterson ran for 83 yards, but got 40 of them when he broke a third-and-short play for a touchdown. He averaged 2.26 yards on his other 19 carries, and had no gain or lost yardage on seven of them. He gained 17 yards on eight carries in the second half.

Injury report: Fullback Dan Klecko suffered a shoulder contusion and will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging test today. Correll Buckhalter spent much of the second half lining up as a fullback. Backup guard Mike McGlynn suffered a hamstring strain and will also undergo an MRI. Wide receiver Greg Lewis sprained his ankle in pregame warmups and was carted off the field for X-rays, but returned and played, although he didn’t catch a pass.

You didn’t see: Tight end L.J. Smith missed his second game in a row with a shoulder injury despite practicing on a limited basis throughout the week. Brent Celek again started in his place. The Vikings were without a pair of defensive starters: Pro Bowl DT Pat Williams (shoulder) and DE Ray Edwards (knee).

Up next: The Eagles (10-6-1) are at the Meadowlands for a rematch with the NFC East champion Giants (12-4) in six days. Kickoff is 1 p.m.