Diggs digs Vikes’ game plan
Disgruntled receiver catches three TD passes in victory vs. Eagles
MINNEAPOLIS — Two weeks ago, receiver Stefon Diggs was a dissatisfied star with a decreasing role for a Vikings team in a mini-crisis in their passing attack.
As it turned out, patience was all Diggs needed to re-establish himself as a prominent receiver for quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Cousins threw three of his four touchdown passes to Diggs and racked up a season-high 333 passing yards as the Vikings (4-2) ravaged the Eagles’ short-handed secondary in a 38-20 victory Sunday.
‘‘You never really know how it’s going to come out because you never know what defense you’re going to get and what adjustments they’re going to make,’’ said Diggs, who had 167 yards on seven catches. ‘‘But as far as, like, starting fast early, it’s always a big thing because you want to hit the ground running.’’
Diggs scored on first-half passes that covered 51 and 62 yards, becoming the first Vikings player since Randy Moss in 2000 to post two touchdown receptions of 50-plus yards in a game.
‘‘You play the game that’s called,’’ Cousins said. ‘‘And today it was an aggressive one.’’
Diggs’ most important catch came late in the third quarter, a double toe tap in the back of the end zone from 11 yards out that pushed the Vikings’ lead to 11 points after Carson Wentz and the Eagles (3-3) had pulled to 24-20 with 17 consecutive points.
‘‘I’m sure there was a lot of doubt in the stadium because they’re a very explosive team,’’ Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.
The Vikings became the first team to reach 100 yards rushing in the last nine games against the Eagles, who also surrendered more than 300 passing yards for the fourth time this season. The danger presented by Dalvin Cook in the backfield and the success of Cousins at selling fakes created a wealth of play-action completions.
‘‘They run the ball, [then do] play-action and throw the ball deep,’’ Eagles cornerback Rasul Douglas said. ‘‘That’s just what they always do.’’
Cousins went 22-for-29 with an interception that was, oddly enough, Diggs’ fault. A sideline throw hit Diggs in the hands and bounced off his helmet and into the air behind him for former Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo to pick off late in the second quarter.
The sign that this wasn’t the Eagles’ day came right after that, when a fake field goal from the Vikings’ 21 failed with 20 seconds left in the first half. The snap to kicker Jake Elliott left him with only one receiver, wellcovered tight end Dallas Goedert, and the desperation throw was tipped by safety Anthony Harris and intercepted by defensive lineman Everson Griffen.
‘‘We had the look we wanted, tried to take advantage of it, get an opportunity to maybe shoot it in the end zone after that,’’ Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. ‘‘They made a great play.’’
Wentz finished 26-for-40 for 306 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. He also was sacked twice and hurried numerous times.