Behind QB Foles, Philadelphia rolls
Eagles 38, Vikings 7:
PHILADELPHIA — With one quarter remaining Sunday night, Philadelphia players on the field and sideline already were dancing.
A bit later, after their 38-7 rout of Minnesota earned them the NFC championship, they listened as nearly 70,000 made Lincoln Financial Field shake with “Fly Eagles Fly.”
Hey Philly, you’re in the Super Bowl.
“It was electric. The fans are awesome,” All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson said.
“We’re going there to prove we belong,” added Brandon Graham of the Super Bowl meeting with the AFC champion Patriots.
And maybe it’s time for everyone to put aside No. 1 quarterback Carson Wentz’s injury. Nick Foles might be
good enough to give the Eagles their first NFL title since 1960.
In his third career postseason start, Foles was impressive against the stingiest scoring defense in the NFL. He completed 26 of 33 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns, showing poise, escapability and moxie in the process.
“I just think you’ve got to keep going at it,” Foles said. “And we all believe in each other. I’m blessed to have amazing teammates, amazing coaches. Everyone here that’s a part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ organization is first class.”
Foles replaced the injured Wentz in Game 13 and finished off a rise from last place last season to first in the NFC East. There were plenty of doubters entering the playoffs, but the former starter in Philadelphia under another regime has won two postseason games.
“I’m so happy for Nick and the offense,” Philadelphia head coach Doug Pederson said. “And for Nick, everything he’s been through and battled, he stayed the course and we all believed in him.”
“I’m so proud of our players,” team owner Jeffrey Lurie said. “The resilience this group of men has is unequaled.”
Minnesota made it look easy at the outset, driving 75 yards on nine plays, each of which gained yardage. The payoff was a 25-yard throw from Case Keenum to tight end Kyle Rudolph well behind linebacker Najee Goode as Philadelphia’s defense looked confused on the play. That didn’t happen again. In fact, Philadelphia forced two turnovers — one an interception that was returned for a touchdown — against an offense that had an NFC-low 14 giveaways during the regular season.
The first of the Eagles’ takeaways was a weaving 50-yard interception return to the end zone by Patrick Robinson, a first-quarter play that tied the score 7-7.
Defensive end Chris Long had a huge hand in Robinson’s play, bursting in from the left side and getting his arm on Keenum to disrupt the throw for Adam Thielen. The ball went directly to Robinson, who sped down the left side, then made a sharp cut to the right and got a block from Ronald Darby to clear the remaining path to the end zone.
After the Eagles then forced a three-and-out, Foles returned to the field to lead a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Running back LeGarrette Blount, who like Long was on New England’s Super Bowl winner last season, showed all his power and escapability on an 11-yard surge up the middle for a touchdown that gave Philadelphia a 14-7 lead it would not relinquish.
Minnesota lost the ball again late in the second quarter when Keenum was blindsided by rookie Derek Barnett, and the ball bounced directly to Long. It was only the second strip-sack the Vikings have allowed all season.
That turnover preceded a blown coverage — another rarity for Minnesota — on 3rd-and-10 that allowed Alshon Jeffery to get wide open for a 53-yard touchdown reception. And Philadelphia tacked on Jake Elliott’s 38-yard field goal to make it 24-7 at halftime.
As Philadelphia expanded its lead to 38-7 in the second half, it was clear Minnesota would not be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl, which will be played Feb. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
“I mean, we would’ve loved to play in the Super Bowl if it was in China,” Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer said. “But we didn’t play good enough to win. I know that’s cliche, but it’s true.
“We have to give them a lot of credit; they played great on defense, played good on offense . ... They got after us tonight.”