Eagles take on Minnesota at the Linc

Minnesota pays back Birds with two-point defeat

The lineup changes didn’t work for the Eagles. It wasn’t guard Stefen Wisniewski or safety Corey Graham, who lost their starting jobs, that prevented the Eagles from getting back into the win column Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagles didn’t get enough effort all the way through a 2314 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

And the crowd let them know it as it booed the Eagles lustily for a variety of mistakes in the first half. Even a second-half surge rallying the Birds from a 17-point deficit within six points in the fourth quarter blew up in their faces.

The Vikings (1-2-1) tried their best to hand the Eagles the win, allowing the Eagles to march 75 yards in seven plays to pull within 23-21 with 1:15 left. Zach Ertz hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz, who threw for 311 yards and two TDs.

But Adam Thielen, who had seven receptions for 116 yard and a score, gathered in the onside kick to basically end it.

Kirk Cousins had another big game at the Linc as he completed 30 of 37 attempts for 301 yards and a touchdown, for the Vikings.

The final indignity for the Eagles was Dan Bailey. After missing field goal attempts from 48 and 25 yards, he drilled a 52-yarder straight down the middle with 2:47 to go.

Bailey kicked for the hated Dallas Cowboys.

The Eagles are 2-3, matching their start in Chip Kelly’s last season as head coach in the 2015 season. The Vikings are 2-2-1. With 12:05 left, Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood hauled in a 12-yard scoring pass from Wentz, and survived the replay review, which showed the ball popping loose as he hit the ground.

Smallwood then gathered in a pitch and ran around the right side for two points to pull the Eagles within 20-14.

Everything was going the Eagles’ way when Nigel Bradham recovered a lateral at the 30-yard line of the Vikings with 10 minutes remaining.

But the Eagles lost their momentum when Wentz – fighting off a sack – got whistled for intentional grounding.

On fourth-and-20 at the 40 of the Vikings, the Eagles tried to draw the Vikings offside. It didn’t work. The Eagles punted with 9:17 remaining and were trailing by 9 points when they got the ball back at their 25yard line with 2:47 left and no timeouts.

The Eagles were booed as they left the field in a 17-3 hole at the intermission. Linval Joseph’s 64yard return with a Wentz fumble and Thielen’s three-yard reception in the last four minutes of the first half did the job for the visitors.

The Eagles committed three costly penalties for 51 yards, including false starts on two of three snaps to stall their last possession of the first half, and earn a chorus of boos.

The Birds also benefitted from two missed field goals from Bailey.

Outgained, 208-91, in the first half, the Eagles weren’t through.

They got a big stop after Thielen’s 68-yard reception got the Vikings in the red zone, forcing the opposition to settle for a field goal.

MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Minnesota Vikings’ Linval Joseph (98) catches a fumble by Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz (11) as Isaac Seumalo (73) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday.

MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz, right, tries to avoid Minnesota Vikings’ Linval Joseph during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday.

MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Minnesota Vikings’ Adam Thielen (19) catches a touchdown against Philadelphia Eagles’ Ronald Darby (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday.

MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Eagles’ Wendell Smallwood (28) reacts after scoring a touchdown against Minnesota Vikings’ Eric Kendricks (54) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday.