Vikings suffer first defeat

Offensive line woes, turnovers hit hard as Eagles take charge

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford was melancholy as he fielded questions after Sunday’s 21- 10 loss, though he insisted his drab mood had nothing to do with his attitude toward the Philadelphia Eagles, saying, “I don’t really have any bitter feelings.”

No, it wasn’t putting up an egg against the team that traded him eight days before the season that had him feeling blue. Bradford said it was losing, period.

And perhaps it was the realization that the Vikings, even at 5- 1 and considered one of the top teams in the NFC, have a major problem along the offensive line.

“We need to do a better job ( protecting Bradford),” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “We’re not going to go down the street and pick up a bunch of guys. We need to get these guys better and do it quickly. I’m disappointed that we allowed it to happen.”

Bradford, who was acquired to replace injured Teddy Bridgewater, said he had less time than usual to throw. He was out of rhythm from the start, completing 24 of 41 passes for 224 yards and a 71.6 passer rating.

The injury- plagued offensive line ( starting tackles Matt Kalil and Andre Smith are on injured reserve) couldn’t handle the Eagles’ aggressive, blitz- happy front seven, which harassed Bradford all afternoon and sacked him six times.

“We have to figure out a way,” said Bradford, who hadn’t committed a turnover through four starts but gave the ball away three times in the defeat. “It involves all of us. I’ve got to figure out a way to get it out quicker. We’ve got to do a better job with staying on guys. I think there are a lot of answers to that problem.”

The poor play up front was the main factor in the Vikings’ first loss of the season ( they were the NFL’s lone undefeated team entering Week 7), and if Sunday is going to be considered an aberration, the line play will have to tighten up — and fast.

The Eagles’ Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Fletcher Cox, was a disruptive force as he collapsed the pocket and made it nearly impossible for Bradford to step up and deliver strikes.

“I thought ( Bradford) missed some throws today that he normally makes,” Zimmer said. “He got hit a lot, so it’s hard to evaluate his performance when we looked like a sieve in there.”

Bradford didn’t lead a touchdown drive until garbage time, but Zimmer was adamant that the lopsided affair fell more on the offensive line that couldn’t keep him upright.

“It’s hard to throw when someone is grabbing your arm,” he said. “I’m not concerned about Bradford.”

ERIC HARTLINE, USA TODAY SPORTS Sam Bradford was sacked six times by the Eagles on Sunday.