Neither the Eagles nor the Vikings opened 2023 as they’d’ve appreciated, however certainly one of them no less than left Past 1 with a victory. While Minnesota fumbled away its house opener to Baker Mayfield and the overpassed Buccaneers, Philadelphia just about squandered however after guarded a street win over the Patriots. Now, the asymmetric NFC contenders will sq. off in a prime-time “Thursday Night Football” strike to kick off Past 2 — and optimistically repair some religion of their respective 2023 campaigns.

That is the second one directly past the Eagles will host the Vikings for a Past 2 house opener. Latter past’s assembly marked a coming-out birthday party for Philly quarterback Jalen Hurts, who needful out for a countrywide target audience in a 24-7 rout. However the fact is those two groups have a good deeper fresh historical past — maximum of which implies the reigning NFC champions might be in for a self assurance spice up.

But even so atmosphere the degree for Hurts’ 2022 MVP bid, the Vikings have given the Eagles numerous causes to praise over the terminating half-decade or so: In each 2021 and 2018, their end-of-season losses helped Philly clinch a playoff berth, in 2017, they fell sufferer to Nick Foles and Co. in a 38-7 NFC title-game defeat, which allowed the Eagles to exit to — and win — Tremendous Bowl LII in Minnesota. In 2016, their industry for Eagles QB Sam Bradford helped kick off the Carson Wentz age, which not directly ended in a name run.

None of that’s to mention Minnesota couldn’t disenchanted the Eagles in Philly on Thursday evening. On paper, those are two groups in very other parks, the host Birds taking a look to go back to the Tremendous Bowl for the 3rd generation in seven years and the transitioning Vikings amid what basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah tabbed a “competitive rebuild.” However getting into Past 2, they’re simply two imperfect playoff hopefuls taking a look to assemble early-season momentum.

How will their showdown spread? How are you able to track in? Right here’s the whole thing you want to grasp:

How one can monitor

• When: Thursday, Sept. 14 | 8:15 p.m. ET
• Location: Lincoln Monetary Ground — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Are living current: Top Video
• Odds: Eagles -7; O/U 48 (by means of SportsLine consensus odds)  

Be aware: “Thursday Night Football” is nationally broadcast on Top Video, however Eagles vs. Vikings may be to be had in the neighborhood by means of Fox, which can also be streamed on fubo.

Keys to the sport

• Will Kirk Cousins have generation to throw? But even so two fumbled snaps, the Vikings quarterback used to be OK in opposition to the Bucs in Past 1, however now he’s were given two key blockers banged up in left take on Christian Darrisaw and heart Garrett Bradbury. Worse but, the Eagles nonetheless boast one of the vital match’s lead defensive fronts, with rookie Jalen Carter a ultimatum to wreak havoc up the center. Power ended in Cousins throwing 3 choices in terminating past’s unpleasant trip vs. Philly, and the Eagles will probably be bringing warmth.
• Who can cover Justin Jefferson? You’ll poised your monitor to Jefferson cruising into wide-open areas downfield, without reference to whether or not the Vikings win. Granted, the megastar wideout used to be smartly lined when the Eagles terminating matched up with him, however forming cornerback James Bradberry is a protracted shot to fit up for Philly upcoming getting into concussion protocol. That leaves Darius Slay and an unproven workforce of fellow defensive backs to book observe of Jefferson and rookie Jordan Addison, who flashed in Past 1.
• Can Jalen Hurts profit from the blitz? Latter past, the Vikings have been fully reactionary as a protection, permitting Hurts to take a seat again and breeze it out. This past, below unused coordinator Brian Flores, they blitzed extra regularly than someone else in Past 1. Hurts appeared uncomfortable and inclined into short-yardage scrambling in opposition to the Patriots to begin the past. This generation round, if Flores sends too much rushers, can he capitalize by means of feeding fat objectives like A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert?

Prediction

The Eagles’ first appearing of 2023 sometimes felt a accumulation extra like 2021 than 2022, with Jalen Hurts getaway from the area and shedding the ball past due. However they weren’t the one vaunted group to slide up in Past 1 (see: Bengals, Chiefs, and so on.) and, maximum encouragingly, they have got the skill to rebound in a rush. Jefferson, Addison and tight finish T.J. Hockenson give Minnesota a horrifying pass-catching trio, but when the whole thing begins within the trenches, the Eagles nonetheless have the higher hand, with Jalen Carter, Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat set to get upcoming Kirk Cousins and a gradual Vikings run match that lacked a Dalvin Prepare dinner punch in Past 1.

Brian Flores is competitive and inventive plethora to offer Jalen Hurts some suits, however even after, it’s a accumulation to invite of Minnesota’s makeshift lineup, that includes an injured Marcus Davenport and younger corners like Akayleb Evans, to fasten unwell play-makers like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Throw within the reality this may increasingly whisk playground in Philly, below the evening lighting fixtures with a juiced public, and the components are there for Nick Sirianni’s squad to whisk a bounce ahead atop the NFC East. 

Select: Eagles 31, Vikings 22

I really like my pick out for this match, however chances are you’ll like R.J. White’s higher. He’s our playing guru over at SportsLine.com and he’s been on roll along with his Vikings predictions, going 56-31-4 on his terminating 91 choices, this means that he has an absurd .626 collision charge along with his Vikings choices. If you wish to have to try White’s pick out, you can do this right here.