The Vikings defense lined up with the Eagles going for it on six separate fourth downs and issued a statement of denial on each play.

Minnesota had several young defenders flash in the team's third and final preseason contest, leaving Philadelphia with a comfortable 26-3 win.

A huge part of the Vikings victory can be credited to their late-down stops. In addition to five turnovers on downs, Jay Ward recorded an interception on another fourth-down play.

Minnesota also held the Eagles to 4-of-12 (33 percent) in third-down situations.

Undrafted rookie Dwight "Nudie" McGlothern was an especially active member of the Vikings defense Saturday, making plays on two of the fourth-down attempts.

Late in the first half, Eagles running back Lew Nichols tried to convert on fourth-and-1 but instead was taken down by McGlothern for a loss of 1. He showed up later on a cornerback blitz. On fourth-and-6 from the Vikings 11, he nearly recorded a sack of Tanner McKee and pressed the QB into an incompletion.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, who was mic'd up for the duration of the third quarter, joked with "Voice of the Vikings" Paul Allen:

"He looked like he was trying to take me down out there," quipped O'Connell of the 185-pound McGlothern trying to drop McKee, who is listed at 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds.

"He was a big bird, for sure," McGlothern said. "I really wanted the sack. It was my first time being in that position. But we got off the field, which is really all that matters. I've just got to get him on the ground next time. He's big, for sure. I was hanging on for my life.

"I had him. Then it felt like a long time when I was on the ground," he said with a chuckle. "But we were able to go ahead and get off the field again. That's a victory for us."

Though McGlothern wasn't credited with a sack, his efforts ensured another no-points drive by Philadelphia.

"I thought he had him in the grasp," O'Connell told Twin Cities media members following the game. "But [McGlothern] has shown up. He's shown up all camp – not only just the cover skills that we knew he had, but his fit in the defense, and he's definitely put himself right in the conversation to have a chance to make our football team.

"We've got a lot of tough decisions at that position," O'Connell added.

Teams across the league will be required on Tuesday to reduce their active rosters to 53, which means McGlothern, who had three tackles on the day, and others vying for spots had a final chance Saturday to make their case.

"I've been just going out there, taking it day by day and making sure I do every little thing right," McGlothern said. "Just learn the playbook and ask the veterans for help.

"I'm just making sure I put my body on the line for this team, making sure the defense comes together [to make] stops," he later added. "We needed them stops. Those were stops I needed to make. This is an opportunity for me to show my ability and be able to put myself in a position to be on this roster. So every time I go out there, I just try to make the most of it and help my teammates."

Andre Carter II, whom Minnesota signed last year as an undrafted rookie, made an impact a couple of times, including with a strip sack of McKee on the first play of the second half. Carter took the quarterback down for a loss of 5 yards and dislodged the football, which was then recovered by James Lynch.

"It was a good feeling," Carter said. "We got off the field as a defense, and that's our goal when we get on the field.

"I think it was everybody do their 1/11^th – doing their job and doing what the coaches tell them," he added. "They gave us a great plan, and if we go out and execute, the results will [speak for themselves]."

The former Army defender actually visited Lincoln Financial Field twice during his collegiate career, as freshman and then during his junior season.

"We weren't playing Navy, so it was kind of different," Carter laughed. "But it's cool coming back here again."

Carter, who started at outside linebacker opposite veteran and Philly native Jihad Ward, finished his day with two sacks, four tackles, two tackles for loss and the forced fumble.

"I would say I feel good about my camp [and preseason] and what I did," he said. "I feel like I got better. And at the end of the day, that's all I can do. It's kind of out of my hands at this point. I'm just happy that I feel like I improved throughout camp."

Carter wasn't the only Vikings defender who showed up in the exhibition contest. Jalen Redmond, who joined Minnesota in June, created a first-quarter fumble by running back Tyrion Davis-Price and then recovered the ball. He also added three tackles and a pass defensed.

On fourth-and-4 from the Vikings 13-yard line, a McKee pass bounced off the hands of Joseph Ngata and into the air. Jay Ward was able to net the pick in the end zone and remembered not to step out, securing a touchback for the Vikings.

Heading back to Minnesota without allowing an Eagles touchdown certainly felt good.

"It's freaking awesome. Three points," seventh-round pick Levi Drake Rodriguez said. "That's crazy. That's good work, man. That just shows how hard we worked up front and as a defense collectively."

Rodriguez made his presence felt, recording a tackle and a pass breakup. The rookie has a motor that never quits, providing Tasmanian Devil vibes on the field that earned commentary from O'Connell.

"Look at Levi there ... I just love seeing [number] 50," O'Connell told Allen on the broadcast, as the camera panned to the long-haired Rodriguez on the sideline, eye black smeared heavily down both cheeks. "You see the hair going crazy, and he just shows up every single day."

Linebackers Dallas Gant and Brian Asamoah II tied for the team lead with seven tackles apiece, followed by Jaylin Williams and Jordan Kunaszyk, who each had six tackles.

The Vikings held Philadelphia to just 72 yards rushing and an average of 3.3 yards per run. They also allowed only 189 yards through the air. Kenny Pickett was 6-of-9 passing for 58 yards with an 84.5 passer rating, while McKee was 13-of-21 passing for 113 yards and the interception. His passer rating was 56.6. Will Grier finished out the game at QB for Philadelphia and was 4-of-6 passing for just 16 yards.

O'Connell spoke postgame about the defense's performance, saying overall the unit impressed in some big moments.

"Even if we don't have our full call sheet up, it's communication, playing the call, play style, playing physical, tackling well," he said. "All the things that good, solid football teams do are examples of how we're preparing our team."

O'Connell described the Vikings defensive front as "active."

"Really taking advantage of how [defensive line coach] Marcus Dixon's coaching, Mike Pettine on the edge, how we're trying to coach more of an attacking style that doesn't always have to be indicative of the call," he said. "Pressure calls are great, but can we line up, tighten up in coverage and have that front affect the quarterback? And it's been really good to see."

As the Vikings wrapped up their preseason with a 3-0 record, they now will turn their attention toward Tuesday's roster reductions and the regular season.

"I've got a lot more work to do," Rodriguez said. "I'm trying to be like [today] for the whole season, you know? Keep stacking days, right? Yes sir."