Cousins-to-Diggs for 62-yard touchdown
The Vikings offense was already revved up early in the 2nd quarter having scored 10 points in the first 15 minutes, but that's when Kirk Cousins and Stefon Diggs put the pedal to the metal. Using a quick play-action fake, Cousins quickly reached the top of his drop and launched a pass 48 yards down the field and into the hands of Stefon Diggs, who had sprinted past the Eagles secondary in a flash to break wide open. Diggs strolled to the end zone from there to complete a 62-yard catch-and-run score that put the Vikings ahead 17-3.
Diggs does it again – 51 yards for TD No. 2
The fireworks were far from over once Cousins found Diggs for the long score. On the Vikings very next snap, following the Eagles turning it over on downs, Cousins used play action once again and rolled to his left. He settled his feet and into another beautifully-thrown deep pass. This offering traveled 59 yards into the air as Diggs raced down the field in time to get his fingertips on the ball and eventually secure it for a 51-yard catch and score to break the game open and stake the Vikings to a 24-3 lead.
Griffen's "special" interception
Philadelphia fell into a deep hole early in the game but they refused to go away. A 2nd quarter touchdown got the score to 24-10 and then the Eagles were in position to tack on three more points with a little over a minute to play in the first half. That's when Everson Griffen (and Anthony Harris) made a special play. Philadelphia tried a fake field goal, with kicker Jake Elliott taking a direct snap from center and looking to pass for a 1st down. The Vikings were disciplined and had all options covered up, compelling Elliott to toss the football in the direction of tight end Dallas Goedert. Harris deflected the pass into the air and Griffen came down with it, thwarting the Eagles attempt and preserving the Vikings two-touchdown lead at halftime.
Kendricks sacks Wentz
Still hanging around, the Eagles trailed by 11 points early in the 4th quarter and just crossed midfield when they were faced with a 3rd and 4. The U.S. Bank Stadium crowd was raucous and the Eagles couldn't snap the ball in time, backing them up five yards and making it 3rd and 9 from the Minnesota 48. On the next snap, the Vikings aligned in another complex Mike Zimmer 3rd-down formation, with Anthony Barr, Griffen and Eric Kendricks all standing over the interior of the offensive line. Harrison Smith crept close to the line of scrimmage, then bailed out right before the snap. And right at the snap, Mackensie Alexander blitzed from his slot cornerback position. The Eagles turned the protection away from Kendricks, who shot through the line of scrimmage and teamed up with Alexander to bring Wentz to the ground, forcing a 4th and 18 and an Eagles punt to all but secure the team's fourth win of the season.
