MINNEAPOLIS — Kirk Cousins threw four touchdown passes — including back-to-back bombs of 62 and 51 yards to Stefon Diggs — on a day when the Vikings offense was aggressive and the defense was prepared for the Eagles own aggressiveness.
The result was a 38-20 victory on Sunday at U.S. Bank in an NFC contest that could be potentially pivotal in playoff standings later this year.
Minnesota improved to 4-2, claiming its second win in a row and third of 2019 in as many home games.
The Vikings built a 24-3 lead less than six minutes into the second quarter and withstood a rally by the Eagles that made it 24-20 with 6:19 left in the third quarter.
Minnesota bounced back with a touchdown drive that lasted more than five minutes, forced a punt and put together an 88-yard touchdown drive.
Eric Kendricks then forced a fumble that Anthony Barr returned 19 yards, and Mackensie Alexander recorded his second career interception to end Philadelphia's next possession.
Cousins finished 22-of-29 passing for 333 yards and threw four touchdowns for the second time in his career with the Vikings (at Green Bay in 2018). He was intercepted once after a deflection. His passer rating was 138.4 a week after compiling a 138.6 in New York against the Giants.
Diggs caught three touchdowns on the day, becoming the first Viking to have three receiving scores in a game since Marcus Robinson against Cleveland on Nov. 27, 2005 and first to have two touchdowns of 50-plus in a game since Randy Moss.
Diggs did have a pair of drops, including one that was intercepted by former Viking Andrew Sendejo near the end of the first half.
Minnesota's defense rallied, however, forcing a field goal attempt on which Philadelphia tried a fake.
Anthony Harris deflected a pass by kicker Jake Elliott, and Everson Griffen nabbed his second career interception to keep the score at 24-10 heading into halftime.
The Vikings outgained the Eagles 447 to 400, putting up 122 rushing yards against a defense that entered the game allowing a league-leading 63.0 per outing in 2019.
The Eagles fell to 3-3.
Scoring summary
Q1, 7:43 remaining
Vikings 7, Eagles 0
Adam Thielen catches a 6-yard pass from Kirk Cousins (Dan Bailey kicks PAT) [13 plays, 75 yards, 7:17 time of possession]
Huge conversion: Before Thielen capped the drive, he extended it with a 20-yard catch to convert a third-and-13. He entered the game leading the NFL with 70 receptions on third-down plays.
Q1, 1:54 remaining
Vikings 10, Eagles 0
Bailey kicks a 39-yard field goal [9 plays, 35 yards, 3:36]
Near miss: Thielen nearly reeled in a 21-yard touchdown on third down but wasn't able to get his second foot down.
Q2, 12:10 remaining
Vikings 10, Eagles 3
Jake Elliott kicks a 53-yard field goal [10 plays, 40 yards, 4:44]
Bending, but not breaking: The Vikings forced the Eagles to meander down the field, allowing a long of seven yards. Minnesota got off the field with a pass breakup by Eric Kendricks.
Q2, 11:39 remaining
Vikings 17, Eagles 3
Stefon Diggs catches a 62-yard pass from Cousins (Bailey kicks PAT) [2 plays, 75 yards, 0:31]
Bang-bang: Alexander Mattison gained 13 yards on his first run of the day, and the Vikings took advantage of single coverage on a deep post route against Rasul Douglas.
Q2, 9:31 remaining
Vikings 24, Eagles 3
Diggs catches a 51-yard pass from Cousins (Bailey kicks PAT) [1 play, 51 yards, 0:08]
Striking while hot: One play after the Vikings defense turned the Eagles on downs, Minnesota took another shot. Diggs became the first Viking to have two receiving touchdowns of 50 or more yards in a game since Randy Moss at Detroit on Oct. 1, 2000.
Q2, 7:02 remaining
Vikings 24, Eagles 10
Miles Sanders catches a 32-yard pass from Carson Wentz (Elliott kicks PAT) [5 plays, 75 yards, 2:29]
Quick strike: The Eagles didn't have a play shorter than 7 yards on the possession and got an 11-yard run by Wentz before the quarterback hit Sanders on the score.
Q3, 12:11 remaining
Vikings 24, Eagles 17
Alshon Jeffery catches a 3-yard pass from Wentz (Elliott kicks PAT) [6 plays, 75 yards, 2:49]
Another big one: Sanders did the brunt of the damage with a 45-yard reception that placed the ball at the Minnesota 4. Philadelphia was able to execute a pick on a wheel route to create space between the running back and Anthony Barr.
Q3, 6:19 remaining
Vikings 24, Eagles 20
Elliott kicks a 40-yard field goal [5 plays, 33 yards, 2:00]
Key stop: The Vikings allowed a 26-yard completion to Jeffery to start the drive but stuffed him on a receiver screen for a loss of 1 on a third-and-2 from the Minnesota 21.
Q3, 1:16 remaining
Vikings 31, Eagles 20
Diggs catches an 11-yard pass from Cousins (Bailey kicks PAT) [9 plays, 75 yards, 5:03]
Mobility and regaining momentum: Cousins did a nice job of extending a pass play and delivered a strike to Bisi Johnson for a gain of 16, the Diggs followed with an escape act for a gain of 8 on a run. The Eagles appeared to have both plays stuffed, but the Vikings
Q4, 8:17 remaining
Vikings 38, Eagles 20
Dalvin Cook rushes for a 1-yard touchdown (Bailey kicks PAT) [8 plays, 88 yards, 4:44]
Youth movement: Rookie tight end Irv Smith, Jr., had a 29-yard reception on the second play of the drive, and Mattison (a draft classmate) zoomed for a gain of 35, helping the Vikings go from their own 16 to the Eagles 18 in an overall span of three plays.
