By: Kylan Watson

The Philadelphia Eagles faced the Minnesota Vikings in their 2022-2023 regular season home opener. This was the first time the Vikings have played in Philly since the 2018 NFC Championship game. Philly jumped on the Vikings from the opening quarter as Jalen Hurts carved them up in the passing and rushing game. As he led an offensive rout 24-to-seven, to lead the Eagles to their first 2-0 start in six-years.

Philly started the game off hot as they went right down the field led by Jalen Hurts (completed 26/31 passes for 333 yards and 1-touchdown pass). Who wrapped the drive up with a rushing touchdown. One of his three touchdowns (two rushing and one pass) in the contest. Hirst showed his growing maturity and franchise quarterback prowess. As he took full advantage of what the defense was giving him. On his only touchdown pass of the contest he was able to find Quez Watkins wide open 52-yards down the field as the Eagles took full advantage of Minnesota’s defensive aggressiveness. That’s a play that Hurts may not have been able to make last season. However, this season he is hitting all his receivers in stride.

He started the first quarter completing 11 passes and the Vikings just could not do anything to stop him. The 11-for-11 passing streak ended thanks to a drop pass from Dallas Goedert. Who only dropped it because a Vikings defensive back laid him out. Hurts threw Goedert open and put the ball where only he could get it. The work he put in through the offseason continues to show throughout Philly’s first two games this season. If Hurts continues to show his maturity through the air. The Eagles will be one of the top offenses in the league.

Minnesota could not get anything working early on in the game. A combination of more blitzes by the Eagles defense and dropped passes by their receivers stalled the Vikings offense. The adjustment the Eagles made was having Darius Slay shadow Justin Jefferson. He had a relatively pedestrian night by his standards. He caught five passes for 43-yards. The Eagles shutdown the other receivers and besides giving up a touchdown to tight end Irv Smith. Philly played shutdown defense and unlike last week didn’t get burned on the ground this week. They also were able to force Kirk Cousins into three turnovers (interceptions).

This was a better night for the defense who only had two sacks tonight. However, Cousins was not comfortable throughout the whole night. Thanks to some timely blitzes by Philly’s defense. The Eagles will need to find a way to get some more pressure on the quarterback as they prepare for the Washington Commanders next week. They will need to find a way to have another dominant defensive performance against Terry McLaurin and the rest of the Commanders receivers. If they want to get their third victory of the season.