The NFL’s last unbeaten team has faceplanted, allowing the surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins to pop the champagne one more time (I doubt that any of them actually follow this tradition, but it’s a sports writer’s meme that just won’t die). As a football game, Sunday’s match between the Vikings and the Eagles was painful to watch for fans of either team, as the turnover bug bit hard and repeatedly. “How bad was the game?”, I pretend to hear you ask. It was literally this bad:
Keystone Cops has broken out at Fed Ex Field.
— Judd Zulgad's Hoodie (@JZHoodie) October 23, 2016
PHI: 3-and-out
MIN: 3-and-out
PHI: interception
MIN: interception
PHI: fumble
MIN: fumble— Arif Hasan (@ArifHasanNFL) October 23, 2016
And that wasn’t even the entire first quarter of “action”.
It’s traditional to complain about the officiating, and both teams got away with pretty blatant pass interference as illustrated here:
Just so we're clear…. this is NOT pass interference anymore. Have at it, #Vikings DBs. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/mKs2CkCCSX
— Cory Hepola (@CoryHepola) October 23, 2016
Minnesota’s defense generally did well despite the final score, as the Eagles got touchdowns on a fumble recovery and a kick return, but the pass rush didn’t get home to Carson Wentz (zero sacks, compared to six for the Eagles defense on Sam Bradford).
At the Star Tribune, Jim Souhan opines on where the blame should be assigned:
During Sam Bradford’s return to Philadelphia, he found himself booed, battered, wind-blown, sacked, stripped of the ball and at least temporarily excommunicated from his instant football sainthood.
He proved that you can go home again; you just might not remain upright.
The Vikings suffered what these days we like to call total system failure Sunday in a 21-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. They faltered on special teams, offense and on the sideline, with the most egregious mistakes tenderizing Bradford’s ribs and softening expectations for the Vikings’ season.
Bradford’s blockers will receive most of the blame for Bradford’s first poor game in purple, and they should. But Bradford did little to help.
He missed open receivers and showed poor pocket awareness. He looked spooked even when there were no ghosts. From the second half of the victory in Carolina up until kickoff on Sunday, Bradford had managed pressure well, beating blitzes with quick passes and decisions.
Whatever his previous reputation, Bradford has proved in Minnesota that he is willing to take a hit while making a play. Sunday, he was too willing to take a hit while putting the ball at risk. He fumbled four times, lost two and threw one interception.
“I think I just have to be better about keeping two hands on the ball in the pocket,” he said. “Especially in traffic, when there are people around.”
His overall numbers were not bad, providing the latest evidence that uncontextualized statistics can’t be trusted. He completed 24 of 41 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown. He had spoiled the Vikings with zero turnovers in his first four games. That streak was not meant to last but shouldn’t have turned this game into something resembling soccer.
