In a thrilling Thursday night showdown, the Philadelphia Eagles emerged victorious with a hard-fought 34-28 win over the visiting Minnesota Vikings. Jalen Hurts played a pivotal role, contributing two rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown, while the Eagles’ defense held on against a determined Minnesota side.
Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts showcased his dual-threat abilities, completing 18 of 23 passes for 193 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. He also made a significant impact on the ground, adding two crucial rushing touchdowns to his stat line. Running back D’Andre Swift was equally impressive, tallying 28 carries for 175 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, rookie DeVonta Smith showcased his potential with four catches for 131 yards and a touchdown.
On the opposing side, Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins had a standout performance, completing 31 of 44 passes for an impressive 364 yards and four touchdowns, without any interceptions. Tight end T.J. Hockenson proved to be a reliable target, securing seven catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Jefferson played a pivotal role, finishing with 11 receptions for a team-high 159 yards.
The game got off to a slow offensive start, with the Eagles taking an early 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter courtesy of a 24-yard field goal by Jake Elliott.
However, the Vikings responded strongly, taking a 7-3 lead in the second quarter when T.J. Hockenson showcased his strength and determination with a 5-yard touchdown catch.
Philadelphia quickly regained the lead with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Jalen Hurts, putting them ahead 10-7. Hurts’ touchdown came at the end of an impressive 16-play, 75-yard drive.
Elliott added to the Eagles’ lead with a remarkable 61-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, making it 13-7.
The Eagles carried their momentum into the second half, with Hurts scoring another 1-yard rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 20-7. The Eagles’ defense played a pivotal role in setting up this score, as Josh Sweat’s sack on Kirk Cousins resulted in a fumble recovery by Fletcher Cox, advancing the ball to the Vikings’ 7-yard line.
Hurts then showcased his passing prowess, connecting with DeVonta Smith for a spectacular 63-yard touchdown, further strengthening the Eagles’ lead at 27-7.
The Vikings showed resilience and narrowed the gap to 27-14 in the third quarter when Kirk Cousins connected with rookie Jordan Addison for a 62-yard touchdown.
Minnesota continued to mount a comeback, pulling within 27-21 with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to K.J. Osborn.
The Eagles responded with a 2-yard touchdown run by D’Andre Swift, extending their lead to 34-21 with just over four minutes remaining.
The Vikings mounted a late charge with T.J. Hockenson’s second touchdown catch, again from 5 yards out, with only 1:10 remaining in the game.
Despite the late push from the Vikings, the Eagles held on for a thrilling 34-28 victory, improving their record to 2-0. The game showcased the exciting potential of both teams and provided fans with an action-packed Thursday night showdown.
