The NFL’s first Tuesday game in 64 years produced a fittingly unusual result as the Minnesota Vikings stunned the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles with a 24-14 win.
Minnesota quarterback Joe Webb threw for 195 yards and ran for a touchdown in his first career start filling in for an injured Brett Favre, while Adrian Peterson ran for 118 yards and a score, helping the Vikings (6-9) knock Philadelphia out of contention for a first-round playoff bye.
The Eagles (10-5) could have secured a first-round bye with a victory over the Vikings and Dallas next week, plus a loss by either Chicago or Atlanta next week.
“We don’t deserve it after that performance,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “Every phase was terrible. We didn’t coach well enough. We didn’t play well enough. I’m disappointed in myself. It’s embarrassing.”
Now the Eagles are locked into the NFC’s No. 3 seed and will host the No. 6 seed on Jan. 8 or Jan. 9. Their final game against the Cowboys is meaningless in the standings, so it’s likely most of the starters will rest.
Minnesota looked more like a team with a lot at stake rather than a group that’s ready to hit the golf courses and tropical resorts. The win could help interim coach Leslie Frazier get the job permanently.
Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick mostly struggled after his three-yard touchdown pass to Clay Harbor in the first quarter gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead. He lost two fumbles, threw an interception and was sacked six times.
The Vikings tied it 7-7 in the final minute of the first half when Antoine Winfield sacked Vick, knocked the ball loose and returned the fumble 45 yards for a score.
Minnesota had a touchdown -overturned on the opening possession of the second half. Webb’s apparent two-yard TD toss to Sidney Rice was reversed when replays showed the ball was juggled out of bounds.
Juqua Parker sacked Webb on the next play and the Vikings settled for Ryan Longwell’s 30-yard field goal that put them up 10-7. Webb made it 17-7 on an impressive run, dodging and weaving through the defense on his way into the end zone for a 17-7 lead.
The Eagles cut the deficit to 3 when Vick scored on a 10-yard TD run, but the Vikings answered on the ensuing drive. Peterson ran in from the one-yard line to put Minnesota up 24-14 with 6:43 left. He showed no signs of the right knee injury that had him listed as questionable.
Favre was inactive for the Vikings because of a concussion, missing his second game in three weeks. Frazier said on Monday that Favre still hadn’t passed initial concussion testing.
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