Eagles Unable To Handle Vikings’ Pressure
NOVACARE COMPLEX - The Vikings swarmed the line of scrimmage, and the Eagles were powerless to stop it.
Bringing wave after wave of pressure, Minnesota compiled seven quarterback hits, six sacks and seven tackles for a loss en route to the significant upset win.
If it looked like the Eagles offensive line never saw it coming, that’s because to a certain extent, they didn’t.
“They blitzed us a lot more than we were expecting,” said Winston Justice, “and we didn’t do the right calls.”
Added center Mike McGlynn: “They just brought a lot of pressure at us. The last two weeks that’s what teams have been doing so we have to know that’s coming, and adjust to it quick.”
To be taken off guard by a defensive approach is one thing; to not adapt is another.
“There’s going to be games when teams are going to bring extra guys or whatever, and it’s just a matter of getting it out of your hands and not taking the hits that [Michael Vick’s] taking right now,” said coach Andy Reid. “Some of it is protection, and then some of it is calls. We can do a better job of that, giving him the opportunity to get the ball out his hands quicker.
“There was a free guy and so you have to account for that guy, and I don’t think we did a very good job of that. And then there are some things protection-wise that we can help with that takes care of that. We just have to be more aware when or if they bring the extra man.”
One antidote for an overly aggressive, pass-rush happy defense is to counter with the run game. That did not happen Tuesday. LeSean McCoy only rushed the ball 13 times, while a limping Vick threw 43 passes. The Eagles led for most of the first half and weren’t in a must-pass situation until the final minutes of the game. So the question becomes: If the defense had its ears pinned back and Vick was injured, why not feed your 1,000-yard back?
“There are a few things we could have done better,” said Reid. “He’s a good running back and he’s surely deserving of more carries.”
But he didn’t get them.
The Eagles didn’t properly adjust to what the Vikings presented, and the playoff road potentially got a lot more difficult as a result.
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