There’s only one problem – they are hosting the best team and defense in the entire NFL. The Vikings get to face a rookie, and the Eagles will seek to take down their former quarterback.
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Bradford, of course, has led the Vikings to a flawless 5-0 record and returns after the bye week Sunday to Lincoln Financial Field having yet to throw an interception this season and Wentz took home NFL Rookie of The Month honors in the month of September as the Eagles jumped out to a 3-2 start. If you love storylines leading up to a game, this game is just for you. For us to play the way we have early, to be winning, it’s just been a lot of fun. And I’m going for the throwing arm every time.
The last time the Vikings played, they defeated the Houston Texans, and Minnesota won that game 31-13.
Seven months ago, the 28-year-old put pen to paper on a two-year $36 million contract with Philadelphia which encouraged him to believe he would head into the season as the Eagles signal-caller.
The Eagles are 3-2, their sizzling start tempered by back-to-back losses. It was good that get that padded practice in on Wednesday.
PENALTY PARTY: The Eagles have committed 27 penalties in the past two games and have 37 in the past three.
“They have got great personnel on defense”, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said. For us [the defense], I don’t think we care where we play. “Carson Wentz is our franchise quarterback”. “I get the fact that the trade happened”.
The Vikings are off a bye, which is not always a good thing for a hot team. “I think it’s been good for him and [they are] good opportunities for him to learn and grow”. “It’s the Vikings vs. the Eagles”, Wentz said.
The Vikings may be undefeated, but by no means are they made up of flawless parts. Conveniently, Minnesota had someone in the building who had worked with the quarterback at two stops. Whoever plays or whoever wins, this one played better than that one, this and that and the other, and the decisions – and I get all that. I mean we’re 3-2. After a promising 4-0 start, the Broncos have lost consecutive games. The rookie was sacked five times for 34 yards, hurried repeatedly and completed a season-worst 50 percent of his passes.
Bradford leads the league in completion percentage (70.4) while passing for six touchdowns with no interceptions. Bradford also has been sacked eight times.
“It’s tough, Price said”. In their first game without Johnson, the Eagles didn’t attempt a single rush outside the right tackle. “I think all of that is part of his success”. “He came off the preseason with us here at an all-time high. He was feeling comfortable with the offense”. Adam Thielen had his breakout game of the season, hauling in 7 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown while Cordarrelle caught 4 passes of his own for 39 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings have a very fast defense, and show off a lot of pre-snap looks for a QB to try to process. The Vikings have the league’s best defense, limiting opponents to 12.6 points per game. They top the league with 12 takeaways and have 18 sacks.
Teddy Bridgewater had just suffered a career-threatening leg injury, the Vikings were looking at potential replacements, and they had learned that Bradford was available via trade. Will we still be calling this a win-win a few weeks from now?
Pederson is well aware of Bradford’s exploits this season. “I’m just going to let him play”.
The Vikings, at least for now, have established themselves as the team to beat in the NFC, just ahead of the one-loss Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks. I felt like things were really coming together on offense for us. “So when I got the call, I’m really not sure there was any relief”.
“I’m not going to put an added pressure on Carson”, he added.
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Sam Bradford probably has to pinch himself occasionally. Nonetheless Bradford was shocked and half asleep when told of the trade that wasn’t on his radar. The Vikings’ best pass-rusher is on the other side, but they have so many different blitz packages and moving guys around.
