5 things that stood out in the Vikings' Thursday loss to Philly

There's no question that Justin Jefferson's fumble was the backbreaking play of the game.

The Vikings dropped to 0-2 with a 34-28 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night. There was a lot of bad -- you know, those four fumbles -- but as you'll see in this article there was one fumble that changed the course of the game and proved to be insurmountable. Behold, five things that stood out... 

1. Vikings might be really good without turnovers

Not many teams can barely lose when they lose the turnover battle 0-3. Well, the Vikings were that team in Week 1 against the Buccaneers. And then they lost the turnover battle 1-4 to the Eagles and they still found a way to make it close. 

Take away just half of the seven turnovers the Vikings have through two games and there's a good chance they're feeling good with a 2-0 record. Instead, they're 0-2 and pressed against the wall with upcoming games against the Chargers, Panthers, Chiefs, Bears, 49ers and Packers. 

But there's no question that the Vikings have an explosive defense and even though they gave up 259 rushing yards to the Eagles, the defense as a hole looks a lot better than it did a year ago. 

If the Vikings can climb out of an 0-2 start to the season, they could be pretty good. 

2. Vikings offense is killing the Vikings defense

Spending 30 of the first 45 minutes of a game on the field is a good way to exhaust a defense, and that's exactly what happened because the Vikings couldn't hold onto the football and when they didn't drop the ball they were going three-and-out.

• Drive 1: 4 plays, punt -- 1 minute, 40 seconds
• Drive 2: 1 play, fumble -- 8 seconds
• Drive 3: 9 plays, touchdown -- 5 minutes, 3 seconds
• Drive 4: 8 plays, fumble -- 2 minutes, 10 seconds
• Drive 5: 2 plays, fumble -- 34 seconds
• Drive 6: 3 plays, punt -- 1 minute, 24 seconds
• Drive 7: 5 plays, touchdown -- 1 minute, 45 seconds
• Drive 8: 3 plays, punt -- 1 minute
• Drive 9: 9 plays, touchdown -- 3 minutes, 38 seconds
• Drive 10: 10 plays, touchdown -- 3 minutes, 3 seconds

Philly's offense had the ball for 39 minutes, 20 seconds of the game and most of it was during the first three quarters. No wonder the run defense was gouged for 259 yards on 48 carries. They were exhausted. 

3. Jefferson fumble changed course of the game

The game story completely changed when Justin Jefferson hauled in a 30-yard pass and then fumbled the ball over the pylon with 34 seconds left in the first half. The touchback gave the Eagles the ball and they did just enough to set Jake Elliott up for a 61-yard field goal to end the half with a 13-7 lead. 

Just imagine if that fumble didn't happen. The Vikings likely punch it in for a touchdown and have a 14-10 lead at the half. Instead, they were down 13-7 and the strip sack followed by the quick touchdown less than a minute into the third quarter put the Vikings on the ropes. 

Imagine if that strip sack and touchdown would've only put the Eagles ahead 17-14 instead of 20-7. That's huge. Then imagine the Eagles still hit Devonta Smith for a long TD and the Vikings respond with a long TD to Jordan Addison. There would've been nine minutes left in the third quarter and the Eagles would've led 24-21. 

It's unbelievable how much Jefferson's fumble changed the game. 

4. Theo Jackson's low and Theo Jackson's high

Josh Metellus left the game with an injury after Jalen Hurts scrambled for a first down. Metellus was replaced by Theo Jackson and two plays later Hurts went deep to Devonta Smith with Jackson covering. Jackson got turned around and never looked back to find the football and Smith leapt over him for a 54-yard gain, setting up the Eagles' opening score. Fortunately for Jackson, the defense held the Eagles to a field goal. 

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Two possessions later the Eagles faced a third-and-16 and Jackson stepped in front of Smith to intercept Hurts's pass. 

Jackson didn't play very much since Metellus came back into the came, but it's an encouraging thing for the Vikings to have who is realistically the fourth safety on the team be capable of responding after a bad play. 

5. Darrisaw and Davenport were non-factors

Vikings fans were pumped when left tackle Christian Darrisaw and outside linebacker Marcus Davenport were ruled active before the game, but Darrisaw never played and Davenport lasted just one play before he came out of the game for the night. 

That ate up two roster spots and Oli Udoh, who started in place of Darrisaw, wound up being injured in the fourth quarter and was carted off the field. That forced David Quessenberry to make his Vikings debut at left tackle for the last 10 minutes of the game. 

The Vikings had just six healthy offensive linemen for the last 10 minutes.