Eagles vs. Vikings Notebook: Inside Zone, Family Business, Josh Sweat Dominance

The Philadelphia Eagles improved to 2-0 with a workmanlike win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday.

PHILADELPHIA - It wasn't pretty but the Philadelphia Eagles won for the second time in five days to start the 2023 season at 2-0 after dispensing of a deeply-flawed Minnesota Vikings team in a 34-28 win at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday night.

The Eagles certainly haven't had their best stuff early this season but there is something to say for a team that finds ways to win games and Philadelphia has certainly been that under Nick Sirianni, who is now 23-6 as the head coach of the Eagles in the regular season since starting 2-5.

Here's what we observed against the Vikings.

ROCKY ROAD FOR HURTS

Jalen Hurts hasn't looked special early this season but hardly needed to against what looks like a bad Minnesota team that turned the football over four times. It's a concern and the offense has looked unimaginative through two weeks, although Hurts did connect on two deep shots to DeVonta Smith, including a 62-yard touchdown.

"For us, we found a way to get it done," Hurts said. "The reality is that this league is different from moment to moment. For us, we just continue to grow."

TURNING IT OVER

While Minnesota was hardly putting on a clinic when it came to ball security, give the Eagles credit for taking advantage of the issue by making sure to punch at the football, even after big plays. It was Justin Evans after a 19-yard punt return by Brandon Powell in the first quarter and Terrell Edmunds turning a potential touchdown by Justin Jefferson into a touchback in what was probably the biggest play of the game before halftime. 

The others were Avonte Maddox punching the football from the hapless Alexander Mattison and Josh Sweat strip-sacking Kirk Cousins.

© Eric Hartline, USA TODAY

INSIDE ZONE

While the passing game was disjointed, the running game was vintage Philadelphia with D'Andre Swift going over 100 yards for the first time since Week 1 of the 2022 season against the Eagles when he was with Detroit. Swift finished with a career-high 175 yards and a touchdown and will get the flowers but it was the offensive line that dominated, opening up monster holes against a pedestrian Minnesota front.

Overall Philadelphia rushed for 259 yards at 5.4 yards per clip and really set the tone with a 16-play scoring drive in the second quarter as the answer to the Vikings' only lead, The Eagles ran it 13 times on the 75-yard, 7:55 drive with Hurts taking it in from a yard out.

"We rushed for (259) yards, that's a testament to the offensive line," said Hurts.

The Eagles pounded inside zone against light Vikings' boxes and Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores didn't adjust.

NO NAKOBE, NO PROBLEM

On the other side, it was no Nakobe Dean, no problem for Philadelphia. The Vikings managed just 28 yards rushing. It would be nice to tell you that it was because Zach Cunningham and Nicholas Morrow were that good at linebacker but it was a testament to a poor Vikings offensive line missing two starters and a running back in Mattison, who has little wiggle, and fumbled twice, one that was wiped out when the Eagles were offside.

FAMILY BUSINESS

There was a noticeable dust-up between Hurts and A.J. Brown, presumably about the All-Pro receiver not getting the football enough. Coach Nick Sirianni fended off questions about it after, saying family business will stay in-house but Hurts did essentially admit the issue.

"I think everybody wants to make plays and everybody wants to contribute," Hurts said. "I have no worry about him. He's a great player, a great teammate, a great friend and we will do anything and everything to win." 

FINDING A WAY

While Hurts hasn't been his dynamic self early this season, Philadelphia has now won 19 of its last 20 regular-season games started by the quarterback. Since 2021, Hurts’ .750 winning percentage (24-8) leads all NFL QBs, and finding a way to win shouldn't be dismissed.

JAKE-ING 61-YARDERS

Jake Elliott matched his career high with a franchise-record, 61-yard FG that gave the Eagles a 13-7 advantage heading into halftime. The reigning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week became the fifth player in NFL history to record multiple 61-plus yard FGs, joining Brett Maher (3), Sebastian Janikowski, Matt Prater, and Justin Tucker.

DALLAS WATCH

 After not getting a reception at New England to open the season, star tight end Dallas Goedert did catch six passes against Minnesota but they only went for 22 yards. Getting Goedert more involved in the offense has to be a focal point in the mini-bye before Week 3 at Tampa Bay.

FROM UNEMPLOYED TO THE GREEN DOT

Morrow, the veteran linebacker who was released at the cut down to 53 and wasn't even on the initial list of practice squad-signings ultimately did come back to Philadelphia on the PS and was promoted to the active roster when Dean went to injured reserve.

By Week 2, Morrow was not only starting, he was wearing the green dot as Sean Desai's extension on the field. Morrow finished with three tackles and a quarterback hit doing enough to get another opportunity in Tampa.

SWEATY J

Josh Sweat was the Eagles' best defender, a sack, five quarterback hits, and a forced fumble that Fletcher Cox recovered at the Vikings' 7-yard line, setting up an easy touchdown. Sweat was so dominant on one ruh that Oli Udoh damaged his knee trying to deal with it and had to be carted off.