Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings | NFL Regular Season | Week 7 | Madden NFL Prediction
Today from US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, [Applause] this is Madden football on EA Sports. [Applause] We’ll see JJ McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings taking on Jaylen Herz and the Philadelphia Eagles. Now we find ourselves at the stadium that played host to Super Bowl 52. The wondrous US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis alongside my broadcast partner Charles Davis. I’m Brandon Goden. And as we look at this matchup, every time there’s something different to focus on. So I’ll just ask you, what do you see here in this one? Well, Rem Brandt, you’ve given me a pretty blank canvas to focus on, haven’t you? Where do you think I’m going to go with this? Secondary. You know me. You know me well, right? In a game like this, it’s always about the secondary. Can they handle the passing attack to make a few plays? Here’s the kicker, Jake Elliott, ready to get this one started. And we are underway from downtown Minneapolis. Bringing it out of his end zone, Isaiah Rogers. And he brings this out past the 20 to the 24. So here’s the Viking offense making their way out. Leading them out is their rookie quarterback, the young man from the University of Michigan. And you’d think as a young QB there’d be some nerves leading an offense out to start a game, but haven’t seen any sign of them right now. And speaking with him earlier this week, sensed that the pressure wouldn’t get to him. He feels comfortable being the face of this offense and shouldering the expectations on game day. Even if he doesn’t quite have the years of experience other quarterbacks do. Now the man from UTAP. This is Aaron Jones and they’ll get him down after a pick up of eight. Second and two. Now, that’s the way you want to start a drive. Talk about a tone setter as well as a playbook opener. Now, if you want to take a big shot over the top, you’re all positioned to do so. The ball under 32. It’s second and two. McCarthy, he’ll set to throw it. He’s going to find Jefferson open downfield. Now he’s loose down the left sideline. Touchdown Vikings. Justin Jefferson 68 yds and the Vikings need just two plays on their opening drive to take the early lead. Well, if they didn’t get the wake up call before the game, they got it right now. Two plays already in the end zone. I think of it in boxing terms because whether it’s a big shot with your first one or a probing one, a little bit of a jab, the second one was the payoff. That was the big one that landed. One, two, endzone. Extra point forthcoming. He’s got it and the Vikings take a seven nothing lead. Pretty clean and simple there. Just two plays. The long pass resulting in the touchdown on play number two. Minnesota’s kick team ready and the Vikings boom it away and he’ll take it a yard or so past the 20. Call it the 21. Philly’s offense getting ready and Jaylen Herz ready to lead them. The second round pick who started his career at Alabama then finished with an electric senior season at Oklahoma. And I’ll bet he’s talking to his guys about resisting the temptation to try and turn this into an up and down game. Almost like basketball where both teams press and one team gets an advantage. Our team’s trying to run with them and they’re just not equipped for it. Doesn’t matter whether you’re equipped or not. Just settle in, get calm before you go. Oh, a leap and he will make the catch and he’ll be touched down in the end. But a big play on that one. Usually in this spot, you’d hear an offensive coordinator saying, “Don’t feel like you’ve got to get this all back at once.” But here, they give up the opening touchdown and say, “No time like the present to show what we can do, too.” And that’s big yardage on their initial play from scrimmage. [Applause] from Viking territory now. They’ll come up first and 10 at the 37 yd line from the gun. It’s Herz. He’ll get this one complete. That’s AJ Brown. And the result here, a pick up of eight leaves him with two to go on second down. into at the 30 yd line. Ball on the 30 now. Here’s second and two. They’ll run for the first time with Saquon Barkley and down inside the 15 he goes. It’s a gain of 16 and an Eagle first down. Well, think of it like you would a typical boxing match. The person is on his heels and absorbing blows is having a tough time. That’s what’s happening to the defense right now cuz the offense is on his toes and punching. And there was another first down run right there. So, a solid run by Saquon Barkley. And another first and 10 here. Bert sets up to throw it. And he can’t find a receiver and he’s brought down. Jonathan Bullard able to get in there and drop him behind the line. Hindsight is 2020, partner. Maybe they should have kept it on the ground again. Well, it almost looked like the O line was run blocking again. I mean, they opened up a big hole last time. This time they opened up a hole and the quarterback got sacked. [Applause] [Music] Here’s second and 10. Here’s Herz to throw and stopped a few yards shy of the goal line at the three. Herz dangerous when he runs that football. He’s got a first. That’s the first time he’s called his own number, but he’s got to be overjoyed with the results. He wasn’t just going to settle for a modest gain. To me, he was determined to come through with a big message to a defense that slept on him in the pocket. First and goal and a chance to get that initial touchdown right back. Barkley going to be stopped before he can get moving forward as he’ll lose a couple back to the 5 yd line. That’s going to go as a loss of a yard and it’ll be second down. Bear in mind that wasn’t a big lineman back there for the tackle for loss. That was a cornerback. So, are you saying the myth has been shattered that all of them are not just cover corners? Some of them actually will stick their nose in and tackle when necessary. That’s what we just saw, isn’t it? [Applause] Back at the 5 yd line now. Second and goal. It’ll be Herz on the option and the second wave of tacklers is going to get him as they stop him behind the line. That’ll be a loss of a yard and it leads to a third down. Well, that play never really got off the launching pad. He had a linebacker in his face before he had a chance to do much of anything. Yeah, I think his big boys up front, that offensive line, they’ve got to do a little bit better job of protecting him if they’re going to continue to run the option like this. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] And now, can they reverse the trend on third and goal with the last two plays having gone backwards? Herz. This is caught. Touchdown. Come on, let’s go. Jaylen Herz on target to Dallas GD. And the Eagles are able to match the opening drive touchdown against them with one of their own. You get down near the goal line. This is where having a sure-handed tight end becomes a luxury. And it pays off big time, especially when the defense sells out against the run. He finds himself open for an easy touchdown. on for the extra point. Jake Elliot, it’s up and good. So, these teams match touchdowns here in the first quarter and we’re tied 77. [Applause] Each team’s had it. Each team has scored 77 here as the kicks away. Rogers going to return it from his end zone and he’s up past the 20 to the 22 yd line. [Applause] And this drive here beginning probably with a pair of motivated groups. Remember the offense scored a touchdown on their last time out looking to repeat that in Charles’s defense. They were very frustrated after giving up six the last time on the field. And frankly, it’s just a battle of wills in a lot of ways because you know they’re both motivated. They both game planned for this drive and they both have specific outcomes in mind. To me, it just comes down to who can execute better and which side can step up and assert its will over the other. Counting down toward the midway point in corner one looking to throw McCarthy. They’ll get this complete to Rondale Moore and he’s taken down but able to slip across the 35. First catch for him. It’s good for a dozen and a first down. Someone sharp in this game. I mean a touchdown pass on the first drive. He comes right back and he’s swinging it around really well here. Really nice throw there to pick up the first down. You kind of just feel a laser focus and confidence about him and I think we saw that this week, didn’t we? Talking to him and the coaches, they felt good about his performance coming up. Yeah, I was really impressed with that last practice we saw when they went through two-minute drill when they went through all the different situations. Ball hardly hit the ground and I thought, yeah, he might be locked in for this one. I think defensively you’re okay with that. You’re in the first quarter, he’s going to get some catches, but they rally to him quickly. And that’s what you count on. And I like what you just said. First quarter, can you do it all game long? They catch it, you tackle them, they go down on the spot. Because when you’re able to do that, you don’t give up big chunks of yardage after the catch. Now, you put the offense in a position where every series they have to work hard to pick up first downs, and you tend to stall them out when you do that. [Applause] at the 47 yd line. A couple of first downs on the drive already as they’ll go from the 47 now on first down. An inside give to Jones and across the midfield stripe into Eagle territory. A solid run on first down. Gain of seven leaves him with a second and three. [Music] [Applause] Here’s McCarthy. Pressure comes and down he goes. The Eagles get there for the sack. He couldn’t get away. He’ll wind up losing a dozen yards. A 12 yd loss and it brings up third. He has some real defensive resistance there saying not so fast to a good drive. They had marched to the end zone the last time out. Seventh play of this drive coming up, but a long way to go on third down now. McCarthy buying time to his left and he has another first down as he’ll get the ball down to the Eagles 35. able to convert on third and 14. A terrific play call. As we both know, there was a lot that went into why they made him their first round pick this year. Part of it was what they saw in college, his playmaking ability. When things break down, as soon as he saw he wasn’t getting a lane to throw, he pivoted and found an alternate way to the marker. [Applause] So from Philadelphia territory now here’s a first and 10 at the 35 yd line on play action. McCarthy and at the seven yd line the catch is made and finally down he goes as they work it inside the 10 to the seven. A really good pick up of 28 yds. And as a quarterback, you always want to exploit gaps in a defense. And he finds one here. Crossing route, working from right to left across the field. And once you get defenders going in the wrong direction, it is awfully hard for them to pivot back. And you end up getting the first down. Two big plays in succession. Not sure this D knows what hit him, but now they got to get ready. It’s first and goal. They’ll send a receiver here in motion right. He’s going to get it on the jet sweep. It’s a loss of a yard there. And now second down. This is why I’ve never been a big fan of trying to get too cute down here by the goal line. For every one time something like this works, it seems like it blows up about 10 times. And sure enough, they’ll wind up losing yards here. It’s second and goal. Back to the 8 yd line. Now Here’s a jet sweep. This is Addison. Oh, and this one may need to go back to the drawing board. He’s going to be swallowed up right away after getting stuffed on first down. Not much better there. Two yd gain. Well, they gave up a few yards there, but all in all, I think it’s a pretty nice job defensively against the Jets sweep. If they don’t slow him up, he might take it to the house. So, they’ll take that play every time on the defensive side of the ball. Third and goal. McCarthy and that will be caught but out of bounds. Out of bounds. Ruled incomplete here. Well, so a drive that spans all that time and yet you may only come away with three points here. Well, your defense, all right, they actually like these long drives. They get to rest over on the sidelines for a while, but when you’re not finishing with points in terms of touchdowns, that’s frustrating. They’ve got to figure out how to close out these long drives and get sixes instead of threes. And his kick is right there. It’s good. And they take the lead here now at 10 to seven. So a dozen plays on that drive, CD, but in the end it yields just the three points. Well, they were able to keep the defense on the field for a long time. But let’s be honest about it, that was about as unsatisfying a drive as you’re going to get. 12 plays and you only get three points out of it. Not quite the ending they were looking for. Setting out to kick this one away. And off it goes. He takes this near the 25. Just a little pass there. Call it the 26. Already at the line. This Philly offense set to go. They’ll start out on the ground. It’s Saquon Barkley and he will possibly get back to the line of scrimmage. That’s it. On the other hand, it will definitely take us to the end of the first quarter play. Start of the second quarter and it’s the Eagles in possession as they’ve got it with a second and 10. Throwing is Herz. They’ll set up the screen to Barkley and he’s upended at the 33 following a good pick up of eight. And that doesn’t have to gain big yardage. It be an impactful play because if you get those pass rushers secondguessing themselves that they might get hit with a screen, maybe you can wind up slowing them down just a step. And if you do that, that’s a win for that play. Here’s third and three. They’ll try to run for it with Barkley. Yeah, brought down, but not before he was able to break the tackle. And the extra effort moves the sticks. Give him the third down conversion. Five yds on the play on third down. That’s a good job of situational football and understanding where the first down marker was and getting there. [Applause] So from the 39 now they’ll come up on a first and 10. Back to throw here. Staying on his feet. They’ll get just a yard on the scramble. It’s second down. off the play fake. Here’s Herz. All that gets him is just a yard. And now it’s third down. [Applause] He’ll drop to throw work in the middle of the field and he’s got a man complete and he is going to have an Eagles first down as they’re able to get the third down conversion. Did you see that route the way that I did? I thought he was trying to get that wasn’t the first option. No, not it. Came off of that guy, the deep guy, and came underneath on the drag. Completed it very well. From Viking territory. Now they’ll come up first and 10 at the 46. He’ll look to throw. And this is incomplete. Well played defensively. Nearly had the interception, but it’s second down. Well, they had that one snipped out defensively. That’s a tough one to connect on when you got multiple defenders in the area and it winds up incomplete. Second and 10. They’ll set up to throw. And this is going to turn into another first down as the tackle is made at the Vikings 25 yd line. A gain there of 21 yds. Well, that turned out better than most of the passes. He could have thrown on that snap. The coverage downfield was excellent, but the containment close to home left him a back door escape, and they paid dearly for not locking up. [Applause] They’ll throw on first down with Herz. Throw right side complete to Dodson. Short completion, just four yards and that’ll make it second down. Simple drag route here. Lined up out left and tried to work his way back across the field. You probably saw me twitch there, partner, because I think he wanted the ball a little bit sooner. By the time he looked it in, defender was right on it. Second and six. He’ll look to throw and he fends him off. Six yardds there off the scramble, but it’ll still leave him with a third down. Brings up third and they’ll try and run the option to pick it up. Uh-oh. He is going nowhere as he is enveloped behind the line. Call it no gain on the keeper and it’s going to bring up a fourth down. [Applause] They give it off here to the tight end and he’s not going to get there. might have even lost a yard. He only needed a yard, but he couldn’t even get back to the line of scrimmage. And this long drive is going to wind up yielding nothing. But good luck there as a ball carrier. You get handed that football. Look up. Oh, there’s a big dackle ready to swallow you home for a loss. Yeah, you kind of count on your guys to give you at least a little bit of time, a little bit of space to try and maneuver, but not on that one. And when you have a defensive tackle who is that strong, that agile, he’s a lot to deal with. Sometimes you have to double him and sometimes you’re not able to block him no matter who’s trying. Give him four yds there. It’ll be second and six. [Applause] They’ll go again to Jones and they’ll bring him down at the 27 yd line. Six yds to pick up and that’s a first down. Sometimes I get almost mesmerized watching these runners who have great vision. You know those eyes that carry their feet to open spaces, make people miss. I just love watching those guys go to work. [Applause] McCarthy now on first down over the middle and into the hands of his receiver Moore. He’ll get 15 and a Vikings first down. [Applause] to the air with McCarthy. Caught on the right side by Jones. And they’ll work this down to the 40 yd line. Tackled there. 19 yds there on the catch and run. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] So from Philadelphia territory now here’s a first and 10 right at the 40. Up the middle Jones and little room to maneuver there. He gets it down to about the 39. The tackle by Nico Dean. [Music] here now. Second and nine from the 39 yd line throwing is McCarthy. This one caught. It’s the tight end Hawinson and he has another first down as they’ll get the ball down to the Eagles 23. That one good for 16 as the drive continues. There’s good push to the tight end and I think that we’re looking at something out of central casting frankly. Absolutely. Size, the hands, speed. I mean, can flat out run. You put that whole package together, you light up the eyes of an offensive coordinator, don’t you? First and 10. There’s McCarthy going back to the same well. It’s Hawinson again. This will be stopped about two yds shy of the marker. 8 yd gain. Second and two. Let’s go. 65 65. looking to throw McCarthy. This will be caught just inside the 10. And the Vikings are going to have a first and goal as he’s taken down at about the 8 yd line. [Applause] [Applause] They’ll stick with the passing game as he looks to throw. Dancing to his left and he’ll get into the end zone. Touchdown Minnesota. JJ McCarthy an 8 yd touchdown run and they are able to add on to their advantage. They’ve already been on record is saying, “Hey, if our rookie quarterback’s going to tuck it and run on a scramble, we kind of hold our breath.” Well, that was a maybe no, no, no, yes, as he’s able to get into the end zone. Are you saying he’s got to learn where the line is about whether you keep your eyes down field and try and find a receiver or you tuck it and go? And I think he’s there’s gonna be some growing pains with that. I think in this case he made the right decision and we know he’s got the speed. He showed it there. Extra point splits the uprights and his guys will take a 10-point lead. A good drive that time as they go nine plays in all and the capper that put it in the end zone a run of eight yds. 25 [Applause] and a half. The offense knew it. They were already starting to walk back as that one is accepted. On first down, Herz gets this out to Saquon Barkley. He’ll give him four yds there and that will bring up second down. Nice job by the defense figuring that play out and holding it to a short game, but I don’t think the offense is going to be daunted. They actually accomplished their goal there. Now they’ve got him aware that they can throw a screen at him. Maybe it’ll slow the pass rush down a little bit and they can throw it downfield. Creeping up on a minute to play in this first half. Throwing from the gun. It’s Herz complete. It’s Dodson and way up past the 35 before he’s taken down. The Eagles going to take the first of their timeouts as they get the stoppage with a little over 50 seconds to go in the first half. A first and 10 here. And you know, if they could just get three out of this, something about whittling it to a one-sore game at half that might provide a psychological boost and he’ll be hit as he releases it and that’ll fall incomplete. Partner, what we’re seeing so far is a defense is certainly coordinated. Both levels doing their jobs in tandem. The back helping the front, the front helping the back. The pressure got home on that last play and forced him to try and throw through contact and short of the sticks. Second down. Here’s Jaylen Herz. Open man has got it. The tight end. Now the Eagles will use the second of their timeouts as they’ll stop it with just over 40 seconds to go in the first half. [Applause] An extra defender in the secondary for the Vikings here on third down. They’ll look to throw again. Oh, he had him. He was open, but he couldn’t get it to him. It’s incomplete. Not much going on this drive. Looks like they’re going to have to punt it away. CD. And right now, I know a lot of their fans are screaming for the OC to change things up, get away from what he’s been calling. Sometimes you just need better execution of the plays that have been called. On fourth down, punt coming from Braden Man. And a fair catch signaled for and taken just outside the 20 yd line. 36 yds on the punt with no return. And the Vikings will take over here. First and 10. The Vikings going to take over now late in this first half. And with a 17-7 lead, maybe they’re just looking to get into the locker room. Just over 30 seconds to go in the half. They’ve got it first and 10 throwing to start the drive. McCarthy going underneath. He’s got Hawinson and he’s upended after a gain of four up to the 25 yd line. I know the halftime’s approaching, but I don’t think he’s going to want to take a break. That’s his fifth catch. Yeah, they’ve really been targeting the tight end. [Applause] A final shot before break. McCarthy setting up the screen here. Aaron Jones. So, we’ve reached halftime here in Minnesota with a Vikings on top as we’ll send you down to Orlando and we check in with Jonathan Coachman for our EA Sports halftime report. Coach. All right, BG. Thanks very much and welcome one and all to our beautiful new downtown Orlando studios for this EA Sports halftime report. The Vikings got a good performance in the first half from their quarterback JJ McCarthy. He had a touchdown both in the air and on the ground to help push his guys into the lead at the break. This one has been a hard-hitting affair to this point, and you got to expect we’ll see more of the same in the second half. And to bring the action your way, let’s get it right back out to Brandon God. Okay, coach. Thanks as always to you and the gang in Orlando as we welcome everyone back in for quarter number three. [Applause] [Music] [Music] a 10-point game. 17-7 the score as we get back to it on EA Sports and he’ll take it up past the 25 to the 26 yd line. Out come the Eagles now as they’ll go on offense first here in the third quarter and they’re on the short end of the scoreboard here. Charles, what adjustments, if any, do you think they need to make for the second half? Well, paraphrasing the gold medal hockey winning coach Herb Brooks. I just say you continue to play your game, throw the ball. They had success doing it in the first half. So, make sure you keep getting the ball to your playmakers a little bit more to the perimeter perhaps, but above all, play your game. [Applause] Now, second and five. Now Herz on the option right and he slips up past the 45 before being tackled. And a solid job using his legs. 16 yds and a first down on the keeper. Well, he is certainly dangerous when he spots a lane and he keeps it himself there. Worked out well. And how about the moving parts on a play like this? You know, you have to practice it over and over because it’s almost like a ballet that has to be choreographed. But how about once he made the decision to go, he committed to it and went. Let’s face it, most teams are going to defend the running back much more than the quarterback on that type of a play. On first and 10, it’s Herz. And they’re well past midfield, just a yard or two shy of the 40. Nothing open downfield. He keeps it himself for 11 and a first down. And Eagles first down. [Applause] 180. Hurt’s going to take this himself and he’ll lose yardage on the play. back at the 45 yd line. That’s going to wind up a loss of a full three yds on first down. Well, they have had success when he keeps the ball in the option, but not there. I mean, you just saw exactly why many old NFL coaches would say, “Don’t use your quarterback in the running game. After the loss, they’ll come up second and 13. Now back to throw. This one goes out wide for Barkley. And here he’ll be brought down a little shy of the 35 at the 36. So the completion results there in nine yds. And now we’ve got a third and four. in search of four yardds here to pick up the first down. They’ll set up a throw. It’s Barkley once again bringing in the catch and this is going to turn into another first down as the tackle is made at the Vikings 22 yd line. A really nice pick up of 14 yds and it moves the sticks. It’s taken a while for this offense to get going. A little creaky at the start, but they’re oiled up now. A nice throw there and they’re really putting together a good drive. [Applause] No contact go a first down carry for Barkley and he’ll take this ahead for about four. Second down coming up. Well, they still have time to get him established, but in my estimation, they’ve got to pick up the urgency here. They’ve got to get quickly in and out of the huddle and run off a bunch more plays. Second down and six now. Looking to throw. He finds his tight end. Got it. That’s complete. Yeah, the Eagles are going to have a first and goal as the tackle made at the 10 yd line. Well, he does have one touchdown in the game already. And while this one won’t go for six, it’s enough to get him first and goal. But you and I both know he’s going to be a little upset he didn’t cross the goal line for a second time in this one. Might want the ball here on the next play. Back to throw and Goddard’s got it. Touchdown Eagles. A great effort there. A beast in the red zone with his second touchdown of the game. And the Eagles have got it back to within a score. And he is a reliable target. They like to get him involved. They got him involved there for the score. And they should. He’s a very good player. Remember, they can use him in certain positions, so many different spots, and he usually comes through for them. Elliot on for the extra point and this is up and good to make it a 1714 game. So that drive consumes nine plays all told and the drive was all finished off on the touchdown catch by Dallas Gddard. [Applause] Now after the touchdown, here’s Elliot on to kick it away. And here’s Rogers to return and he’ll get it up past the 20 to about the 22. [Applause] It’s the Vikings turn on offense. We get ready for their first possession of the second half. And maybe some renewed pressure on this unit following the touchdown a moment ago. It’s back to a one-score game. And because of that pressure, because it’s now a one-sore game, they know this is where you need to slow the momentum change because otherwise that could overrun your team. You’ve got to be careful right here. His second catch. This one not quite as dynamic as his first. And it’s second down. [Applause] from the shotgun. McCarthy, he’s got his tight end over the middle, TJ Hawinson. A one-yd gain there following the three yd pickup on first down. And he’s the epitome of what we call the move tight end. A guy that you can line up anywhere in the slot, out wide, in tight, doesn’t really matter because he has such great skills. You want to utilize him in all aspects of your passing offense. And there he was in the slot for the catch on third down. They’ll throw in McCarthy. That is caught and brought down, but not before reaching the 45 yd line. Give him 19 there as the drive marches forward. 45 yd line. [Music] [Music] [Applause] Stick him with a pass. Here’s McCarthy. Well, it’s a shuffle pass and it’s complete and he’s going to be stopped up right at the line of scrimmage. So, he stopped for no gain and it’ll be second down. Well, that was a simple throw and catch, but even with that completion, zero yards gained. So, they’re behind schedule on down and distance. I think they were hoping to get it to him. He could make a man or two miss, but that window closed quickly. [Applause] Here’s second and 10. Here’s a give to Jones running left and he is going to lose yardage here. It’s a loss of a yard. So, it’s back to third and 10. That’s exactly what you’re looking for at the inside linebacker spot. Versatility. He can drop into coverage or as he did on that last play, use his speed to get to the perimeter and knock the ball carrier for a loss. Here’s [Applause] [Applause] third and 10. [Applause] McCarthy, he’ll set to throw it. steps away to his left and he’s able to take it across midfield before going out of bounds. Give him eight yardds that time on the scramble and now fourth down. He didn’t like what he saw downfield. Decided his best course of action was to take off and run and that ended up being a gamble that did not pay off for him. Now they would have to gamble again if they want to keep this series going. And here’s Ryan right now as he should be able to pin him back deep here with his first punt. And now where will the side judge stop his walk? That’s the question. He says it crossed out of bounds at about the 17 yd line. Jaylen Herz in this offense trotting back out. Five for five that last drive. Touchdown pass as well. while he was clicking. Receivers, I don’t want to be cliche, but running really solid routes, too. And what I love about it is when you look across any team. All right. The body types of the receivers are usually different. The way that they get open different as well. Some of them use power to get open. Some of them use those head fakes and subtle moves. Some of them just use pure speed. And the really good ones when they’re established, they know how to push off at the end of a route, too. Oh, a lot of credit to the play caller here. He saw the design in his mind and implemented it. A little zone stretcher here because they started the tight end on the left side of the formation and set him on a crossing route. And this works really well when you can find that space between levels and they were able to do so for good yardage. Ball up to the 35 now as they come up on first and 10. Barkley inside handoff and not a whole lot of room to operate there on the first down run. He gets maybe three. Well, they’re hoping that the second half is better for him than the first half. They’ve got to find a way to get him going. He’s a big part of their offense. [Applause] From the 38 now. Here’s second down and seven. Hurt sets up to throw it. That is caught. It’s the tight end GD. And this is going to turn into another first down as the tackle is made at the Vikings 39. 23 yds to pick up there. [Applause] From Viking territory now. They’ll come up first and 10 at the 39 yd line. hurts. He’ll get this out to Barkley complete. It’ll go down as a gain of six and it’ll be second down. The defense was ready for the back to leak out and even had a second player waiting to double him up. If you’re going to commit to doubling a back, you better prevent a completion, but give him credit. Extra determination, extra effort, turn it into a successful play. Second down. Here’s Herz. It’s caught. Smith and Devonte going to pick up the Eagles first down as the tackle is made right at the 25 yd line. It’s an eight yd pick up and leads to a new set of downs. From the gun, it’s Herz. Quick slay at Datson and he’s brought down, but he has it down to the 12 on a pickup of 12. First and 10. [Applause] at the 12. It’s first and 10. A give to Barkley out of the gun and he can’t quite get there. Tackled down at the one. 11 more yards that go around. A first down as well. And that’s going to do it. Clock hits zero. They’re not going to get another playoff. Time has run out on this third quarter. You’re watching the NFL on EA Sports. Only way to get the lead here, of course, with a touchdown. And that’s what they’re gunning for on first and goal. They’ll try and run for it with Barkley. And he’s in for an Eagles. Touchdown. Squan Barkley punching it in from a yard away. And the Eagles put together a fourth quarter drive to take the lead. And this is a time of game where offensive lines can really dictate a team’s fortunes. It’s been a tough battle. They’ve been out there for a long time, but this was a question of who can wear down who, and that’s excellent work to put a long drive together and finish it with the touchdown run to take the lead. Elliot now to add the extra point. It’s up and good to make it 2117. [Applause] So that drive goes eight plays and it ends with a Squan Barkley touchdown run. [Applause] Now after the touchdown, here’s Elliot on to kick it away. And no thought of bringing this one out. He’ll go down to a knee and they’ll begin the drive at the 30. The Vikings now heading onto the field and now they’ll look to answer working from behind. And remember, this offense has sputtered yet to score here in the second half. They’ll need to change that here on first down. McCarthy, this is caught by Addison. And they get him down, but not before he takes it across the 40 yd line. This drive starting off on the right foot. 18 yds. And here we are in the fourth quarter. Partner to watch him drive for what would be a go-ahad touchdown. And you and I both know this is where you need a quarterback who can keep his cool back there. Not just for himself, but to keep the rest of the team relaxed, too. One play has him up past the 40 already. And another first and 10. The give is to Jones. And some pretty strong running there as he’ll take this across the 50 and down to the 44. A good gain again. That’s now 31 yds combined on those last two plays. They held him in check in the first half, but that’s his longest carry of the game right there. So, would this be the definition of fresh legs? Since he didn’t get much done in the first half, now he has a great opportunity. He’s taking full advantage of it. Backto back good plays have him on the move on first down. On play action now. McCarthy. Madison holds it in and he’ll go out of bounds inside the 15 yd line. Give him 30 yds there. That could very well be a defining play in this game. A touchdown that gives them the lead and they took a major step towards getting there with that big play right there. [Applause] [Music] There’s a first and 10 at the 14 yd line. Looking to throw McCarthy. There’s Hawinson in the end zone. Touchdown Vikings. A 14 yd touchdown. And the Vikings answer back with a touchdown of their own to take a fourth quarter lead. Those are the types of plays in these moments they were hoping for from this young rookie. Able to put him up here in the fourth quarter. How about the kid? You just mentioned it. The fourth quarter. This is when you have to make those winning plays. That’s what he just did. Doesn’t ensure anything, but he certainly gave his team a heck of a chance, didn’t he? Extra point right down the middle. And that gives him a three-point lead. The drive summary, four plays, 75 yds. And it was TJ Hawinson who finished the drive with a touchdown reception. [Applause] Minnesota’s kick team ready and the Vikings boom it away and up to about the 26 yd line just across the [Applause] Philadelphia’s offense ready to go again. We certainly have a good one on our hands. They’re trailing after that last touchdown, but now a chance for this offense to try to snag that lead right back here in the fourth quarter. They’ll start by running the option to the right. Hold on here cuz on that last run it looks like we have a player who was shaken up. The medical staff will attend to him and we will step aside. Now a second and six. Here’s Herz to throw. throw right side caught by Goddard the tight end and they get him down but not before he takes it across the 40 yd line. 75 yds receiving for him now. It’s a first down. Up the middle with Barkley. And a pretty good burst there as he’ll get this across midfield and down to the 46. Another nice gain, 13 yds that time and another first down. On any explosive run, you can almost feel the ground shaking and that’s from the offensive lineman creating space for their runners. I had an old coach tell me before he always told his runners, “Run around the offensive line in pregame. Get used to the ground shaking so you don’t trip and fall when it happens in a game.” From Viking territory now. They’ll come up first and 10 at the 46. throwing is hurts and he’ll protect himself at the end here as he winds up getting pretty decent yardage. He’ll get eight on the scramble there. It’ll be second and a couple. I like how he hung in there and went through his progressions, but eventually his internal clock went off and told him it was time to make a run for it and he ends up sliding down with a solid gain. Now a second and two. Now Herz’s going to keep it running left and here he’ll be brought down a little shy of the 35 at the 36. He’ll wind up getting two there as he does it himself and picks up the first pick. [Applause] Out of the shotgun they run with Barkley. Just a yard on the pickup there and it’ll bring up a second and nine. [Applause] Now they’ll switch it up here and look to throw. They’ll set up the screen to Barkley and he’ll lose yardage on the play back at the 37 yd line. They wind up losing a couple there so they go behind the original line of scrimmage and now third and 11 coming up. I thought that wasn’t a bad time to call the screen. I thought late game down on the scoreboard. Had to figure they were expecting a pass downfield. Yeah. So, the edge rushers, they’re coming. That could have hit big. You’re right. Good recognition defensively to snuff that one out. a potential field goal if you’re thinking about that. Almost 55 yds from here as they try to get closer on third down. Going quickly there, but it’s incomplete. [Music] So a big big kick coming now for Jake Elliott. This from 54 yds away. The kick by Elliot is good. And in the fourth quarter, this game is tied. So, they hadn’t called on him at all until this point, but he comes through here and buries one from long range. Yeah, that’s awfully impressive because usually kickers like to get that first one out of their system in the first quarter, sort of get them into the flow of the game, but to come in this late and knock it down from long distance, give him a lot of credit. [Applause] Now this one setting up for a great finish. All tied in the fourth as the kicks away. He takes this near the 25. Just a little pass there. Call it the 26. [Applause] Minnesota now ready for their next possession. and we essentially have a brand new ball game after that last field goal has tied us all up. We brace for what should be an exciting rest of this fourth quarter. They’ll bring a receiver in motion right and now a fake on the jet sweep and a give to Jones. Five yds on the carry. Good pickup on first down. If you’re a coach, you’ll absolutely take that run every time on first down because it really sets you up to go in a number of directions here on second from the 31. Here’s second and five. Here’s McCarthy going underneath. He’s got Hawinson and Hawinson going to have the Vikings first down as he’ll get this up past the 35 yd line. It’s a pick up of six. 36 yd line. So from the 36 now first and 10. They’ll run off tackle with Jones and unable to get downhill there as he’ll take this up to about the 37. Credited with a one-yd gain there to make it second and nine. Thank you. And [Applause] Let’s [Applause] go. Now McCarthy over the middle and complete to Addison. That’s good. the completion there for seven yds and it makes it third down and two yds to go third and two on play action. McCarthy able to find the open man that’s complete and he has another first down as he’ll get the ball down to the Eagles 30. Excellent play there on third down. Give him 25 yds and partner in a tie game in the fourth quarter. You and I both know in the NFL that’s when you lean on your stars and he came through with a nice catch right there. [Music] [Applause] So from Philadelphia territory now here’s a first and 10 at the 30 yd line to the air with McCarthy and they’ll get him down after a pick up of eight. Second and two. as he gains off second and two yd. [Music] They come up now on second and two from the shotgun to give the Jones. It’ll be a minimum pick up and it will take us to the twominute warning. Getting down to the good stuff. All tied with two minutes remaining on EA Sports. [Applause] [Music] Boy, here’s a big one. You can just feel it. This is third down now. They’ll try and run for it with Jones and he picks up the first down yardage as he takes it down to the 16. They picked up a little bit of yardage there and now in this situation should be in no hurry to run a play really fast. Let the clock wind down. [Applause] [Music] Plenty of time. All three timeouts still remain. Here’s first and 10. Now again it’s Jones and they get to him quickly here as he’s stopped right around the 13. Now what’s the thinking here? Cuz a touchdown would be nice but you’ve insured yourself a chance at three in the lead. So how worried are you about the six? You’re not very worried about if you’re confident in your kicker. And if you got a kicker who can put it through the post, you feel really good about trying to bleed that clock down. In an ideal scenario, your kicker puts it through the post as the clock hits zeros. On the jet sweep, here comes Jefferson and the stop will come inside the five of the four. The Eagles going to take the first of their timeouts as they get the stoppage with just over a minute to go in the game. Here’s first and goal. Jones will take this into the end zone for a Viking touchdown. Well, any thoughts about overtime have ended at this juncture? That touchdown puts them up six. I would imagine they’ll kick the extra point now and rely on their defense. Yeah, rely on their defense. So, a little bit of time left on the clock here in the fourth, but they got to feel good now. Now, the try here for the after. and they will take a seven-point lead now. So, that one a long 11play drive and it’s capped off by the late touchdown. It’s a seven-point lead here in the final minute of the game. The kickoff team on the field now as they will send this one away from a yard or two deep. Here comes a return and able to get this out to the 25. [Music] Hurts and the Eagles now down by seven. 57 seconds to go. They need a touchdown of the pat to tie it as they come up first and 10. They’ll look to throw. Oh, and that’s going to sabotage their comeback plans. It is intercepted. picked off by Byron Murphy. Well, you can see what they were trying to do. Just send those guys out there to make a play. But that is a costly interception. Yeah, that’s kind of like the backyard. Everybody go deep and let’s see if we can find someone. Four verticals in the route. Any other time in the game, I love the call. But here, you’re not going to hold safeties. You’re not going to hold corners with any looks cuz they know what the situation is. Ends up throwing the interception. We got to have two hands on the football here as they run on first down. Now the Eagles will use the second of their timeouts as they get the stoppage with just under 50 seconds remaining in the fourth. Have to imagine this will be on the ground as well as they come up second and seven. He’s going to get it again. Just looking to get forward and protect the ball and he will have a Viking first down and that should be the one that gets him to the finish line. [Applause] [Music] Victory formation time for the Vikings as they’ll take a knee here. Listen, anytime you take a knee to end a game, that means you’ve won it. So, it doesn’t matter whether it’s home or on the road, but there’s something a little extra special about doing in front of your home crowd, isn’t there? And the home crowd applauding. They’re happy with what they’ve seen. Chalk this one up in the lefth hand column for a win. Yeah, that’s right. Head to the locker room. Throw the wristbands in the crowd for the kids. Your gloves, your towels. Get to share it with the home team. What a ball game this was. What an atmosphere this was. and the home team getting the late touchdown, getting the victory, and now everybody in this building can file away with smiles on their faces. And what a real state people tell us all the time, it’s location, location, location. So being at home, that can be a big deal because remember, they were down to their final chance to retake the lead. That home field advantage, I think it helped fuel all of what happened for them down the stretch. A huge win. So, that’ll do it for my partner Charles Davis and the best darn crew in the industry. I’m Brandon God and this has been a presentation of the NFL on EA Sports. It’s a win for the Vikings as we say. So long from Minneapolis. [Applause]
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings | NFL Regular Season | Week 7 | Madden NFL
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