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 Hungry backups, including Asiata and the majority of the Minnesota
secondary, led the Vikings to a 48-30 upset of the Eagles that could
derail coach Chip Kelly's bid for the playoffs in his rookie season
in the NFL.
Asiata, playing because of injuries to Adrian Peterson and Toby
Gerhart, tied a Vikings record with three touchdown runs. Asiata
scored twice in the fourth quarter, including a short plunge with
1:08 to play as the Vikings (4-9-1) whipped the Eagles (8-6),
breaking Philadelphia's five-game winning streak and putting its NFC
East title hopes in peril with a big game next week against Chicago.
Asiata was merely the leader of the backup brigade that technically
included starting quarterback Matt Cassel. The Vikings were without
two running backs, two tight ends, a starting guard, quarterback
Christian Ponder and both starting cornerbacks.
Cassel completed 26 of 35 passes for 382 yards and two scores and
ran for one himself for the Vikings, who scored on nine of 12
possessions. Wide receiver Greg Jennings posted a career-high 11
receptions for 163 yards and a 57-yard first-quarter touchdown.
Cordarrelle Patterson also had a touchdown reception.
And then there was Asiata, whose father died in a bus crash two
months ago.
"I look at this as a blessing," said Asiata, who scored his first
NFL touchdowns in his starting debut. "It was my dream to make it to
the NFL, and I wish my dad was here to witness it."
Philadelphia was punchless in the first half for the second
consecutive game.
After trailing the Detroit Lions 16-0 last week, the Eagles managed
only three Alex Henery field goals and were behind 27-9 midway
through the third quarter.
Quarterback Nick Foles threw for 428 yards with touchdowns to wide
receiver DeSean Jackson (10 catches, 195 yards), tight end Zach Ertz
and slot receiver Jason Avant. But Foles, sacked four times, felt a
lot of pressure, was too often inaccurate in the first half and
never found his rhythm. Running back LeSean McCoy, who entered the
game as the league's leading rusher, gained 38 yards on just eight
carries as the Eagles abandoned the run and looked uninspired
throughout much of the game.
"That's a good question," Eagles coach Chip Kelly said, when asked
why his team came out flat. "I thought we had a great week of
practice. But we don't make excuses. We didn't play well enough to
win today."
The Eagles were the team with something at stake, but it was the
Vikings who came out fast. Cassel's 57-yard pass to Jennings, Blair
Walsh's 35-yard field goal and Asiata's 1-yard run with 1:06 left in
the half gave the Vikings a 17-9 halftime lead.
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Cassel's 42-yard pass to Jarius Wright set up his own 6-yard
touchdown run that made it 24-9. Then, after McCoy was held to
no gain on fourth-and-1 from their own 24, Walsh hit his second
field goal.
Foles ended a quick 70-yard scoring drive with a 30-yard pass to
Jackson. After a Cassel interception, Foles drove the Eagles 45
yards in three plays to score on his 3-yard pass to Ertz with 15
seconds left in the third quarter. A failed two-point conversion
made it 27-22.
But Cassel calmly hit Wright for 16, and then backup tight end
Chase Ford for 37 to the Philly 5. Two plays later Asiata scored
what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.
"It's a good day for the Minnesota Vikings," Cassel said. "We
had a lot of guys step up today. I think everyone took it as a
great challenge to day to step up and everybody rose to the
occasion."
None more than Cassel.
"He's a very smart quarterback," Jennings said of Cassel.
Jennings played with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay,
but never had 11 catches in a game. Until now.
"But this afternoon (Cassel) was feeding the ball to a lot of
guys and I just happened to be on the receiving end of quite a
bit of them," Jennings said.
NOTES: Eagles rookie S Earl Wolff missed his fourth game since
hyperextending a knee against the Packers Nov. 10. He practiced
during the week, but was limited and listed as doubtful on the
team's injury report Friday. Patrick Chung started in his place.
Reserve LB Najee Goode (hamstring) was also inactive. ... The
Vikings were without their top two running backs Sunday. Adrian
Peterson (foot sprain) and Toby Gerhart (hamstring), listed as
questionable on the Vikings' injury report Friday, were
inactive. It was the first start Peterson had missed since late
in the 2011 season. Matt Asiata made his first start in
Peterson's place. Peterson has five career three-touchdown
games. ... Also out were starting CBs Xavier Rhodes (ankle) and
Chris Cook (knee). Rhodes, a rookie, had been listed as doubtful
Friday, while Cook was a surprise addition to the injury report
late in the week, listed as questionable. Two other starters
were out for the Vikings' offense: TE John Carlson (concussion)
and RG Brandon Fusco (knee).
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