Philadelphia's Week 15 game seemed simple on paper. The Vikings were without Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart, forcing them to lean on a pair of Matts -- Cassel and Asiata -- to keep their offense afloat. Ultimately, the veteran quarterback prevailed, leading an unexpected Vikings win, 48-30.
Eagles vs. Vikings 2013 results: Minnesota powers through injuries, 48-30
A host of injuries should have stopped the Vikings, but Matt Cassel rose above.
Adam Bettcher
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Matt Cassel was near-perfect on Sunday. He completed 26-for-35, gaining 382 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings in the first quarter that set the tone for much of the game. Cassel averaged 10.9 per pass attempt, the second time in his career he's topped the 10.0 mark.
Derailing the Eagles offense came down to stopping LeSean McCoy. A lack of success in the first half caused Philadelphia to move away from running the ball, which put pressure on Nick Foles to be a difference maker. He rose to the occasion, but was inconsistent in the first half. That proved to be too much, especially when the team's defense was unable to stop Minnesota.
It didn't help that the Vikings defense blanketed the potent Eagles offense, sacking Foles four times. Philadelphia's offensive tackles had no answer to Jared Allen and Brian Robison, while the rest of the defense ensured the team's trip to Minnesota was as chilly as it could be.
Matt Asiata was far from perfect, but he didn't need to be. Losing production at the running back position was a known quantity without the Viking's top two backs, but he showed an ability to pick up short yards -- scoring three vital touchdowns that changed the outcome of the game.
Philadelphia remains in the playoff race, but life got a lot more difficult. The loss opened the door for the Dallas Cowboys to bounce back in the NFC East race when it should have been shut.
The Vikings are on the verge of a full-scale rebuild, and it’s unclear how many pieces from the team will remain. Minnesota has consistently played teams hard in 2013, despite being eliminated from playoff contention. That will count for little in an organization desperate for sustained success.
Fantasy studs and duds
Greg Jennings turned back the hands of time, totaling 163 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings.
McCoy was a huge letdown, failing to total 50 rushing yards.
Injury report
Neither team sustained any serious injuries on Sunday.
Did they cover?
The Philadelphia Eagles were 6.5-point favorites, according to OddsShark. Their outright loss means they failed to cover.
What’s next?
Philadelphia hosts the Chicago Bears at 8:30 p.m. ET next Sunday, while the Vikings travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals at 1 p.m. ET.
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