Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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MINNEAPOLIS — Kirk Cousins threw four touchdown passes — including back-to-back bombs of 62 and 51 yards to Stefon Diggs — on a day when the Vikings offense was aggressive and the defense was prepared for the Eagles own aggressiveness.
The result was a 38-20 victory on Sunday at U.S. Bank in an NFC contest that could be potentially pivotal in playoff standings later this year.
Minnesota improved to 4-2, claiming its second win in a row and third of 2019 in as many home games.
The Vikings built a 24-3 lead less than six minutes into the second quarter and withstood a rally by the Eagles that made it 24-20 with 6:19 left in the third quarter.
Minnesota bounced back with a touchdown drive that lasted more than five minutes, forced a punt and put together an 88-yard touchdown drive.
Eric Kendricks then forced a fumble that Anthony Barr returned 19 yards, and Mackensie Alexander recorded his second career interception to end Philadelphia’s next possession.
Cousins finished 22-of-29 passing for 333 yards and threw four touchdowns for the second time in his career with the Vikings (at Green Bay in 2018). He was intercepted once after a deflection. His passer rating was 138.4 a week after compiling a 138.6 in New York against the Giants.
Diggs caught three touchdowns on the day, becoming the first Viking to have three receiving scores in a game since Marcus Robinson against Cleveland on Nov. 27, 2005 and first to have two touchdowns of 50-plus in a game since Randy Moss.
Diggs did have a pair of drops, including one that was intercepted by former Viking Andrew Sendejo near the end of the first half.
Minnesota’s defense rallied, however, forcing a field goal attempt on which Philadelphia tried a fake.
Anthony Harris deflected a pass by kicker Jake Elliott, and Everson Griffen nabbed his second career interception to keep the score at 24-10 heading into halftime.
The Vikings outgained the Eagles 447 to 400, putting up 122 rushing yards against a defense that entered the game allowing a league-leading 63.0 per outing in 2019.
The Eagles fell to 3-3.