There are turning points every season - moments in time when a team can go two completely different directions. In Philadelphia on Thursday night, we may have just witnessed the one that saved the 2032 Eagles season.
After a brutal 100 yard pick-six by DeMar Smith flipped a would be 21-14 lead to a 21-14 deficit, Benjamin Black composed himself and rallied the troops back into the red zone. A score would presumably tie the game and atone for the costly mistake the possession before. Instead, he did it again. Forcing the ball in the back of the end zone, Black was again picked off by Smith.
Hope was all but lost. With under 4:00 on the clock, the Philly fans were angrily booing everything in sight. When the Vikings muscled the ball from out from their own goal line for a first down, a crippling loss seemed the likely outcome.
But that's when the defense unit led by Gary Gary said "no fucking way."
The Vikings managed to run the ball to their own 40, milking precious seconds off the clock. After first down run netted a gain of 2, Abe Hands used the first of his timeouts at the 2:27 mark.
This was the last stand of his season.
A second down run netted 3 more yards for Minnesota, with the Eagles stopping the clock with their second timeout at 2:23.
The Vikings, underwhelming through the air to that point in the game, made the questionable decision to throw the ball on third and 5 in an attempt to pick up the first down. The ball fell harmlessly to the turf incomplete, saving the Eagles a timeout in the process.
Dale Arnold summoned the punt team, and with 2:19 left, punter Clay Herrell boomed a wind aided 56-yarder to the Eagles goal line for a presumed touchback.
Cory Burch had other ideas.
Starting right Burch weaved his way to the 15, only to cut across the field and dart up the sideline, speeding past Vikings special teamers in the process. When he finally reached his destination, it was a tie game. "I wanted him to get away from it," Hands said postgame with a wry smile across his face.
Despite the elation in the Linc, there was still work to be done. The Vikings would have 3 timeouts and the ball, needing only a field goal to tie. A return brought the ball out to the 28 where Zack Richie and the boys went to work.
A first down run netted only 3 yards, and Hands - showing faith in his defense's ability to get a stop and provide time for his own offense - used his final timeout. On second down, Gary Gary sped off the edge and sacked Richie in the backfield, his fourth of the night to that point.
This left Minnesota with 3rd and 17,1:20 left on the clock. With the way the passing game looked much of the night, a conversion seemed unlikely. Perhaps a simple draw, get some yards, take 40 seconds off the clock, and punt it back to Philly with under 30 seconds and no timeouts. Instead, ever the gambler, Dale Arnold sent out a 5 wide set.
And it worked.
Richie hit rookie WR Stewart Sheppard on a short slant that broke for 20 yards and a first down. Just like that, Minnesota was a first down away from FG range. Despite having all 3 timeouts, the Vikings went hurry up and rushed to the line. After his first two reads were covered, Richie rolled right, saw a lane, and decided to tuck and run for some yards.
As he crossed the 50, rookie corner Richard "Big Dick" Lockley popped Richie and the ball squirted free. Safety Jayson Langley scooped it up and was off down the sidelines for six.
A deflated Vikings team couldn't mount a real threat in an attempt to tie the game with less than 30 seconds left.
The Eagles had done the unthinkable. Two non-offensive touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. "PUT THAT ON THE BLOG BITCH!" and exuberant Hands could be heard screaming in the locker room.
Following the loss, Dale Arnold could not be reached for comment.
If the Eagles are a team of destiny in 2032, it started with tonight.
Final Score: Eagles 28 - Vikings 21
Commentaires