Bryant - Game Recaps

The Minnesota Vikings were able to move the ball downfield and controlled the time of possession with over 37 minutes. Daunte Culpepper was very accurate making 37 completions for 343 yards on 47 attempts. But it was ineffectiveness in the red zone that cost the Vikings this game. They were held to field goals twice in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Daunte Culpepper fumbled the ball at the goal line to have it recovered by the Philadelphia Eagles. Culpepper had a rushing touchdown called back in the third quarter with a holding penalty. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that Randy Moss made a jump in coverage to make a touchdown reception. At this point though it was too little too late.

The Vikings rushing game was not the focal point of this game. Culpepper was the leading rusher for the Vikings with his 41 yards on 8 rushes. Onterrio Smith rushed for only 28 yards on 10 attempts, but was he was utilized effectively in the passing game and made 8 receptions for 56 yards.

Kicker Morten Anderson has tied George Blanda with the most NFL starts at 340.

Philadelphia Eagles

Despite the fact this game was billed as the showdown between elite receivers Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, both were relatively quiet and until the fourth quarter of the game when they both scored touchdowns on subsequent drives. Owens made a 45-yard touchdown reception and dove for the end zone. Replays appeared to show that he did not have possession of the ball, but the extra point had already been kicked and the touchdown stood.

In comparison to his counterpart, Donovan McNabb did not throw for as many yards or make as many completions. But in what mattered the most, leading the Eagles on scoring drives, McNabb clearly outplayed Daunte Culpepper. On the Eagle's opening drive McNabb threw an 11-yard pass over the middle to TE L. J. Smith who scored a touchdown. In the third quarter, McNabb scrambled to score a 20-yard rushing touchdown. And in the fourth, he connected again with Terrell Owens for a score.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Minnesota Vikings

QB: Daunte Culpepper (37-47-343, 8-41 rushing, I Int, I TD, 1 Fumble lost) Culpepper's passing game was sharp. He utilized his wide receivers, Onterrio Smith, and tight ends effectively throughout the game. He started the first drive completing 4 out of 5 passes for 39 yards, but as was the pattern throughout the game, the Vikings were held to a field goal on their opening drive. The Philadelphia Eagles brought pressure on Culpepper all night but with his scrambling ability, he was able to elude them and was the leading rusher for the Vikings with 41 yards. At the end of the first half, he fumbled the ball inches from the goal line and it was recovered by Philadelphia. He fumbled a second time, but it was recovered by Nate Burleson. Culpepper had a rushing touchdown in the third quarter brought back with a holding penalty. His interception came at the very end of the game.

RB: Onterrio Smith (10-28 rushing, 8-56 receiving on 9 targets) Onterrio Smith opened the game for the Vikings with a 7-yard rush. On that same drive though he was held at the goal line on two carries. In the second quarter, Smith botched a handoff and fumbled the ball but wasn't costly as the Vikings recovered it. He only rushed for 28 yards on 10 attempts, but was used effectively in the passing game on short drop offs and screen passes.

Mewelde Moore (1-6 receiving on 1 target) Moore made his reception in the second quarter, a short catch for 6 yards.

WR: Randy Moss (8-69 receiving on 13 targets, 1 TD) Randy Moss made 2 receptions during the Vikings' opening drive. A short 4-yard catch to gain a first down. And a long 22-yard reception that put the Vikings into scoring position. In the fourth quarter, he was targeted in the end zone. While trying to draw defensive pass interference, he was called for the offensive pass interference. He made a great leap to pull the ball in and score the only touchdown for the Vikings in the fourth quarter.

Nate Burleson (5-67 receiving on 11 targets, 1-9 rushing) Burleson is growing into his role as counterpart to Randy Moss in the Vikings offense. He was Culpepper's second favorite target in the game with his 11 targets. He made a 17-yard reception to convert on 4th and 11 in the fourth quarter of the game.

Kelly Campbell (1-20 receiving on 3 targets) Kelly Campbell gained a first down for the Vikings in the fourth quarter with his 20-yard reception.

Marcus Robinson (2-14 receiving on 2 targets) Like Kelly Campbell, Robinson was a non factor in the game and made his 2 receptions during the same drive late in the game.

TE: Jermaine Wiggins (8-65 receiving on 8 targets) Wiggins caught every pass that came his way and was a very effective replacement for Jim Kleinsasser. Culpepper looked to Wiggins often. Wiggins recovered a fumble in the third quarter of play.

Richard Owens (3-36 receiving on 3 targets) Owens made a reception on 4th and 1 to take the Vikings to first and goal in the second quarter.

Jeff Dugan a rookie TE was called for a false start penalty twice in the same drive in the fourth quarter that led to Morten Anderson's missed field goal.

K: Morten Anderson (1 XP, 3-4 FG) Morten Anderson is tied with George Blanda for the most NFL games started at 340. Anderson made 2 field goals of 19, 39, and 42 yards. He attempted a 44-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but it was short.

Pass Defense: The Vikings pass defense did tip a few passes, including one intended for Chad Lewis in the second quarter. But McNabb was effective against them, throwing for 245 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Rush Defense: The Vikings rush defense were able to record 2 sacks on a mobile Donovan McNabb. Brian Williams forced Brian Westbrook's fumble in the second quarter that was recovered by Brian Russell.

Philadelphia Eagles

QB: Donovan McNabb (19-28-245, 2 TD, 3-24 rushing, 1 TD) Donovan McNabb was sharp and made few mistakes in this game against the Minnesota Vikings. He led the Vikings on three scoring drives completing touchdown passes to TE L. J. Smith and Terrell Owens and rushing for a third touchdown himself. During the third quarter, McNabb was the target of a pass from Freddie Mitchell. He lateralled the ball to Mitchell, who under pressure could not find his intended receiver and threw the ball back to McNabb. But the play was illegal because having taken a snap under center, McNabb was an ineligible receiver.

RB: Brian Westbrook (12-69 rushing, 5-69 receiving on 6 targets, 1 fumble lost) Westbrook is an integral piece of the Philadelphia Eagles offense. On the opening drive that ended with L. J. Smith's touchdown, Westbrook rushed for 22 yards on 4 carries and made 2 receptions for 22 yards. He finished the game with 69 rushing yards and 69 receiving yards. Westbrook fumbled the ball after a long carry. The ball was punched out by Brian Williams and recovered by the Vikings.

Jon Ritchie (2-22 receiving on 3 targets) Ritchie made an 11-yard reception to start the second half of the game.

Dorsey Levens (1-1 rushing) Levens only carried the ball once in the first quarter in relief of Brian Westbrook.

WR: Terrell Owens (4-79 receiving on 7 targets, 1 TD) Owens did not make his first reception, a catch for 15 yards, in the game until the second quarter. Owens was quiet until the fourth quarter when he made a deep 45-yard touchdown reception. Replays showed that he may not have had possession of the ball, but the extra point had been kicked so it was too late to challenge.

Freddie Mitchell (1-14 receiving on 2 targets) Mitchell was unable to catch a pass intended for him in the first quarter, but drew a holding penalty that extended the Vikings drive.

Greg Lewis (2-11 receiving on 2 targets) Greg Lewis caught both of the balls that came his way.

Todd Pinkston (0-0 receiving on 2 targets) Pinkston was targeted twice at the end of the first half but wasn't able to make the receptions.

TE: L. J. Smith (3-26 receiving on 4 targets, 1 TD) Smith made an 11-yard reception over the middle to score a touchdown on the Eagles' opening drive of the game. Smith was targeted deep once.

Chad Lewis (3-24 receiving on 3 targets) Two of Lewis' receptions were in the second quarter on back to back plays and he gained a first down for the Eagles.

K: David Akers (3 XP, 2-2 FG) David Akers made a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter of the game and a 47-yard field goal to put the game out of reach for the Vikings in the last minutes of the game.

Pass Defense: Daunte Culpepper threw for 343 yards against the Eagles. Jevon Kearse and the Eagles defense brought pressure on Culpepper, sacking him 4 times and forcing him to scramble the rest.

Rush Defense: The Eagles' rush defense held the Vikings at the goal line on the opening drive. They stopped Onterrio Smith with 2 carries and Daunte Culpepper with 1 carry, forcing them to settle for a field goal. Brian Dawkins recovered Culpepper's fumble at the goal line. They held the Vikings to 78 rushing yards, 41 of those yards were from Culpepper.