GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: PHILADELPHIA (2-4) at MINNESOTA (2-4)

NFL: PHILADELPHIA (2-4) at MINNESOTA (2-4)

<h3>Eagles, Vikings trying to reverse struggles</h3>



Philadelphia (2-4) at Minnesota (2-4) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - A stunning setback has the PhiladelphiaEagles on the verge of falling out of postseason contention.

The defending NFC East champions look to climb back into theplayoff race in Sunday's road clash with the Minnesota Vikings.

Philadelphia entered the season as one of the favorites toemerge from the NFC, but instead is at the bottom of itsdivision following a last-second 19-16 loss to the ChicagoBears.


The Eagles allowed Brian Griese to drive the Bears 97 yards forthe winning touchdown with nine seconds to play.


It was the first offensive TD allowed in 10 quarters by theEagles and left them with a better record than just two otherteams in the NFC.


"We feel like we have hope, but we need a drastic change,"Eagles wide receiver Reggie Brown said. "We need to get on aroll soon. We can't keep going through these inconsistencies asa team. We won't make it to the playoffs like that."

Of course, Philadelphia is having problems of its own gettinginto the end zone. Since laying a 56-21 beating on the DetroitLions on September 23, the Eagles have managed just twotouchdowns in their last three games.


The only touchdown scored against the Bears came on DonovanMcNabb's 13-yard touchdown pass to Matt Schobel with 4:57 leftin the fourth quarter.


"As an offense, our goal is to score touchdowns," said Eaglesrunning back Brian Westbrook, who had a combined 119 yards fromscrimmage. "We can't keep relying on Dave to kick field goalsfor us. It's frustrating that we can't punch it in."

The Vikings are having similar issues behind second-yearquarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who completed just just 6-of-19passes for 72 yards in a 24-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Jackson suffered a fractured index finger on his throwing handbut coach Brad Childress indicated he expected him to play.

Locked in a tie game, Minnesota appeared on the verge of a majorupset until Chris Canty blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt byRyan Longwell and safety Pat Watkins returned it 68 yards forthe go-ahead score.


One week after gaining 224 yards against the Chicago Bears,standout rookie running back Adrian Peterson rushed for 63 yardsand one touchdown on just 12 carries.


Peterson, who continues to share time in the backfield withChester Taylor, also had a key fumble late that allowed theCowboys to extend the lead to the final margin.

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 0
MINNESOTA 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PHI BALL ON PHI 21 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 0
MINNESOTA 0 12:34 LEFT, 1ST QTR

MIN BALL ON MIN 22 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL TD MIN
VISANTHE SHIANCOE 9 YD PASS FROM KELLY HOLCOMB
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK)

PHILADELPHIA 0
MINNESOTA 7 6:42 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 0
MINNESOTA 7 6:41 LEFT, 1ST QTR

MIN BALL ON PHI 48 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 0
MINNESOTA 7 5:32 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PHI BALL ON PHI 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL FG PHI
DAVID AKERS 20 YD

PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 7 0:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 7 0:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR

MIN BALL ON MIN 35 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHILADELPHIA 3 3
MINNESOTA 7 7 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: MIN - TD, VISANTHE SHIANCOE 9 YD PASS FROM
KELLY HOLCOMB (RYAN LONGWELL KICK),
8:18. Drive: 11 plays, 79 yards in
5:52. Key plays: Holcomb 12-yard
pass to Rice plus 15-yard
unnecessary roughness penalty on
Eagles' Mikell on 3rd-and-9 to
Minnesota 49; 5-yard offsides
penalty on Eagles' Brown on
3rd-and-4 to Philadelphia 40;
Peterson 16-yard run to
Philadelphia 24; Peterson 8-yard
run on 3rd-and-1 to Philadelphia 7.
MINNESOTA 7-0
PHI - FG, DAVID AKERS 20 YD, 14:15. Drive: 10
plays, 72 yards in 4:47. Key plays:
McNabb 50-yard pass to Lewis on
3rd-and-5 to Minnesota 19; McNabb
12-yard pass to Schobel on
3rd-and-5 to Minnesota 2. MINNESOTA
7-3</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 7 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 7 12:06 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PHI BALL ON PHI 7 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL PHILADELPHIA 3
MINNESOTA 7 7:08 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL TD PHI
BRIAN WESTBROOK 6 YD PASS FROM DONOVAN MCNABB
(DAVID AKERS KICK)

PHILADELPHIA 10
MINNESOTA 7 5:46 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 10
MINNESOTA 7 5:42 LEFT, 2ND QTR

MIN BALL ON MIN 33 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 10
MINNESOTA 7 4:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PHI BALL ON PHI 49 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL TD PHI
BRIAN WESTBROOK 1 YD RUN
(DAVID AKERS KICK)

PHILADELPHIA 17
MINNESOTA 7 2:19 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 17
MINNESOTA 7 2:14 LEFT, 2ND QTR

MIN BALL ON MIN 27 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL TWO MINUTE WARNING, 1ST HALF

PHILADELPHIA 17
MINNESOTA 7

MIN BALL ON MIN 36 YD LINE
3RD AND 1</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL FG MIN
RYAN LONGWELL 39 YD

PHILADELPHIA 17
MINNESOTA 10 0:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NFL
PHILADELPHIA 17
MINNESOTA 10 0:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PHI BALL ON PHI 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>