Matt Cassel and the Minnesota Vikings Blowout Philadelphia Eagles 48-30
By Sarita Kelly
Despite being plagued with injuries, the most notable being Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings shut down the Philadelphia Eagles with a season high 48-30.
Dec 15, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson (81) recovers the onside kick against Philadelphia Eagles tight end James Casey (85) during the fourth quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Eagles 48-30. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback Matt Cassel threw for a season-high 382 yards, two touchdowns and was 26 out of 35. 163 of those 382 yards were to wide receiver Greg Jennings. This was also the most yards for Minnesota since Brett Farve was in charge.
Jennings had a career-high 11 receptions, including a 57-yard touchdown in the first quarter. In his fourth start, Cassel bested by 117 yards last week’s benchmark at Baltimore.
Matt Asiata, starting in place of injured running backs Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart, rushed for three touchdowns, he rushed for 51 yards on 30 carries– he is also ties a franchise record. And Blair Walsh kicked field goals of 21 and 38 yards.
Eagles Quarterback Nick Foles (27 of 44, 393 yards) threw touchdown passes of 30 yards to DeSean Jackson, 3 yards to Zach Ertz and 16 yards to Jason Avant as the Eagles tried but failed to mount a second-half comeback.
Brian Robison and Jared Allen had a pair of sacks as the Vikings dropped Foles five times. It was Allen’s first multi-sack game since Week 4, while Robison has sacks in five straight,
Minnesota now improves to 4-9-1 and stopped Philadelphia’s five-game winning streak and their playoffs hopes as the Eagles fell to 8-6. This was the second most points given up against the Eagles, the first was Denver who scored 52.
Cornerback Shaun Prater had his first NFL interception — one more than the four-year veteran he replaced, the injured Chris Cook.
UP NEXT for the Vikings is the Cincinnati Bengals at noon on KMSP Channel 9, KFXN-FM 100.3.