Young: Monday Night - Vikings at Eagles
September 16, 2004
Brad Young
VegasInsider.com
Click on Sportsbetting.com for all your pro football action.
Editor's note: Get the lowdown on this contest by going to Brad Young's pick pack.
Two NFC powers off impressive opening-weekend victories collide Monday at Lincoln Financial Field when Minnesota (1-0 both straight up and against the spread) visits Philadelphia (1-0 both SU and ATS). Both teams are hoping that this Week 2 matchup will be a preview of an eventual NFC Championship showdown.
Advertisement
Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Philadelphia as a 3 1/2-point home ‘chalk’ over Minnesota, while the total is set at 49. BoDog.com has the Eagles as a three-point favorite (minus $1.15), with a total of 49 ½. ABC will provide coverage of Monday Night Football beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Minnesota steamrolled Dallas last week as a 6 1/2-point home favorite, 35-17, while the combined 52 points eclipsed the 44-point closing total. The Vikings ran 19 less plays than the Cowboys, but trailed by just eight total yards of offense (423-415) while having a slight time of possession advantage (30:16-29:44).
Quarterback Daunte Culpepper tossed a career-high five touchdowns on 17-of-23 passing for 242 yards with no interceptions. His favorite target was wide receiver Randy Moss, who had four catches for 27 yards and two scores.
Running back Onterrio Smith paced the ground game with 76 yards on 15 carries, for an average of 5.1 yards per carry. Smith also caught one pass for a 63-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Philadelphia got out of the gates on the right foot by beating NFC East rival New York as a nine-point home ‘chalk,’ 31-17. The combined 48 points eclipsed the 41 1/2-point closing total. Both teams ran 65 plays, but the Eagles had more passing yards (313-243) and controlled the clock (32:10-27:50).
The offensive duo of quarterback Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens got off to a flying start in their first regular-season contest together. McNabb was 26-of-36 passing for 330 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Owens had eight receptions for 68 yards with three scores (matching a career high).
Running back Brian Westbrook rushed 17 times for 119 yards, averaging seven yards per carry. McNabb was the next highest rusher for Philadelphia with 12 yards on four carries.
Philadelphia and Minnesota have not met since the 2001 campaign when the Eagles prevailed as a 4 1/2-point home favorite, 48-17. The combined 65 points soared ‘over’ the 40 1/2-point closing total.
Minnesota running back Michael Bennett (knee) is expected to miss this contest, while RB Moe Williams (ankle) has been downgraded to ‘doubtful.’ Cornerback Rushen Jones (chest) has been upgraded to ‘probable,’ while defensive end Kenny Mixon will finish his two-game suspension with this matchup.
Philadelphia linebacker Nate Wayne (hamstring) has been upgraded to ‘probable,’ while defensive tackle Paul Grasmanis (knee) is ‘doubtful’ and cornerback Lito Sheppard (thumb) is ‘probable.’
The Vikings follow this Monday Night matchup with a home game against NFC North rival Chicago before their bye week.
The Eagles continue their NFC North theme after this contest with road games against Detroit and Chicago
