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PHILADELPHIA (AP) – This time it's Kirk Cousins versus Carson Wentz.
The quarterbacks and stakes will be different when the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) host the Minnesota Vikings (1-2-1) in a rematch of the NFC championship game on Sunday.
Nick Foles led the Eagles to a 38-7 win over Case Keenum and the Vikings last January. The most valuable Super Bowl player returned to the bench after Wentz returned after a knee surgery in the third week. Keenum went to Denver because the Vikings gave Cousins a fully guaranteed $ 84 million contract.
Neither team is currently playing at one league level and both are hoping to win.
"It's a great team, a record apart," said Wentz. "We know we will get the best of themselves, obviously with the way it ended last year.
The cousins had been successful against the Eagles in seven starts for Washington. He had 2122 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions totaling 4-3 in those games.
"It's a great environment, a great place to play a football game in the NFL on a Sunday afternoon. Big crowd, "said Cousins. "I had a lot of battles there. Some came out victorious, others came out losers. It will be an excellent test for us.
Some things to watch for between the Vikings and the Eagles:
FAMILIARITY OF FLIP
Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has coached the Philadelphia quarterbacks over the past two seasons. He is very familiar with Wentz's system and coach Doug Pederson. The Eagles have already defeated former offensive coordinator Frank Reich and the Colts in the third week.
"Same as going against Frank, some of the terminology, some calls, maybe hand signals, whatever he knows," said Pederson. "Listen, he's a smart guy, but he's also preparing his team to get ready to play. I think that's where he's focusing this week.
"We are seeing some of the same things about their attack that we are doing. So that's good for our defense. We are aware of it. It's a home game, so we can reduce a lot of signals, a lot of verbiage, things like that to the line and try to go play. "
BECOME DEFENSIVE
Both teams struggle to defend themselves. The Vikings had the No.1 defense a year ago. They are 21st this season. The Eagles were fourth last year. They are now 10th and the secondary has been shredded by Ryan Fitzpatrick and Marcus Mariota in two defeats on the road.
The Vikings miss Everson Griffen, his defensive team three times Pro Bowl. The Eagles lost the safety of Rodney McLeod.
No balance
The Vikings are the last in the NFL to rush and Dalvin Cook leads the team with just 98 yards and an average of 2.7 yards per run. The Eagles are first in the defense of the race, but mediocre against the pass. So expect the cousins to throw a ton. Or not.
"It's important for us to have a balance," said Vikings coach Mike Zimmer. "It prevents the defensive lines from getting stuck in the ears. I think it helps the football team as a whole. We just have to do a better job. "
NO BALANCE II
The Eagles were successful with the ball in an overtime loss to Tennessee, winning 109 yards in 20 stows with backhands Jay Ajayi and Wendell Smallwood. But Pederson called 74% of the passing games.
"We try to be as balanced as possible and we will play the game which, in our opinion, must be played, and a part is dictated during the match," said the offensive coordinator, Mike Groh. "The coach is as patient as the running game in this league and does not really get away from him. … A race call is never very far from the tip of his finger. He always thinks about it and talks to the staff during the match. "
DUO DYNAMIC
Viking receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs were unstoppable. Diggs leads the team with three touchdowns and totals 11.5 yards per receiving. Thielen has 40 catches and is the only player in the league with 100 yards to his mark in every game of the season. Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby, who have struggled
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