Philadelpia Eagels wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter during the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
PHILADELPHIA -- Embracing their underdog standing, the Philadelphia Eagles
will get to play the role once more, in the Super Bowl.
Nick Foles tossed three touchdown passes, and the Eagles scored 38 unanswered
points en route to a 38-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC
Championship Game on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
LeGarrette Blount rushed for a touchdown, the Philadelphia defense forced two
turnovers, and the Eagles advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time since
the 2004 season, when they lost the title to the New England Patriots.
The Eagles will face the Patriots once again with a chance at a Super Bowl
championship, this time on Feb. 4 in Minneapolis.
Despite being the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, the Eagles were home
underdogs both last week against the Atlanta Falcons and Sunday against the
Vikings.
"I don't think many people had us in the Super Bowl before the season
started," Eagles center Jason Kelce said. "When the injuries started piling
up, people didn't have us there. When (quarterback) Carson Wentz got injured?
Doubt anyone had us penciled in. We made it. We're a team in every way. It
feels so great, man."
The Eagles will aim for the first Super Bowl title in franchise history.
Before falling to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX, they lost to the Oakland
Raiders in Super Bowl XV following the 1980 season.
The Vikings, meanwhile, dropped their sixth consecutive NFC Championship Game
appearance.
Minnesota had been in search of its first trip to the Super Bowl since the
1976 season.
"I'm going to take this feeling, bottle it up and make sure it doesn't happen
again," Vikings quarterback Case Keenum said.
Foles connected on a 41-yard touchdown with Torrey Smith on a flea flicker on
the first drive of the third quarter as the Eagles extended their lead to
31-7.
Alshon Jeffery caught made his second touchdown catch of the game, a 5-yarder
from Foles, with 14:10 left in the fourth for a 38-7 lead. The Eagles moved 92
yards in 12 plays, and the outcome was sealed.
"I'm excited to be going for a Super Bowl with this group of guys," Blount
said. "I love this team. My teammates are the greatest. We stick together
through everything and rally around each other. We have one more to go."
The game didn't start perfectly for the Eagles. Minnesota moved effectively on
its opening drive, going 75 yards on nine plays, culminating with a 25-yard
touchdown pass from Keenum to Kyle Rudolph with 10:14 left in the first
quarter.
"You have to give those guys credit," Keenum said of the Eagles' defense.
"This was the best front we've faced this year."
The Eagles tied the game at 7 when defensive end Chris Long hit Keenum leading
to a Patrick Robinson interception. Robinson returned the pick 50 yards for a
score with 6:26 remaining in the first.
When Blount rumbled through the middle for an 11-yard touchdown run with 13:37
remaining in the second, the Eagles went ahead 14-7. The drive covered 75
yards in 12 plays.
The Vikings looked to tie the game -- or at least kick a field goal -- late in
the first half, but Keenum was sacked by Derek Barnett on third-and-5 from the
Philadelphia 16. Long recovered the fumble.
Foles proved his mettle on the ensuing possession as he tossed a spectacular
53-yard touchdown pass to Jeffery on third-and-10, giving the Eagles a 21-7
lead with 1:09 remaining in the half. Foles was able to move around long
enough to be able to deliver the deep pass.
After the defense did its job, the Eagles didn't run out the clock. They
quickly moved down the field and Jake Elliott booted a 38-yard field as time
expired for a 24-7 lead at halftime.
Foles wound up 26 of 33 for 352 yards. Tight end Zach Ertz led the Eagles with
eight receptions for 93 yards, while Jeffery had five catches for 85 yards.
Jay Ajayi paced the Philadelphia ground game with 73 yards on 18 carries.
Keenum finished 28 of 48 for 271 yards with one touchdown pass and two
interceptions. Running back Jerick McKinnon had 11 receptions for 86 yards and
added 10 carries for 40 yards.
--Field Level Media
