The all-time series between the Vikings and Eagles isn’t lengthy (tied 12-12), but it is filled with interesting moments.
The two playoff meetings in 1981 and 2004 stand out among the games, but players like Cris Carter, Reggie White and Keith Millard stand out when looking through the game logs.
In 1985, the Vikings defeated the Eagles at the Metrodome, 23-21. Chuck Nelson kicked the game-winning field goal, but the most impressive part of the box score is that Minnesota’s Keith Millard and Philadelphia’s Reggie White each finished with four sacks.
White led the NFL with 18 sacks that season. Millard finished with eight sacks in 1988, but a year later he set a career high with 18.
In 1989, it was Cris Carter’s three-yard touchdown grab from quarterback Randall Cunningham in the fourth quarter to lift the Eagles over the Vikings, 10-9 at Veterans Stadium.
Carter, of course, went on to catch 110 more touchdowns for the Vikings.
The Vikings snuck into the 1980-81 playoffs by winning the NFC Central division with a 9-7 record.
In the opening round the underdog Vikings jumped out to a 14-0 lead thanks to a 30-yard Sammy White touchdown reception and a one-yard touchdown run by Ted Brown.
The surprise start initiated an intense sideline preach by Eagles defensive coordinator Marlon Campbell (pictured below).
“The name of the game, men, is hitting, is pursuing, is working,” Campbell said, via a video vault at PhiladelphiaEagles.com. “We’re not doing any of them. I’ll tell you what, if they (Eagles offense) go down here and they score it… it’s your (expletive) job to win it. And I want to see you do it.”
Philadelphia’s defense responded by going on to force eight turnovers. They intercepted Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer five times en route to a 31-16 victory.
Former Jets and Chiefs coach and current ESPN analyst Herman Edwards had two of the interceptions.
