NFC Championship Preview - Vikings vs Eagles
NFC Championship Preview - Vikings vs Eagles

The final four teams are set and this Sunday will determine the two teams heading to Minnesota for Super Bowl LII. The NFC Championship Game features the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.

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​Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

(Sunday, CBS, 3:05 PM ET)

The Minnesota Vikings (14-3) travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles (14-3) in the NFC Championship Game. It is the 4th game between the two teams in the postseason. The Vikings, who defeated the Saints in the Divisional Round 29-24, are looking for their first trip back to the Super Bowl since since the 1976 season (Super Bowl XI). The Eagles are coming off a 15-10 victory over the Falcons at home in the Divisional Round are looking for their first trip back to the Super Bowl since since 2005 (Super Bowl XXXIX).

Against the Falcons, the Eagles held the Falcons to just 10 points and 281 total yards which is the Eagles' best postseason performance since the 2004 NFC Championship, when they limited the Falcons to 10 points and 202 total yards. On third downs, Philadelphia kept Atlanta to just a 30.8% (4-of-13) conversion rate. On offense, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles set a postseason franchise record with a 76.7% (23-of-30) completion percentage. Foles also became the first QB in Eagles history to post a 100+ passer rating (100.1) in each of his first two career playoff games. Jay Ajayi led the Eagles with 98 scrimmage yards (54 rushing, 44 receiving). Ajayi became the first Eagle to record 50+ rushing yards and 40+ receiving yards in a playoff game since Brian Westbrook on 1/16/05 vs. Minnesota (70 rushing, 47 receiving).

Against the Saints, Vikings quarterback Case Keenum connected with wide receiver Stefon Diggs along the sideline on a a 61-yard touchdown catch-and-run touchdown with no time remaining to cap a wild 29-24 win. According to NFL Research, the Vikings walk-off win is the first time in NFL playoff history that a game has ended on a game-winning touchdown as time expired in the fourth quarter. On defense, Minnesota shut out the New Orleans in the first half, the first time the Saints have been shut out in a first half since Sept. 28, 2014 at Dallas. Minnesota held New Orleans to 2-of-9 on 3rd downs. On offense, the Vikings outgained the Saints 403-358 while winning the time of possession battle, 33:17-26:43. Diggs finished with 6 catches for 137 yards and 1 TD. Keenum, who set career-highs in attempts (481), completions (325), completion percentage (67.6), yards (3,547), touchdowns (22) and passer rating (98.3) in the regular season, passed for 318 yards in his first career postseason start.

The last time Philadelphia hosted the NFC title game was during the 2004 season (1/23/05 vs. Atlanta - W, 27-10).. The Eagles' six NFC conference championship appearances (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2017) since 1995 are the 4th-most in the NFL, trailing only New England (13), Pittsburgh (eight) and Green Bay (seven). Since 2001, Philadelphia is tied with Pittsburgh for the 2nd-most such appearances (six), behind New England (12).

The Vikings, who will be playing in their 10th NFL / NFC Championship game, posted a 6-2 regular season road record while the Eagles are 8-1 at home this season including last week's home-win over the Falcons. The Vikings 13-3 regular-season record was the 2nd best in franchise history (15-1, 1998).

​Prediction: NFC Championship - Vikings vs Eagles

The Eagles are 3-point home underdogs for the second week in a row in an NFC Conference Championship Game that features two of the NFL's best defenses. Even though the Eagles' defense was more impressive last week as they held the Falcons to just 10 points, don't expect that level of performance in the NFC Championship. The Vikings did allow the Saints to score 24 points even after holding them scoreless in the first half. Last week's game was more of an aberration compared to how the Vikings performed on defense this season. After all, the Vikings ranked first in both yards allowed (275.9 per game) and points allowed per game (15.8).

Foles has a decent game against the Falcons, but it won't be as easy as a game against the Vikings.

But after last week's miracle in Minneapolis, you can discount and/or ignore all the analysis, statistics, analytics, etc. It may be just as simple as the Vikings being destiny's team. Perhaps, it's the Illuminati ... Perhaps, it's divine intervention. Who knows. But you just get the feeling that the Vikings are going to get a big monkey off their back when this season is done and dusted.

It will be a close game. That's for sure ...

Prediction: Vikings 20 Eagles 14

Viking Notes

NFC Championship Preview - Vikings vs Eagles

The Vikings defense led the NFL in yards per game allowed (275.9) for the 1st time since 1993 and also led the league allowing 15.8 points per game in the regular season. The Vikings defense limited opponents to 83.6 rushing yards per game (2nd in the NFL) and 3.6 yards per rush (5th in the NFL). Minnesota stifled opponents to 192.4 passing yards per game, 2nd in the NFL, making them the only defense in the NFL to rank in the top 3 in both rushing yards per game and passing yards per game.

Vikings DE Everson Griffen tied for 4th in the NFL with a career high 13.0 sacks this season, the 3rd time in his career he has reached double digits (12.0 in 2014, 10.5 in 2015). LB Eric Kendricks, who has led the Vikings in tackles each of his 1st 3 seasons, led the Vikings with 136 tackles. Safety Harrison Smith tied his career high with 5 INTs in 2017, tied for 5th in the NFL.

The Vikings offense, which finished 11th in the NFL in yards per game (358.9), has been led by the consistent play from WR Adam Thielen, who was 5th in the NFL with 1,276 receiving yards and 8th in the NFL with 91 receptions, and QB Case Keenum, who completed 67.6% of his passes (2nd in NFL), and stepped in to start 14 games, posting an 11-3 record. Keenum compiled 22 TDs, 7 INTs and a career-best 98.3 passer rating. RBs Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray filled the void left by rookie starter RB Dalvin Cook, helping the Vikings RB group total 2,461 yards from scrimmage this season, the 4th-highest total among all RB groups in 2017.

QB Case Keenum set career-highs in pass yards (3,547), pass TDs (22) & rating (98.3) in 2017. Keenum passed for 318 yards & TD in postseason debut last week.

RB Latavius Murray ties for NFL lead with 22 rush TDs since 2016 (including postseason). Had rush TD last week. Aims for his 3rd playoff game in row with TD. RB Jerick McKinnon had rush TD last week.

WR Adam Thielen ranked 2nd in NFC with 1,276 receiving yards & 4th with 91 receptions. Joined ROD SMITH & WES WELKER as the only undrafted players since 1967 with 90+ catches & 1,200+ receiving yards in single season. WR Stefon Diggs had career-high 8 receiving TDs in 2017. Had 6 receptions for 137 yards, including his historic game-winning 61-yard TD catch as time expired last week. TE Kyle Rudolph tied for 2nd among NFL TEs with 8 TD catches. Has 37 career receiving TDs, most in franchise history among TEs.

DE Everson Griffen tied for 4th in NFL with career-high 13 sacks. Had sack & FF last week. Aims for 4th playoff game in row with sack. S Harrison Smith was only player in NFC with 70+ tackles (78), 5+ INTs (5) & sack (1.5). Since 2014, leads NFL safeties with 8 sacks. Finished with 7 tackles & 1 sack last week versus the Saints.

Eagles Notes

NFC Championship Preview - Vikings vs Eagles

During the season, Philadelphia ranked 3rd in the NFL in points (457), trailing only the Rams (478) and Patriots (458). The Eagles' 457 points are the 2nd-most in single-season team history, behind only their 2014 production (474). Philadelphia ranked 4th in the NFL in points allowed (295), trailing only Minnesota (252), Jacksonville (268) and Chargers (272). The Eagles' 295 opponent points were their fewest allowed in a single season since 2008 (289). Philadelphia tied with New England for the NFL lead with a +162 scoring differential, which was their best mark in a single season since 2002 (+174). Philadelphia ranked 1st in the NFL with a 65.5% (36-of-55) red zone TD efficiency, which was their highest mark in a single season since at least 1995.

The Eagles led the NFL in rushing defense (79.2), the fewest allowed by an NFL team since the 2014 Lions (69.3). Philadelphia ranked 3rd in the NFL in rushing offense (132.2), trailing only Jacksonville (141.4) and Dallas (135.6). Philadelphia ranked 4th in the NFL with 31 takeaways (19INTs, 12 FRs). The Eagles also only had 20 turnovers. Philadelphia ranked 4th in the NFL in turnover differential (+11).

QB Nick Foles completed 46 of 63 (73 pct.) with 2 TDs & 0 INTs for 102.7 rating in 2 career playoff games. In 2 career games vs. Min., has 596 pass yards (298 per game) with 3 TDs & 1 INT.

RB Le Garrette Blount rushed for TD last week. Has 9 rush TDs in 9 career postseason games. Since entering NFL in 2010, ranks 3rd in league with 60 rush TDs (including playoffs). RB JAY AJAYI has 98 scrimmage yards (54 rush, 44 rec.) last week.

WR Alshon Jeffery tied for 4th in NFL with 9 TD catches. Has 7 TD catches in 9 career games vs. Min. WR Nelson Agholor set career-highs in catches (62), rec. yards (768) & rec. TDs (8). TE Zach Ertz tied for 2nd among NFL TEs with 8 TD catches & ranked 3rd with 824 rec. yards. Jeffery (9), Agholor (8) & Ertz (8) were only trio of teammates in NFL with 8+ TD catches each.

DE Brandon Graham led team with career-high 9.5 sacks. Had sack & FF in his last game vs. Min. Since 2016, DT Fletcher Cox is 1 of 6 NFL DTs with 10+ sacks (12) & 2+ FFs (2). Had 7 tackles & sack last week. CB Patrick Robinson led team with 4 INTs & 18 PD. S RODNEY MC LEOD had sack last week. Had INT, sack & FF in his last game vs. Min. LB NIGEL BRADHAM led team with 88 tackles. Had sack in Div. Had sack in his last game vs. Min. DE DEREK BARNETT ranked 2nd among NFC rookies with 5 sacks.

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