Eagles Lose to Vikings In Preseason Finale

In their final preseason game, the Philadelphia Eagles fell to the Minnesota Vikings 26-3 at Lincoln Financial Field. The Vikings set the tone early, building a commanding 20-3 lead by halftime that the Eagles couldn't overcome.

Minnesota's offense, led by quarterback Jaren Hall, came out firing. Hall threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns with great accuracy, shredding the Eagles' defense in the first half. The Eagles struggled on both sides of the ball, unable to stop the Vikings' offensive onslaught. While Kenny Pickett had his most impressive game of the preseason, mistakes by receivers, turnovers, and penalties prevented the Eagles from generating any momentum.

The Eagles hoped to mount a comeback in the second half with Tanner McKee at quarterback, but they struggled to generate consistent offense. McKee showed flashes of potential, including a 35-yard connection with Griffin Hebert in the third quarter, but the team couldn't capitalize inside the 10-yard line.

For Philadelphia, the game served as a valuable learning experience for their young defenders. Rookie Cooper DeJean made his highly anticipated debut, facing some early challenges as the Vikings repeatedly targeted him. DeJean finished his debut with five tackles and a pass deflection, even getting a couple of chances to return punts. Philadelphia's defense tightened up after halftime, getting constant pressure on Matt Corral, and recording four sacks on Saturday afternoon.

Related: Eagles To Induct LeSean McCoy Into Team's Hall of Fame in 2024

The Eagles coaching staff will now prepare for Tuesday's 53-man roster deadline as the curtain closes on the preseason. Every detail matters now as all attention turns to the regular season opener against the Green Bay Packers on September 6th in São Paulo, Brazil.