Vikings Vs. Eagles: 2010 Tuesday Night Football Predictions & TV Time

The 2010 NFL Tuesday Night football game between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles (host) is set for Tuesday December 28 (8 PM EST) at Lincoln Financial Field. NBC Sports will broadcast this key inter-division contest. Philadelphia is currently first in the NFC East, with a strong record of 10-4; Minnesota ranks third in the NFC North with a 5-9 record. This article provides TV time and predictions for the 2010 Vikings-Eagles game.

1) Vikings-Eagles Matchup

Tuesday's primetime game features two of the NFL's most supported teams in the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. The two teams do not have a long history against each other. Minnesota and Philadelphia have met only two times in this decade (one in the regular season and one in the postseason), with the Eagles winning both games at home. The last meeting between the two teams was in the 2009 NFL playoffs; the Vikings lost that game 14-26.

2) Brett Favre vs. Michael Vick

The final game of NFL Week 16 pits future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Brett Favre against an in-form Michael Vick. As of this article, Favre remains doubtful for this game. For the season, the Vikings' QB has accumulated 2501 passing yards, 11 TDs, and an excruciatingly poor QB rating of 70. Favre has been unusually wild this season, punctuated by 19 interceptions. Michael Vick, on the other hand, is enjoying a MVP-type season. The Eagles' quarterback has amassed to date 2755 passing yards, 20 TDs, and a strong QB rating of 104. Statistically speaking, Vick has a clear edge over Favre.

3) Leslie Frazier vs. Andy Reid

The Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles are two NFL franchises on a diverging path. The Vikings is currently enduring a quarterback crisis as there is no true successor to Brett Favre, who won't return next season. The Eagles, on the other hand, is abundant in quarterback talent with two quality QBs in Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb. This contest will reinforce the distinction.

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Minnesota comes into this game as one of the worst offensive teams in the NFL. Leslie Frazier's squad is next to last in points scored, averaging only 17.4 points a game. The Vikings' offensive troubles come from a rather surprising source. Despite having Brett Favre as starting quarterback for most of the season, the team's passing game ranks a disappointing 25th place in the NFL. Minnesota's biggest strength this year has been its defense. Leslie Frazier's crew ranks a respectable 17th place in points allowed and 8th in opponent rushing yards.

While the Vikings' offense has struggled, Philadelphia's offensive unit has actually been the team's biggest strength this year. Andy Reid's team is second to only New England in points scored, averaging almost 30 points a game. The Eagles have managed to accomplish this with a robust combination of passing and rushing. In fact, the team ranks 6th in the NFL in passing yards and 4th in rushing. On the defensive front, Andy Reid's crew has been adequate but unimpressive. Philadelphia ranks a lackluster 21st place in points allowed and 22nd in passing defense. Still, the Eagles should have enough offense to outscore the offensively deprived Vikings.

My prediction for the 2010 NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Vick and the Eagles beat the Vikings 34-20. Kickoff time for the game is 8 PM EST. The game will be played at Lincoln Financial Field, and will be broadcast by NBC Sports.

Reference:
ESPN.COM