MINNEAPOLIS — A combination of red zone struggles by the Vikings and big plays by the Eagles led to a 28-22 win for Philadelphia in Week 7, spoiling Minnesota's return from a Week 6 bye.

The Vikings finished 1-for-6 in the red zone, meaning Minnesota only finished a drive that moved inside the Philly 20-yard line with a touchdown once.

Jordan Mason was able to reach the football across the goal line to make it 21-16 with 3:38 remaining in the third quarter.

There were two other instances of a Viking having the football in his hands in the end zone.

In the first half, a 6-yard touchdown from Carson Wentz to Jalen Nailor that would have made it 14-10 was negated by a questionable holding penalty against Blake Brandel.

"I've got to get some clarification, just on the holding call," Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said. "Seemed to be a pretty routine kind of play, but that's the way it goes sometimes, but short week, guys are already in the recovery mode now, and we'll turn our guys over and go compete on Thursday night."

O'Connell was asked a follow-up question about the block by Brandel.

"Just normal technique that you see around the league from a trap," O'Connell said. "It's called a trap — knock your guy's hands down. Got to go back and watch it, didn't see it real time. I think the officials were — there was some discussion amongst them, and they made the call, and they're gonna make those calls, and we can't give them the opportunity to throw those penalties, because penalties and negatives in the red zone make it really hard to come away with points or seven."

In the fourth quarter, with 2:58 remaining, T.J. Hockenson was initially ruled to have secured a 15-yard touchdown on third-and-2 with a diving grab.

A review by officials overturned the ruling, forcing Minnesota to convert a fourth-and-2 and waste another minute before ultimately opting for a 29-yard field goal by Will Reichard that proved to be the final points of the game with 1:57 to go.

"I had control the whole time," Hockenson said. "I don't quite understand how the refs on the field, even after New York overturns it, they're saying it's a catch, but New York overturns it, so they have nothing to say."

Earlier in the game, O'Connell had challenged a play that was ruled a catch by DeVonta Smith for 5 yards on a low throw to set up a third-and-1 late in the first quarter. One angle of replay shown in U.S. Bank Stadium looked like the ball hit the turf, but referee Bill Vinovich announced the call "stands" instead of saying it was "confirmed."

"I'm not a part of the conversations with Bill or New York, but the side judge that I was standing with tried to update me as much as possible," O'Connell said. "But the main update that I got was incomplete pass."

Reichard finished with a career high five field goals, hitting from 59, 34, 28, 35 and 29.

The Vikings offense went 0-for-2 in the red zone in the first half and 1-for-4 after the break.

Minnesota ran a total of six plays and went into the red for yardage gained, totaling minus-13 yards thanks to a high shotgun snap that Wentz chased down after a loss of 22.

Wentz's hustle on the play kept open the opportunity for Will Reichard to aim true on a 59-yard field goal to end Minnesota's first possession and make it 7-3 with 2:04 remaining in the first quarter.

The Vikings advanced inside the Eagles 20-yard line midway through the second quarter after a 40-yard reception by Justin Jefferson moved the ball to the 15.

Wentz completed a 9-yard pass to Josh Oliver on first-and-10, but the drive stalled at the 6.

Cooper DeJean broke up a pass into the end zone intended for Jefferson, and Wentz couldn't connect with anyone on third down before appearing to hit Nailor on the play erased by the penalty.

2. Busted plays lead to points

The Eagles were able to convert both attempts on fourth downs during the opening possession of the game. The first was their standard edition QB push play on fourth-and-1.

The second did more damage. Hurts was able to buy time in the pocket and hand signal to A.J. Brown to break the route and run to the end zone. Brown shed coverage by Joshua Metellus and jogged into the ball, which was placed into Brown's breadbasket for a 37-yard score.

The Vikings second possession ended in a score for the Eagles. An ineffective block caused Wentz to be hit as he threw the ball, and it was intercepted and returned 42 yards by Jalyx Hunt.

The Eagles also were able to score on a 79-yard pass from Hurts to DeVonta Smith, who topped his previous career long (63-yard TD against Minnesota in 2023). Smith was able to get behind Isaiah Rodgers, and Hurts hit him in stride on second-and-5 from the Philly 21.

Hurts and Brown connected on a 26-yard touchdown with 6:35 remaining in the game. Brown ran through coverage by Byron Murphy, Jr., with contact to get inside leverage.

Brown also salted the game with a deep catch on a third-and-9. Minnesota blitzed, but Hurts lobbed the ball and allowed Brown to run under it.

3. QBs post big numbers

Hurts' stats are some of the best an opponent has ever posted against the Vikings or anyone else for that matter.

He maxed out the NFL passer rating (158.3) by completing 19 of 23 passes for 326 and three touchdowns. Hurts also avoided multiple sacks late, converting a third-and-13 with a 13-yard pass to Brown four plays before adding Philly's final touchdown (26 yards to Brown) for a 28-19 lead with 6:35 remaining.

Wentz also went over the 300-yard mark. He completed 26 of 42 passes for 313, but his passer rating landed at 64.9 thanks to having no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Jordan Addison led Minnesota with 128 yards on nine catches, and Jefferson finished with five for 79.

Smith led Philly with 183 yards on nine catches, and Brown finished with 121 on four.

The Vikings were unable to force any turnovers by the Eagles and lost that battle 2-0.

4. Third and fourth downs

The Vikings limited the Eagles to just 3-for-9 on third downs, but Philly ended 2-for-3 on fourth.

The conversions the Eagles made were backbreakers.

A third-and-15 went for a gain of 28, the third-and-13 set up the final score, and it was third-and-9 when Hurts lobbed the ball to Brown to effectively put the game away.

Minnesota finished 7-for-15 on third down and 1-for-1 on fourth.

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