Minnesota is returning to Philadelphia this weekend to take on the Eagles in a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game.
The Eagles (2-2) lost last week's game against the Tennessee Titans in overtime.
The Vikings (1-2-1) have dropped their past two games since tying Green Bay in Week 2.
Let's see what is expected from the Vikings in their Week 5 matchup:
Eagles 26, Vikings 23, **Elliot Harrison, NFL.com**
The two combatants from the 2017 NFC title game aren't off to the kind of start everyone expected in 2018. The Vikings' once-vaunted defense has allowed Leif Erikson and everyone else to go from coast to coast. After Jared Goff torched the Vikes on "Thursday Night Football," they face the man who went one spot behind Goff in the 2016 NFL Draft. Key for Carson Wentz will be to get Alshon Jeffery going early. That might fall as much on Philly coach Doug Pederson as his quarterback. If Kirk Cousins heats up for Minnesota, look out -- the Eagles' secondary has been woeful thus far. I'm seeing Philadelphia rebound in front of the home crowd, but this NFC matchup could go either way. If the Vikings fall to 1-3-1, they had better hope the Packers drop to 2-2-1 in Detroit. Otherwise, Mike Zimmer's group will be in a sizable hole in the NFC North.
Eagles 28, Vikings 24, **David Steele, Sporting News**
The Vikings have had time since Thursday's loss to the Rams to rest and ponder their fate if they don't win this game. They have to go to the East coast and try to keep the Eagles as off-balance as they were in coughing up a 13-point lead in their loss to the Titans last week. The Eagles' offense has looked better most of the time the last two weeks with Carson Wentz (and, last week, Alshon Jeffery), and this would be a good week for it to take another step forward against a defense that's looking shaky.
Vikings 21, Eagles 20 -**Bleacher Report Staff**
It's fair to be worried about both the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles. But in a same-site rematch of last year's NFC Championship Game (a blowout Philly victory), our expert panel is indicating that it is more concerned about the defending Super Bowl champions than their slumping Week 5 opponent.
"There's no way this isn't a close game," Gagnon said of his decision to take three points with the Vikings, "but Minnesota's defense is too talented not to bounce back after a three-week slump. Save for that aberration against Buffalo, the Vikings have been superb on offense and are due for a strong all-around performance against a hungover opponent."
Yes, Gagnon is referring to Philadelphia's Super Bowl hangover. The Eagles were lucky to beat the Falcons in Week 1 and again needed fourth-quarter heroics to beat the Colts in Week 3. Those two teams have combined for two total victories this year.
Quarterback Carson Wentz hasn't rediscovered his groove since returning from a major knee injury, and Philly's offense has lacked firepower all year. Maybe this is the week the Eagles turn it around, but the Vikings are even more due and may be even more desperate.
Eagles 27, Vikings 20 - **Pete Prisco, CBS Sports**
This rematch of last January's NFC Title game, which was won in a blowout by the Eagles, features two teams that haven't looked that good this season. The Eagles lost last week at Tennessee, while the Vikings are coming off a loss against the Rams. The Vikings don't look right on defense, and that will show up in this one. Eagles take it.
Eagles 24, Vikings 17 – **Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk**
This is a big one, as the 2-2 Eagles and 1-2-1 Vikings both need to turn things around in a hurry. I like the defending champs.
Vikings 30, Eagles 27 – **Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk**
The Vikings had extra time to get ready for an Eagles team that went deep into overtime. Neither team is what it was a year ago, but the Vikings should be able to exorcise their biggest demon from 2017.
