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The long-anticipated return to U.S. Bank Stadium by the Vikings, who were playing their first home game in 28 days, did not go the way Minnesota wanted.

Philadelphia was able to score on its opening drive thanks to two fourth-down conversions (its only two of the game) and never trailed.

Minnesota missed out on an opportunity to tie the game early, and later had a touchdown removed from the scoreboard by a — "questionable" is the nicest thing that can be said, but bogus or phantom (I even saw some say "horrific") — holding call in the second quarter and a touchdown in the fourth quarter overturned via replay assist from league officials in New York.

There are myriad factors that contributed to the loss, but eight points coming off the board in a six-point defeat is not insignificant.

The 28-22 loss knocked the Vikings to 3-3 ahead of a short week, compounded by travel to Los Angeles on Wednesday to play the Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 8.

Let's get right to some questions.

I would like to know why in a crucial situation like second-and-1 inside the 10-yard line, with momentum, K.O. decided to throw passes instead of calling a QB sneak with a 6-foot-5, 238-pound QB?

This isn't the first time K.O. has done this — in the past and this season.

To me, it seems he outsmarts himself. Run the low-risk play and keep the momentum going and get high rewards.

— Terry Terrigno

We'll start here since it piggybacks off the Nailor TD that got erased. The Vikings trailed 14-3 and had just thrown a second interception. Minnesota's defense forced a three-and-punt, and the offense drove the ball from its 20 to the Philly 6 with help from a 40-yard catch-and-run by Justin Jefferson.

After a 9-yard gain to Josh Oliver, the Vikings opted to try a jump ball to Jefferson, but it was knocked away by Cooper DeJean. Instead of just getting the yard on third-and-1, the Vikings again tried to pass, but it was off the mark.

I'm not sure if Carson Wentz's left shoulder injury impacted any decisions to sneak, but the Vikings again took to the air on fourth-and-1 and appeared to find a solution. Instead, after a 10-yard mark-off, Minnesota kicked a field goal with 6:34 remaining. Neither team scored the rest of the first half.

Jordan Mason, who scored the only Vikings TD on the day, has been a good option in the lower red zone this season, but the Vikings opted for the passes.

Fun game to watch, but it is hard to win when they score TDs and we score FGs. Real disappointed in Wentz's passing inconsistency — missed multiple receivers and threw up that bomb gift for the second interception? He gives up a pick6? Then he misses a lateral pass real bad and the ball bounces out of bounds for a 6-yard loss? I hope he can do a lot better? It was a disappointing loss.

Here are my 3 Ups and 3 Downs for the game:

UPS:

1. 59-yard field goal by Reichard was nicely done. Too bad about the stalled drive.

2. Nice third quarter TD drive by the Vikings. It is about time!

3. Jordan Addison played great!

DOWNS:

1. Eagles opening possession: 8-minute drive ending on a fourth-and-4 TD pass with literally no pressure on Jalen Hurts and a wide-open Eagles receiver? Craig, you could have caught that pass from Hurts? A real sad way to start.

2. We had two nice drives into the red zone — both ended in FGs? Snap over Carson's head on third down ruined our first chance for a TD. Then we had plenty of chances down low, and Wentz overthrew a TD pass and then on fourth down, we score, but we have a holding penalty take that off the board. We cannot win games unless we can finish drives with TDs. Plus, another stalled drive in the fourth quarter.

3. Couldn't score a TD at the 2-minute warning. Followed by not forcing an Eagles three-and-out after our FG with the game on the line.

Too bad we could not take advantage of any of the opportunities the Eagles gave us. Looking forward to the Chargers already.

Respectfully,

— Jeff Ludwig

Wentz's day was dotted with some nice moments and some plays he'd like to have back.

It's never ideal for a snap to airmail a 6-foot-5 QB and the QB to have to track the ball and land on it some 22 yards later. It was a really impressive kick by Reichard to salvage points after the miscue.

Aside from the Cincinnati game in Week 3, Wentz hasn't had the benefit of many snaps with the lead, and there were none on Sunday for Minnesota. He did seem to lock in a little bit better after scrambling and hitting a fade to Nailor with incredible touch.

While I appreciate Jeff's faith in my slow self to make the play, I will point out that Hurts played a perfect game in the eyes of passer rating. It was the third time ever for an Eagles QB to finish a game with a maxed-out (158.3 in the NFL) passer rating when attempting at least 10 passes. He also converted three third-and-9-plus situations by extending the plays. He's a good player, but he's found another gear against the Vikings in three career games.

Same thing for DeVonta Smith, who finished with a career-high 183 yards on nine receptions that were highlighted by a 79-yard score. That play set a new career long, topping his 63-yard TD against Minnesota in 2023.

The Vikings need to make fewer mistakes and protect the ball better, but if they do lose the football, they also need to get back to creating turnovers.

Sunday was the third consecutive game without a takeaway by Minnesota.

Another disappointing loss. So many things we could have done/not done to win the game. I am not an expert, but a long-time fan, and it just seems like most times we need to execute, we can't get it done, on offense and defense. I love Brian Flores, but when we blitz and can't get to the QB and let them scramble and can't cover on the back side, it doesn't seem like a plan for success. Some better play calling and execution in the red zone would be nice to see. Venting a little bit but just frustrating to see all the talent the team has and not being able to play like a championship team.

— JCSJ in Kansas City

The Eagles obviously have a good number of talented players, as evidenced by their status as defending champs, but Sunday definitely was within reach at multiple points.

Hurts has had good success against blitzes. If teams choose to do that, they have to be stickier in coverage or get home to better affect the QB.

The Vikings did have a much better showing in defending the run.

I want to go on record as saying that I LOVE Kevin O'Connell as a head coach. I think he has created an almost perfect team culture in Minnesota . . . which is almost impossible to do, given the egos and money involved.

But . . . BUT . . . is anyone else starting to question whether he is the "offensive play calling genius" people always say he is. We have so many playmakers on this team. So much talent on that side of the ball. I don't see "creative" play-calling. I see a pedestrian offense being carried by the defense. And YES, I know we've had injuries. But we had four of our five starting OL today, against a banged-up Philly defense. We should have DOMINATED them, with Jefferson, Addison, Hockenson, Nailor and Mason.

We didn't. Do you think we should consider either hiring an OC or promoting from within? I

— Steve Crescenzo

The Vikings threw a good bit of variety into the mix. There were snaps under center, in the shotgun and pistol formations, and the team scored on a play out of the Wildcat for the second consecutive game (Mason's run).

Sunday opened with the 15^th different combination of offensive linemen utilized by the Vikings this season. It was great to get Donovan Jackson and Brian O'Neill back from injuries, but there's been so much movement among the Minnesota Moving Co., that consistency seems to be lagging.

Hello from Germany.

Man, what an annoying loss. We didn't have to lose this game, and our division isn't bad enough to allow many of these games. What perplexed me the most was the lack of urgency in our last drive. We started the drive with 6 minutes on the clock, needing two scores. Why did we let the clock run so often? Most snaps came with less than 10 seconds on the play clock. It obviously hurts a defense when it can't allow any first down, and we could have helped the #D with more time. So maybe you can enlighten me, was that a coach's decision for reasons I am not knowledgeable enough, or is it something Wentz decided, or was it just circumstances and not the plan at all?

Well, despite all the small and some bigger mistakes, I would still like to focus on the positives of this game: It's really nice having a special teams I can just trust. No sweating with long kicks, no fear the opponent gets a short field because of bad punts. Our special teams is really solid, or at least has been really solid for the whole season so far.

And seeing Addison back in action is nice. Having two great receiving options, three if our O-line can stay healthy for two games and Hockenson can actually run routes and does not have to chip/block all the time, will certainly help McCarthy a lot when he is back.

Thank you for all your work. Hopefully next week I will read a victory mailbag again.

— Alexander M.

Hello in Germany.

It's less than ideal to be chasing two scores in the fourth quarter, but it's been familiar territory this season. Week 1 at Chicago, Week 2 against Atlanta, Week 4 against Pittsburgh and Sunday have all involved chasing two-score leads.

The "Hockenson TD that wasn't" happened with 2:58 remaining in the game. Minnesota had to burn off another 1:01 and still wound up settling for a field goal.

O'Connell explained since the Vikings were that close to the end zone, he wanted to try for that score so that Minnesota would only need about 35 yards to set up Reichard for a game-winner.

There have been some really nice moments from special teams this season.

The Eagles beat us with big pass plays: Four catches for 167 yards. They only got 159 yards on their other 15 receptions. They came up with the big play when they needed it. We didn't. Love the fight. We need to finish.

— Gerald Goblirsch

A.J. Brown provided a dose of double trouble for the Eagles, finishing with 121 yards and two touchdowns on four catches.

Per Next Gen Stats, Hurts to Brown on deep passes went 3-for-3 with 108 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. Entering Week 7, the duo had been 2-for-8 with 68 yards and no scores on such passes.

Vikings fans, I have been a fan and supporter since 1961 at the beginning. As you will do the math, I am running out of time.

It sure does look like it doesn't matter which teams the Vikings play, we don't get the benefit of the close penalty calls. Yes, any team has come back from two turnovers but losing the turnover battle has not, in the recent Vikings game. Our penalties were not bad, but the referees made a huge mistake, holding on Brandel, which was not a hold!! Lost a TD there. (The winning TD?) Then the TD by T.J., it was a touchdown. All of which the champions get the calls. I see year after year we suffer bad calls. In spite of all of it, the Vikings nearly came back to win the game. Stats show Vikings were better, much better.

I would like to know how the defensive secondary can cover a WR like Brown and others. It seems that teams, if they have a WR like him, and a good enough QB, they can always make the big play. How can that be defensed? Would playing man-on-man instead of Cover be better? I couldn't see the secondary to learn. But far be it from me to question Flores.

The D front line did well, but I would just like to see Allen and Hargrave make some more sacks.

Can't omit the inaccurate passes by Carson to Addison for the INT and just missing to Justin. Was he rattled? Did playing his first team matter?

OK, on to L.A. Chargers, and I hope J.J. can begin his HOF career in that game (not missing he will play against his former Michigan coach).

SKOL,

— Gill Sorg in New Mexico

Part of Sunday's loss felt like it had elements of each of Minnesota's losses to the Lions last season.

The 2024 Week 7 matchup had some miscues and explosive plays allowed, and the Vikings couldn't get the necessary final stop, and the Week 18 showdown left a lot of points on the board with a lack of execution in the red zone.

Eagles receivers won 1-on-1 matchups for multiple big gains.

Turnovers and penalties usually tell the story of a game. No turnovers forced. Two turnovers (including a pick six) given. Penalties were so much better. One of the three that was assessed was undeserved. Very little pass rush. Three sacks is a respectable number, but it didn't feel like a game where Hurts was hurried enough.

If I'm Philadelphia, I'm begging Minnesota to do exactly what they did on the first Eagles TD: rush only three and play a scheme where a safety is on my best WR. The three-safety look has its place but not on fourth-and-4. Metellus is a great player, but he can't stay 1:1 with a speed WR. Awful play scheme. Awful! The Eagles had the Vikings number all day. Big plays when needed. It's like we were playing poker and saying, "Here. Take a look at my cards." Pitiful.

With four minutes to go, the Vikings had a first down in FG territory. Take three quick shots, then kick the FG if you don't score the TD. You can't bleed the clock like the offense did there, losing two full minutes at the end when you need two scores. Inexcusable.

Once again, the refs did not favor Minnesota. Bad holding call on the center. The reversal of the T.J. TD was too close to call. Should not have been reversed. The call on the field either way should have held.

Jefferson had two plays late near the goal line where he could have jumped back into the defender to force a pass interference call. I know he was tired. But that's why you get the big $$.

Lots of football left. Get healthy and see what November and December can be.

Skol!

— Jeff in Sacramento, California

The percentage of teams who win games at minus-2 or worse in turnover margin is very low — single digits were referenced after the comeback against Cleveland.

The comeback attempt involved so much running for Jefferson. Maybe he could have tried to swipe some yardage by drawing a penalty?

There is quite a bit of football remaining. Minnesota will get a do-over of sorts from 2024 Week 8 in the same venue as last year after a disappointing showing in Week 7.

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