The Minnesota Vikings are seeking their first winning streak of the 2025 season. Standing in their way is the Philadelphia Eagles, who have lost two in a row after starting the season 4-0.
Carson Wentz is expected to get the start for the Vikings after Kevin O’Connell refused to tell reporters who would start at quarterback on Wednesday. Still, Wentz is dealing with a left shoulder injury he suffered against the Browns in London two weeks ago.
The Vikings’ offense has been uneven all season. Can they finally put together a complete performance against the defending Super Bowl champions?
Here are three keys for the Vikings’ offense against the Eagles in Week 7.
Have Justin Jefferson affect the passing game, either directly or indirectly
Justin Jefferson heated up during the Vikings’ international trip. He caught 17 passes for 249 yards against the Steelers and Browns, showing a growing connection and trust from Wentz. Can he continue that against the Eagles?
Philadelphia ranks eighth in EPA allowed per pass (-0.12). Will they sell out to stop Jefferson, who is finding his rhythm? Doing so could allow Jordan Addison to feast if too many resources are paid to Jefferson.
Establish the ground game
The Vikings could really put the Eagles’ defense in a blender if they can get their running game going. Philadelphia is allowing 4.7 yards per rush, and Minnesota is averaging 4.5 yards per run, the highest of the Kevin O’Connell era.
Leading the charge for the Vikings has been Jordan Mason, whose 44.9% success rate ranks 11th among qualified running backs, per Next Gen Stats. His +1.1 rushing yards over expected per carry is tied for sixth in the league.
Mason has fumbled in each of the past two games. But if he can take care of the ball and continue to be efficient with the ball in his hands, the Vikings can dictate time of possession.
Don’t commit unnecessary penalties
The Vikings have committed 22 offensive penalties in 2025. Coaches can live with some plays, like holding, when players are moving so fast in different directions. But other penalties, specifically pre-snap ones, can drive a coach crazy.
Minnesota has had four delays of games and nine false starts. The delay of games can partially be attributed to a young quarterback in J.J. McCarthy and then a new quarterback in Wentz, who was acquired in late August. The false starts could be in part due to the 14 different offensive line combinations the Vikings have used in five games.
But the Vikings are playing at home on Sunday, meaning they won’t have to deal with crowd noise or faulty international stadium clocks. If they can play a clean game before the snap and keep themselves from unnecessarily moving backward, they can operate their offense on schedule.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Keys for the Vikings’ offense against the Eagles’ defense
