SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 28, 2010
Adrian Peterson rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown and rookie Joe Webb won his first career start as the Minnesota Vikings stunned the host Philadelphia Eagles 24-14 on Tuesday night.
Webb threw for 195 yards and ran for a touchdown while outplaying Michael Vick and thwarting Philadelphia's bid to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Antoine Winfield returned a fumble by Vick 45 yards for a momentum-changing touchdown for the Vikings (6-9), who were without Brett Favre (concussion) in the lineup for the second time in three games.
Minnesota's win allowed division rival Chicago (11-4) to wrap up at least the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the postseason.
On the same day he was named a starter for the Pro Bowl, Vick finished 24 of 40 for 263 yards with one touchdown pass, an interception and two fumbles. He also rushed for 63 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run.
The Vikings carried the momentum from Winfield's touchdown into the second half, getting a 30-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell and a 9-yard run by Webb for a 17-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
Vick's 10-yard run drew the Eagles within 17-14 with 10:17 to play, but Minnesota responded with an eight-play, 60-yard drive that Peterson capped with a 1-yard plunge.
It was the first Tuesday night game in the NFL since 1946. The game, originally scheduled for Sunday night, was pushed back two days because of a winter storm that dumped a foot of snow in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia (10-5) grabbed a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter when Vick tossed a 3-yard scoring pass to rookie tight end Clay Harbor.
For the remainder of the half, though, Vick played as if he were facing blizzard conditions. He was intercepted once and had a pair of sure picks dropped by Minnesota defenders.
Vick wasn't as fortunate on another gaffe in the final minute of the half. Winfield came in untouched on a blitz, punched the ball out of Vick's grasp and returned the fumble 45 yards for a touchdown and a 7-7 deadlock at halftime.