Minnesota has finally broken the silence and confirmed that backup QB Kelly Holcomb will play on Sunday against the Eagles in place of the starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson who broke the index finger on his throwing hand in last week’s 24-14 loss at Dallas. With a completion rate of about 46% and a QB rating only a couple of points higher, Jackson is the lowest ranked quarterback in the NFL this year and he is 2-2 this year in games he has started. The loss to the Lions in Week 2 sits squarely on his shoulders being that he threw 4 interceptions in a game that was very close owing to some solid work by the Detroit defense. For Holcomb it will be only his third start of the season following an 0-2 performance against Kansas City and Green Bay. He posted good numbers against the Packers completing 21 of 39 for 258 yards, but the one completion he needed to tie the game late in the 4th quarter was first tipped and then intercepted by Green Bay who hung on for the win.
Eagles Vikings Matchup Week 8
Philadelphia (2-4) at Minnesota (2-4)
Minnesota has finally broken the silence and confirmed that backup QB Kelly Holcomb will play on Sunday against the Eagles in place of the starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson who broke the index finger on his throwing hand in last week’s 24-14 loss at Dallas. With a completion rate of about 46% and a QB rating only a couple of points higher, Jackson is the lowest ranked quarterback in the NFL this year and he is 2-2 this year in games he has started. The loss to the Lions in Week 2 sits squarely on his shoulders being that he threw 4 interceptions in a game that was very close owing to some solid work by the Detroit defense. For Holcomb it will be only his third start of the season following an 0-2 performance against Kansas City and Green Bay. He posted good numbers against the Packers completing 21 of 39 for 258 yards, but the one completion he needed to tie the game late in the 4th quarter was first tipped and then intercepted by Green Bay who hung on for the win.
The Eagles are having problems of their own on offense. Mainly they have not been able to score touchdowns. Philly drove into the Jets red zone 4 times in Week 6 and never once punched the football into the end zone. The Eagles defense which had struggled to contain Jets running back Thomas Jones in the first half made the necessary adjustments and limited Jones to 34 yards after halftime. That defensive performance is why the Eagles won the game, but Philadelphia will have to sharpen it’s offense if they expect to have a winning record this year.