MN Vikings QB Puzzle Solved vs Eagles; Other Week 7 Takeaways

Coming off their Week 6 bye, and a two-week stretch in Europe, the Minnesota Vikings returned to U.S. Bank Stadium for the first time in a month on Sunday. Their schedule gets infinitely more difficult, starting with the Philadelphia Eagles contest, and at 3-2 they don’t have time to figure things out.

It remained the Carson Wentz show against his former team in Week 7. That was a significant part of the problem, and unfortunately Jalen Hurts destroyed Minnesota at every opportunity.

Carson Wentz has run his course for the MN Vikings

Right before the season started Minnesota brought Carson Wentz in to serve as their backup quarterback. With Max Brosmer winning a roster spot, they needed a veteran option. He has stepped in over the last four weeks in the wake of J.J. McCarthy’s ankle injury, but Sunday’s performance has to turn the page.

Early on Sunday Wentz threw poorly to Jordan Addison on three different occasions before a pick six and a punt interception. The hole he dug early was ugly, and entirely avoidable.

It’s all fine and well that he was better in the second half, but that’s good because he had to be. A benching after getting down 14-3 and turning the ball over for a second time would have been completely warranted.

When the dust settled, and the Eagles wrapped up their 28-22 victory, Wentz owned a 26-of-42 for 313 yards stat line. He was picked off twice, but did scramble for 28 yards on four carries. There was plenty of pressure that impacted some of his follow through, but the majority of issues offensively came back to execution from the quarterback.

There was a pregame suggestion that Wentz could hold down the job if he performed. He did anything but, and J.J. McCarthy needs to be readied as the starter for Thursday night.

Vikings pass defense torched by Jalen Hurts

Coming into Sunday, Brian Flores’ secondary was among the best in football. Their 157.6 passing yards allowed per game represented the second-best mark of any team, and trailed only the Atlanta Falcons. Minnesota put pressure on Jalen Hurts, and sacked him three times, but he made a mockery of the group.

Going 19-of-23 for 326 yards and three touchdowns, he finished with a perfect 158.3 passer rating. It was easily his best game of the season, and among the best of his career.

HUGE 3rd down conversion to A.J. Brown

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— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025

A.J. Brown, who has largely been held quiet this season, hauled in four receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns. His one-on-one matchup with Isiah Rodgers on third down with the game on the line sealed the contest.

Flores wasn’t the only coach with a poor day though. After a wonderfully coached game against the Browns, Kevin O’Connell laid another egg.

Most notable was the 4th quarter sequence as Minnesota watched time dwindle. Trailing by nine, O’Connell opted to go for it on 4th and 2 with 2:58 remaining. The conversion set up first and goal, but an immediate sack, and conservative attempts, led to nothing but 1:01 wasted and the same three points.

The Vikings never got the ball back and Philadelphia put a stop to their two-game skid. Now 3-3, the Vikings have to turn around a short week and win against Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers. Putting McCarthy back under center will bring all of the storylines as he faces his former college coach in his return.