Eagles secondary fails to shut down Vikings’ rookie quarterback Webb

On the first play of the second half, the Vikings went deep.

Joe Webb to wide receiver Percy Harvin for 46 yards, with a declined penalty on Eagles cornerback Dimitri Patterson.

It was a bold move by the Vikings.

It was a bad sign for the Eagles.

Despite playing against a rookie quarterback making his first career start, the Eagles' defensive backs failed to come up with a turnover and surrendered more than their fair share of big passing plays.

Webb, a sixth-round pick from Alabama-Birmingham whom the Vikings originally projected as a wide receiver, completed 17 of 26 passes for 195 yards. He didn't throw a touchdown, although he ran for one.

Webb also didn't throw an interception.

That was big trouble for the Eagles in a stunning 24-14 loss to the Vikings in a rare Tuesday night game at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagles entered the game with 23 interceptions and seemed likely to add to that total against the inexperienced Webb, especially in a game in which the Vikings seemed likely to be playing from behind.

That part worked out, at least at first. The Eagles held a 7-0 lead through most of the first half, but they couldn't add to their advantage and force Minnesota into catch-up mode.

Webb was able to play a conservative game, picking his spots against the Eagles' secondary.

The Vikings were even on the scoreboard at 7-7 thanks to Antoine Winfield's fumble return for a touchdown late in the first half.

But the second half belonged to Minnesota and its rookie quarterback.

Webb led the visitors down the field on their first two possessions of the second half.

The first drive featured that 46-yard strike to Harvin as well as a 23-yard pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. It ended with an apparent 2-yard touchdown pass to Sidney Rice, but that score was overturned when Eagles coach Andy Reid challenged the call that Rice had maintained possession.

The Vikings settled for a field goal. But Webb led another drive that included a 16-yard pass to Rice and an unnecessary-roughness penalty on Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel, and ended on Webb's 9-yard scoring run.

Samuel and Patterson, the Eagles' starting cornerbacks, both were hit with unnecessary-roughness penalties in Minnesota scoring drives in the second half.

Webb led another touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. This time, the rookie kept the drive alive with a 19-yard strike to Harvin on a third-and-11.

On the play, Webb stood tall against a blitz and found Harvin open in the middle of the Eagles' secondary, a surprisingly comfortable place for the Vikings on this night.