The Philadelphia Eagles had a rough first half against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7, instilling fear in every fan who thought the repeat of the past few weeks was brewing once again. The Eagles had only one first down after scoring on their first drive, but were fortunate to go into the locker room with a 14-6 lead, thanks to former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz's two interceptions.
After the halftime, the Eagles were a much better offense, with QB Jalen Hurts having one of the best halves of his career, consistently connecting with his star receivers for an impressive win.
The offense finished with 316 passing yards and 361 total yards for one of their most productive games of the season. The Eagles are hoping that this offensive explosion in the second half will silence a lot of the noise that has been surrounding the team. In fact, one veteran player made an effort after the game to ensure they didn't say anything that could mess up the positive vibes.
Lane Johnson Refuses to Add Fuel to Fire After Win vs. Vikings
Offensive lineman Lane Johnson, who made headlines last week for saying that the offense was too predictable, refused to talk to the media after the game, per The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane. He reportedly added that he "didn't want to break up the team" by saying something that could hurt his teammates.
There has been some locker room drama brewing in recent weeks. The Eagles have been desperately trying to get to the bottom of their problems. Johnson's comments were interpreted as a shot at offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, to which fellow offensive lineman Jordan Mailata responded in disagreement. Mailata blamed execution and individual performance for the poor offense rather than play-calling.
Wideout A.J. Brown has also been a source of tension with his public expressions of frustration, but that could dip after a strong performance against the Vikings. Therefore, Johnson's approach here is understandable.
After a solid offensive production against one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Eagles must make sure that they carry the momentum into the Week 8 matchup against the New York Giants, and they will have revenge on their mind after losing in Week 6. A more connected locker room that doesn't allow for distractions and drama will hopefully lead them to a win before they head off to their bye week.
Let's hope the Eagles' intentional unwillingness to give media any material continues all week.