Eagles-Vikings scouting report

Recent history: Eagles won at Minnesota last season, 23-16.

OFFENSE:

Eagles: 350.5 yards per game, 9th

Vikings: 330.5 yards per game, 17th

Quarterback

Eagles: Donovan McNabb's transformation since his Week 12 benching has been amazing. In the last five games, four of which the Eagles have won, he's thrown nine TDs and just one INT and has a .643 completion percentage. In the five previous games: six TDs, seven INTs and a .526 completion rate.

Vikings: Benched two games into the season, Tarvaris Jackson got a second chance when Gus Frerotte injured his back in Week 14. He's performed well, completing 64 percent of his passes in the last four games and throwing eight TD passes and just one INT. Jackson has the mobility to extend plays and run for first downs against an Eagles defense that plays a lot of man coverage.

ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

Running back

Eagles: Brian Westbrook's knee and ankle injuries clearly have affected his play this season. He has averaged four fewer touches per game (20.5) than last year (24.5), and his rushing average (4.0) and receiving average (7.4) both are career lows. His backup, Correll Buckhalter, is averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 12.5 yards per catch.

Vikings: Adrian Peterson has now-you-see-him, now-you-don't explosion through a hole. He's a tackle-breaker who rarely is brought down by one defender. He's rushed for 100 yards in eight of the Vikings' last 11 games. Their record in those games: 7-1. His backup, Chester Taylor, usually gets 6-7 carries a game.

ADVANTAGE: VIKINGS

Receiving

Eagles: Wideouts have caught 197 passes this season, the most ever in the Andy Reid era. But their 11 TDs are the fewest since 2003. Rookie DeSean Jackson has a team-high 62 catches, but just 2 TDs. Wide receivers also haven't been very productive in the red zone lately. Take out the Arizona rout, and they have just four red-zone receptions in the last six games.

Vikings: With a running threat like Peterson, corners and safeties often can get caught peeking into the backfield, which has helped wide receiver Bernard Berrian average 20.1 yards per catch this season. But Jackson has been throwing mostly high-percentage stuff underneath to his backs, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (seven TDs, 14.2 yards per catch) and possession wide receiver Bobby Wade.