The matchup is set.
The Eagles will play the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday for the right to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LII. Our live coverage starts with The Kickoff Show presented by Axalta on PhiladelphiaEagles.com, the Eagles' app, and our social media channels at 6 p.m. The game will air on FOX beginning at 6:40 p.m. Tickets go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.com.
Minnesota's Stefon Diggs caught a 61-yard touchdown pass as time expired in one of the most thrilling finishes in postseason history to beat the New Orleans Saints 29-24 on Sunday.
The Eagles and the Vikings had the same record of 13-3 in the regular season, but Philadelphia earned the right to host the game because of a better record vs. common opponents (Minnesota's loss to Carolina was the difference).
This will be the fourth matchup in postseason history between these two teams. The Eagles have won all three previous showdowns - 1980 Divisional Round, 2004 Divisional Round, and 2008 Wild Card. Philadelphia reached the Super Bowl in the 1980 and 2004 seasons and will head back to the title game with a win Sunday. If Minnesota is victorious, the Vikings will be the first team to host a Super Bowl as the championship game is at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The matchup at quarterback is a fascinating one.
The Eagles' Nick Foles and the Vikings' Case Keenum were teammates in St. Louis in 2015. Foles opened the season as the starting quarterback, but Keenum took over by the end of the year.
Neither signal-caller was atop the depth chart for their respective teams at the start of 2017.
Foles took over for Carson Wentz after the MVP candidate suffered a torn ACL on December 10 in Los Angeles. Keenum manned the reins after Sam Bradford, who was acquired by the Eagles in exchange for Foles then sent to Minnesota after Teddy Bridgewater's knee injury in 2016, was sidelined with a knee ailment. Keenum started in his first playoff game Sunday after the best season of his career in which he completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,547 yards with 22 touchdowns against seven interceptions for a 98.3 passer rating.
In the Divisional Round win over Atlanta on Saturday, Foles was steady completing 20 of 30 pass attempts for 246 yards with a 100.1 passer rating. Most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over.
The Vikings had the top defense in the NFL in 2017, finishing first in points (15.8) and yards allowed (275.9). Minnesota was second against the run as well as the pass.
Defensive end Everson Griffen led the Vikings with 13 sacks. Linebacker Eric Kendricks, Mychal's brother, paced the team with 113 tackles. Safety Harrison Smith was the front-runner in interceptions with five.
The Vikings were exceptional at taking care of the football, turning it over just 14 times all season. Dalvin Cook was having a phenomenal rookie season at running back until he was lost to a season-ending knee injury. Latavius Murray stepped in to lead the team with 842 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns. Adam Thielen is Keenum's go-to receiver with 91 catches for 1,276 yards in 2017. The miracle-maker Diggs and tight end Kyle Rudolph tied for the team lead with eight touchdown grabs apiece.
The Eagles and the Vikings last met in Week 7 of the 2016 season. Philadelphia won 21-10 handing Minnesota its first loss of the season.
