National Football League

An exclusive interview about the Vikings with Adam Carlson of "The Viking Age"

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Aug 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer talks on his headset as his team plays the San Diego Chargers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

We at Inside The Iggles recently sat down with Adam Carlson of “The Viking Age” to discuss the upcoming matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

The Philadelphia Eagles will no doubt enter Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings as underdogs. Story lines in this one are abundant. We’ll witness the last two Eagles’ starting quarterbacks go head to head. The Eagles are banged up on both sides of the ball, and there’s a rookie right tackle who didn’t fair to well in his first NFL start.

In Sunday’s contest, the Eagles will look to avoid replacing a three-game winning streak with a three-game losing streak. Another loss would give the Eagles a third conference loss in their first six games, and if this team is unable to win the NFC East, that could come back to haunt them if it comes down to a race for a wildcard playoff spot.

With that being said, we sat down with Adam Carlson of The Viking Age to get some insight. The following is the result of that interview.

Let’s begin.

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Texans 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

1. Prior to the season, The Eagles fanbase pretty much resigned themselves to the thought that 2016 would be a rebuilding year with Sam Bradford starting and Carson Wentz playing the role of redshirt freshman. What was the excitement level when you guys acquired Bradford via trade? What’s the expectation now with him seeing the start he’s gotten off to?

Carlson: There were three different camps of fans when the Bradford trade happened. The first group was excited to get a talented player to replace Shaun Hill as the starter. The second group liked the trade, but didn’t like that the team gave away a first round draft pick. The third group loved it in a big way. I was part of the second group, but having him play solid football so far is making me less concerned with the draft pick and has shifted my focus toward the post-season.

Aug 18, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) participates in pre game warmups against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

2. Is there any fear of a quarterback controversy once Teddy Bridgewater returns? What’s been the feeling concerning his return and is Adrian Peterson still necessary to this team? How much longer does he have in Minnesota?

Carlson: As long as Sam Bradford is healthy and the Vikings are winning, the team can’t go back to Bridgewater. He will either become a highly capable backup or he will become trade bait for a quarterback needy team. The team is in a similar situation where Peterson has become more of a damage to the team than a help because of his preferences and extremely high salary. I expect the Vikings will move on from him after this season since they no longer have guaranteed money on his contract.

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) celebrates with defensive end Everson Griffen (97) and defensive tackle Tom Johnson (92) during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Texans 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

3. How long will this team be this good? Has the balance of power shifted from Green Bay to Minnesota? How good is this defense capable of being?

Carlson: The great thing about this team is that they have youth and depth. Honestly, the Vikings are built for the long haul, and many of their stud defensive players are already locked down with long-term contracts.

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The scary thing is that the young, athletic defense is only getting better the more they grow and develop together. Sadly, there are still needs the team must address soon (especially on the offensive line) but they are more than capable of being major long term threats to both the NFC North and NFL.

Sep 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Cameron Artis-Payne (34) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings free safety Harrison Smith (22) in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

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4. Who are the players, whether popular or unsung, that the Eagles need to worry about on offense and defense?

Carlson: Offensively, the Eagles will need to watch out for Matt Asiata. While he’s not as explosive as Jerick McKinnon at running back, he’s a complete player. He can block well, run like a bruiser, and catch passes well out of the backfield. On defense, Andrew Sendejo is finally finding his fit next to Harrison Smith and has been flying around the secondary making plays. He will be an important part of the Vikings plan to stop the Eagles passing game.

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) catches a pass against Houston Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson (30) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

5. What’s your expectation for this one? Who wins and who loses?

This might be the hardest fought Vikings game of the season, but I still expect Minnesota to walk out victorious. The battle in the trenches will be fantastic to watch and these two great defenses should put on one heck of a show for fans. My final score prediction is 27-16 Vikings, but the game will be closer than that score makes it look. Best of luck to both teams on Sunday and may the best team win.

Adam Carlson is an editor for FanSided‘s The Viking Age. You can also follow his work on Undead Walking or listen to him talk about football on The Purple People Podcast. Keep up with him on Twitter @MNVikingZombie.

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