PHILADELPHIA _ A dominant defensive front and a timely special-teams score made the difference again Sunday. But this time it was the Philadelphia Eagles, not the Vikings, who put the clamps on someone, handing the Vikings their first loss of the season.
Quarterback Sam Bradford turned the ball over three times in his return to Philadelphia, with issues in pass protection a major factor in all of them, and the Vikings mustered only 282 yards of total offense in the 21-10 loss at Lincoln Financial Field.
Carson Wentz, the poised rookie QB from North Dakota State who made the Eagles willing to trade Bradford to the Vikings last month, coughed up three turnovers himself. But he at least got his offense in the end zone when it mattered, something Bradford could not do until his touchdown pass to Cordarrelle Patterson with 34 seconds left.
The Vikings, down two scores, got inside the 10-yard line earlier in the fourth quarter. But needing to pick up only one yard, their running backs got stuffed on third and fourth down. The Vikings also squandered a pair of prime scoring opportunities in the first quarter.
After safety Andrew Sendejo intercepted Wentz and returned it to the Eagles' 2-yard line, running back Matt Asiata was stuffed at the goal line on first down and two plays later Bradford was drilled as he threw and was intercepted in the end zone by Eagles safety Rodney McLeod, one a pair of defenders near wide receiver Adam Thielen.
It was Bradford's first interception with the Vikings and the team's first giveaway on offense this season. Moments later, Bradford would give the ball away again.
Following a Wentz fumble that the Vikings recovered at the Eagles' 17-yard line, Eagles defensive end Connor Barwin blew by left tackle Jake Long and swatted the ball out of Bradford's right hand as he cocked to throw. Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins scooped up the loose ball and sprinted to the end zone.
But the score was overturned after a video review confirmed that he had been touched down while recovering the fumble.
Another interception of Wentz quickly put an end to the Eagles drive that followed. The Vikings scored the game's first points six minutes into the second quarter.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph's third-down grab set up kicker Blair Walsh's 48-yard field goal. Eagles wide receiver Josh Huff took the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.
Walsh had a chance during the big return to tackle Huff near midfield but missed left.
Late in the second quarter, the Vikings moved into Eagles territory again. And Long, who rotated at tackle with T.J. Clemmings and Jeremiah Sirles, got beaten for a second time for a strip-sack of Bradford.
This time it was McLeod who caused the turnover.
After the third Vikings turnover of the first half, the Eagles converted on Fourth and 2 near midfield then kicked a field goal to take an 11-3 lead into the locker room.
The Eagles increased their lead to 18-3 when Wentz threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. A third-down pass interference penalty on cornerback Trae Waynes kept the nine-play, 77-yard scoring drive alive.
That made Sunday the first time since last December the Vikings allowed more than 17 points. An Eagles field goal, after punt returner Marcus Sherels lost a fumble, put it away.
Wentz finished with 138 passing yards. Bradford threw for 224 in the 21-10 loss.
