Eagles were saved by a gift from Vikings’ Justin Jefferson (and observant refs)

It seemed innocent enough: Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson caught a pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins, was tackled near the goal line, stretched out for the end zone and fumbled the ball harmlessly out of bounds. Only, it wasn’t so harmless.

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The officials huddled, reviewed the play and called a touchback because the ball had been fumbled inside the pylon and out of the end zone. The turnover ended a 74-yard drive with 33 seconds left in the half just as the Vikings appeared ready to take the lead on Thursday night.

Instead, it might have been the difference in the Eagles’ 34-28 victory at Lincoln Financial Field.

After the disastrous fumble, the Eagles had enough time to move the ball into position for Jake Elliott’s 61-yard field goal, which gave them a 13-7 lead at halftime.

“I’m putting it a lot on myself,” Jefferson said. “Fumbling in the end zone like that when we need points and we’re driving and having that momentum. I was telling my teammates that’s on me and it won’t happen again.”

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who bemoaned the Vikings’ four turnovers, said Jefferson broke a cardinal rule.

“Nobody’s more torn up about that one than Justin,” O’Connell said. “We try to emphasize only reaching the ball out on fourth down, but he’s a competitor. He’s playing a heck of a football game and making plays and trying to do whatever he can to win because that’s ultimately what he cares about the most. But that was incredibly unfortunate at the time — very similar to last week, late in the first half, a chance to have the lead going into halftime, and before you know it, it got away from us.”

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