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Sam Bradford returns to Philly, and Vikings, Eagles start turning ball over at dizzying rate

Sam Bradford returned to face the Philadelphia Eagles, the same quarterback the fans remembered.

The much-maligned former Eagles quarterback, who actually has played very well for the Minnesota Vikings after his August trade, was booed in his return. And he rewarded his former team with a bit of nostalgia in the first half. Unfortunately, whatever bug he brought with him was caught by his teammate for about four months, rookie Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.

Bradford and Wentz, who combined for one turnover between them coming into the game, put on a dizzying display of ineptitude during a four-minute flurry in the first quarter. After back-to-back three-and-outs to open the game, the Eagles and Vikings went on a spree of giving the ball back to each other.

9:41 left in the first quarter: Wentz took a three-step drop and stared down tight end Brent Celek, who was covered inside and out. Wentz’s throw was behind Celek, and Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo picked it off and ran it back to the Philadelphia 2-yard line. It was just beginning.

8:22 left in the first quarter: After a 1-yard run, an Eagles penalty and an incomplete pass, the Eagles faced 3rd and goal at the 6. Bradford forced a bad pass into traffic that really had zero chance of being completed to Adam Thielen. Eagles fans nodded familiarly. Eagles ball at the 20 on the touchback.

7:00 left in the first quarter: The euphoria didn’t last long. Wentz hit on two passes after the turnover but then gave it right back. On a bad exchange with Darren Sproles, the ball was fumbled in the backfield and was recovered by Anthony Barr. Tough one to put on the rookie, as it easily could have been credited to Sproles. Looked like it was in his breadbasket.

6:43 left in the first quarter: Bradford must have felt badly for his former understudy. Immediately after the turnover, Bradford was strip-sacked by Connor Barwin and the Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins recovered it. Initially, it appeared he ran it back for a score, but he was ruled down at the Philly 24. Good times. Fantasy defenses absolutely dominating each other.

5:28 left in the first quarter: Wentz couldn’t let the veteran get the last laugh. Once more, three plays later, he dropped back threw a bad ball into traffic. To the shock of no one by this point, it too was picked by Xavier Rhodes.

Seriously, these two quarterbacks had one pick and zero lost fumbles in 282 combined passes before this game. Then five turnovers in a span of 4:13 in the game. What happened to these guys? Week 7 got off to a weird start, but this little stretch of the game made no sense.

Sam Bradford, left, had two turnovers early in his return to Philly ... but still was outdone by Carson Wentz. (AP)
Sam Bradford, left, had two turnovers early in his return to Philly … but still was outdone by Carson Wentz. (AP)

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!