Arizona Cardinals Clinch Playoff Spot With Win Over Minnesota Vikings

“We didn’t have any timeouts, couldn’t afford to get tackled inbounds”. “Those were high records Kurt set”.

The loss was the second in a row and the third in four weeks for the Vikings, who are jockeying to stay in playoff contention. The team lost three fumbles, which directly led to Cardinals points.

Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson wanted more carries than the eight he got (for nine yards) against the Seahawks.

It came on a reverse when Peterson tried to pitch the ball. The Cardinals possess the most potent offense in the NFC and one of the best defenses in the league to go along with it. Despite missing defensive standouts Anthony Barr, Linval Joseph and Harrison Smith, the Vikings put forth a valiant effort but fell to the Cardinals 23-20. “Some of the plays I wish I could get back”. Well, the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles could be something of a problem when it comes down to one-game-or-you’re-out due to their offenses, but even though we haven’t seen the Cards or the Panthers do anything for a very long time, they have the balance on both sides of the ball to finally make a deep playoff run. Bridgewater threw for 335 yards and the lone touchdown pass. But a sack on second and goal derailed the drive and the Cardinals had to settle for a field goal to go up 20-10. “The opposing players come after me every week with every type of thing in the book you can think of”.

You could see that Thursday, as the two star wide receivers had great games and teamed up for a touchdown. “We just shot ourselves in the foot with the three turnovers”.

Carson Palmer (Quarterback): Palmer had somewhat of a shaky game to start. David Johnson, the rookie who stepped in when the Cardinals’ top two backs were hurt, rushed for 92 yards on 19 attempts.

Arizona coach Bruce Arians said the Vikings “were in field goal range for sure”. It will certainly help that the Cardinals are expecting starting defensive lineman Frostee Rucker (ankle) and cornerback Jerraud Powers (calf) back soon, perhaps in time for the Week 15 game at Philadelphia.

However, they still had Palmer, and they have perhaps the best speed in the NFL.

Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and Michael Floyd combined for 14 catches, 221 yards and two touchdowns on the night, while Fitzgerald and J.J. Nelson provided big blocks on the two touchdowns. He also completed passes to 11 different receivers.

NOTES: Cardinals S Tony Jefferson, who was listed as questionable with a pulled hamstring, played against Minnesota….

His touchdown Thursday was the 100th of his career and he moved ahead of Steven Jackson for 17th place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list.

As ESPN’s Field Yates notes, Freeney earned a 0,000 bonus by recording his fourth sack of the year when he stripped Teddy Bridgewater and the Cardinals recovered the fumble.