Pity the poor Vikings as they head to Arizona

The Cardinals have not had a seven-game winning streak in more than 30 years, and although they went into the season looking very experienced (read old) on offence, that has not proved to be a huge problem.

If it weren’t for undefeated Carolina, Arizona (10-2) would be the hottest team in the NFC.

Arizona has a high-powered offense but it’s a more traditional attack that features a traditional pocket quarterback in Carson Palmer. “We know how important this game is”. You can’t help but notice it, and hear about it…. This game means so much for us for that seed that were all shooting for.

“He’s very fine on details, not just knowing your assignment but knowing how the offense is going to attack us”, Harris said. “You would like to have the ability to, when your number is known as, to have the ability to make plays”. They clinch the NFC West if they win (or tie) and the Seahawks lose in Baltimore Sunday.

If we’ve learned anything this year it’s that the Vikings match up terribly against teams like Seattle and San Francisco, teams that like to get physical and run the ball. “We had two punts blocked. There’s probably no better arsenal of offensive weaponry in the NFL than what they have in Pittsburgh with Roethlisberger throwing the football. Johnson is a unsafe receiver, and quarterback Carson Palmer is smart enough to get rid of the ball quickly. It was ‘Bad News Bears all the way around.”.

Adrian Peterson will have to be more effective if the Vikings are to prevail.

A lack of trust in rookies by head coach Bruce Arians led to David Johnson falling to third on the depth chart in Arizona, despite his relative success early on – in his first two games as a pro, even though he played just 21 total snaps, Johnson still found a way to record a rushing, receiving, and kickoff return touchdown over that same timespan.

Thursday Night Football could be a night to forget for the Vikings, who are trying to forget about the blowout loss to the Seahawks.

And they will need to do so fast, because Arizona is one of the best teams in the league.

“I’m pretty excited about it”, Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu said. Two of those ATS losses were in prime time.

Second, the Cardinals are playing at home! The Vikings absorbed a 38-7 shellacking by visiting Seattle on Sunday and now must contend with the Cardinals, who have ripped off six consecutive victories. Minnesota’s top four safeties (Including Andrew Sendejo, Robert Blanton and Antone Exum, Jr, ) did not practice on Monday-and Exum will miss time due to rib and shoulder injuries.

The Cardinals offense remains No. 1 in the National Football League in both points and total yards after last week’s win, and now the defense has started to pick it up.

Palmer’s performances this season have been nothing short of spectacular, and he goes into this week with 29 touchdown passes and a QB rating of 106.3 – both second best in the entire league.

“Carson, hes playing at the MVP level, ” Arizonas Larry Fitzgerald said.

Minnesota’s defence ranks better against the pass (sixth) than the run (22nd), and they have given up the fourth fewest points on the season, but this might be the most potent offence they have faced all season.

Even if Arizona doesn’t make a concerted effort to get the ball to their skill players in space, those guys should still be aware of Minnesota’s recent woes and try to make something happen on their own.