Vikings scare Cardinals, but Arizona’s in the playoffs

Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings stared down doubt and adversity and stood up against the Cardinals Thursday night.

Some back and forth followed until near the end of the first half, when Teddy Bridgewater, who was 11 of 14 for 162 yards, helped his team get into field goal range, with Blair Walsh tying the game at 10-10 before the half.

Bison safety Robbie Grimsley says Wentz’s return is an emotional boost, but adds that the defense needs more than attitude to stop UNI’s 1-2 punch of quarterback Aaron Bailey and running back Tyvis Smith. The sack for Freeney was one of three recorded by the Cardinals, upping the amount of sacks given up by the Vikings to 38, the fifth-highest total in the NFL. It’s comical ’cause I spun three times on in that series.

The third time was a charm.

“We’ve been having really good practices, ” Arians said”.

The Cardinals’ goal is at least a No. 2 seed in the NFC West, which would mean a first-round bye.

The Minnesota Vikings put themselves in position to pull off what would have been a remarkable victory, with all sorts of issues stacked against them at Arizona.

Palmer even had a 6-foot-5, 331-pound receiver.

Here are five things to take from a wild game. “These three games are important, very important”, Bridgewater said.

It seemed pre-game to be a recipe for a one-sided defeat.

“To be able to have this type of dream situation, fourth quarter, game on the line, it’s kind of like ninth inning, two outs, one of situations for a defensive lineman and I was able to make a play”, Freeney said.

“Well we had a lot of guys hurt”, Franken responded quietly.

Palmer, who was 25-of-35 with no interceptions, threw touchdown passes of 65 yards to wide receiver John Brown and 42 yards to wide receiver Michael Floyd. “I gave myself permission to cut it loose and I am glad I got it done”. “We showed we’re capable of doing things”.

Could this be the “click” for the Minnesota offense that we’ve been hoping to see?

PALMER HITS 4,000: Palmer passed 4,000 yards in a season for the fifth time in his career, third in the last four years. Minnesota was demolished by the Seahawks in their last appearance, while Arizona tallied another win against the Rams in Week 13.

Palmer’s touchdown passes were his 30th and 31st of the season, breaking the franchise record of 30 TDs set by Kurt Warner in Arizona’s 2008 Super Bowl season.

– A number of former Gophers basketball players are playing overseas: Elliott Eliason is averaging 5.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in nine games for BK Jelgava in Latvia; Justin Cobbs is averaging 8.1 points and 4.0 assists for Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi in Turkey; Mo Hargrow is averaging 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 10 games for Marinos de Bolivar in Colombia; Rick Rickert is averaging 15.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists for the Chiba Jets out of Japan.