NFL play-off places on the line as Minnesota Vikings visit Arizona Cardinals
Friday 11 December 2015 06:08, UK
The Arizona Cardinals have plenty to play for when they open week 14 of the NFL season on Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings.
Victory for Bruce Arians' side would make it seven on the bounce, guarantee them a place in the play-offs and possibly the NFC West title if Sunday's results go their way.
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.
Some of that has to be down to their oft-stifling defence, but much credit has to go to the 'graybeards' on their offence; quarterback Carson Palmer, running back Chris Johnson and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who combine for 97 years on the planet and 32 in the league.
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.
He has a fantastic receiving corps to count on, but Fitzgerald remains the leader after passing the 1,000 yard mark for the seventh time in his career last week - it is the first time since 2011 though.
Michael Floyd and John Brown are also potent threats, along with the unheralded JJ Nelson, and they face a Vikings secondary coming off a humbling 38-7 home defeat by the Seattle Seahawks, who are the only team able to deny Arizona the NL West title.
The running game is a little more questionable in the absence of Johnson, who is on injured reserve with a broken leg, and Andre Ellington, who missed last week's game with turf toe and has not practiced this week either.
They will again rely on rookie David Johnson who was effective in the 27-3 over the Rams in St Louis, rushing for 99 yards and catching a touchdown, and most likely Kerwynn Williams, who has only just been moved up from their practice squad.
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.
Arizona averages the most points (31.8 per game) and the most offensive yardage (419.5 yards per game) and they rank third in passing and eighth in rushing.
Add in a defence that is top 10 in all the major yardage and points categories and you realise how hard it is going to be for the Vikings, especially with their passing game in apparent disarray under the marshalling of Teddy Bridgewater.
Minnesota is bang in the race for the NFC North title, level on an 8-4 record with the Green Bay Packers, but it has come mainly thanks to their ground game and defence, and you fear for their chances if Arizona forges ahead early on and Bridgewater has to pass the ball more.
He has only thrown eight touchdown passes in 12 games, and the weakness in their offensive line has seen the Vikings quarterback under constant pressure - he has been sacked 34 times for 253 lost yards.
If he is to be effective, Minnesota needs to get the ball to Adrian Peterson early and often, but that will be easier said than done against a Cardinals defence that stifled rookie sensation Todd Gurley in week 13 when they claimed an early lead and restricted him to 41 yards on only nine carries.
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The Vikings were behind early against Seattle last week, and it showed on their offence with Peterson only being handed the ball eight times for 18 yards rushing - by far his worst performance of the season since week one - and their defence unable to counter Russell Wilson's dual threat.
A repeat of that could well mean the Cardinals claiming a wide-margin victory, which would certainly see them into the post-season and would be enough for the divisional crown if the Seahawks lose in Baltimore on Sunday.
Watch the Vikings take on the Cardinals live on Sky Sports 4 HD in the early hours of Friday morning - coverage starts at 1.25am.
