Arizona Cardinals (6-5) will face off against the Minnesota Vikings (9-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, televised on Fox. According to BetMGM, the Vikings are favored by 3.5 points in this matchup. Both teams have a solid record against the spread, with the Cardinals sitting at 7-4 and the Vikings matching that mark. Historically, the Vikings lead the series with a record of 18-12, and in their most recent encounter, they overcame the Cardinals with a score of 34-26 in Minneapolis on October 30, 2022.
Last week, the Cardinals struggled offensively, suffering a 16-6 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks, while the Vikings clinched a victory in a thrilling overtime contest against the Chicago Bears, winning 30-27. In terms of offensive statistics, the Cardinals rank 15th overall, showcasing strengths in rushing (6th) but facing challenges in passing (23rd) and scoring (16th). On defense, Arizona sits at 18th overall, with rushing defense ranked 17th and passing defense at 20th, allowing the 11th least points.
Conversely, the Vikings stand out offensively, sitting at 10th overall with their rushing offense at 15th and passing offense also at 10th, averaging 9th in scoring. Their defense has been solid, placed at 10th overall, boasting the league’s top rushing defense at 1st while grappling with a passing defense that ranks 28th. The Vikings hold a positive turnover differential of plus-4, whereas the Cardinals maintain an even stance.
In focus for the Cardinals is TE Trey McBride, who had an impressive outing last week, catching 12 passes for 133 yards, marking one of the finest performances in his career. McBride is notable for being the only tight end this season with two games exceeding 100 receiving yards. On the Vikings’ side, WR Jordan Addison has been a standout, recording eight catches for 162 yards along with a touchdown against Chicago, capitalizing on the defensive focus directed at star Justin Jefferson.
A significant battle in this game will be the Cardinals’ pass rush against the Vikings’ offensive line. Arizona has accumulated five sacks in their last game against Seattle and has a total of 14 sacks over the past three weeks. With Vikings QB Sam Darnold having been sacked 31 times this season, which ranks as the sixth highest in the league, the Cardinals may look to exploit this vulnerability.
In terms of injuries, Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson is anticipated to return to practice this week after missing two games due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson has not yet debuted this season but is hoped to return soon according to coach Jonathan Gannon. The Vikings, on the other hand, have placed LB Ivan Pace Jr. on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury sustained in the first quarter last week, and LT Cam Robinson’s status remains uncertain after he left with a foot injury. There is a potential for TE Josh Oliver to make a comeback after his absence last week due to an ankle issue.
Notably in this series, the Cardinals have not claimed victory in Minnesota since 1977, when they were based in St. Louis, marking an unfortunate streak of 11 consecutive road losses that includes a playoff game from the 1998 season. The Vikings have won each of their previous three meetings against the Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium since its opening in 2016, and Gannon previously worked as a defensive assistant for the Vikings.
As for stats, the Cardinals recently had their four-game winning streak snapped, now tied with the Seahawks for first place in the NFC West. QB Kyler Murray’s streak of 20 consecutive completions ended against Seattle. The promising rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. leads all first-year players with six touchdown catches this season, while the Cardinals’ defense has only allowed five touchdowns over the past five contests, underscoring its formidable form. Additionally, Cardinals LB Jesse Luketa has recorded a sack in each of his past three games after waiting 25 games for his first. Arizona leads the NFL with only 51 penalties this season, just one ahead of Cincinnati.
On the Vikings’ side, they have won their last four games and are gearing up for a series of three consecutive home games. Notably, they just completed a successful stretch of three road games, the first time in team history they won all three. Coach Kevin O’Connell boasts a franchise-best career winning percentage at 29-16 after 45 games. In a remarkable achievement, the Vikings featured a 100-yard rusher, two 100-yard receivers, and a 300-yard passer in the same game for the first time in 24 years during their Chicago contest. Their defense has been solid, keeping opponents scoreless in 18 out of 44 quarters this season, tying them for the NFL lead.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, Cardinals RB James Conner is a player to watch. He is approaching 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season, with 697 yards rushing and 247 receiving. However, he faced difficulties last week with a season-low of 8 rushing yards on seven carries although he did contribute with 41 receiving yards. Conner will be up against the top-ranked run defense in the league, adding an intriguing dynamic to his performance in this upcoming game.