Arizona @ Minnesota preview
U.S. Bank Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2023 ) Arizona 18, Minnesota 17
The Minnesota Vikings are playing for win No. 10 and a second five-game winning streak this season when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Minnesota (9-2) is coming off a 30-27 overtime win on the road against the division rival Chicago Bears last Sunday. The Vikings have won each of their past three games on the road, and they return home for the first time since beating the Indianapolis Colts 21-13 four weeks ago.
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell, who went 7-10 last season juggling quarterbacks after Kirk Cousins was hurt, said his players are eager to return to their home turf.
"When they hit the field, they're going to be jacked to be back in front of our fans," said O'Connell, whose team began the season 5-0. "We know it'll be an unbelievable atmosphere. We've got to give them something to be excited about."
Arizona (6-5) will try to get back to its winning ways after losing 16-6 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks last week. The defeat snapped a four-game winning streak for the Cardinals, who started the season 2-4 but have gone 4-1 since then.
Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon knows that this game, followed by a rematch against Seattle, could prove pivotal for his team's postseason hopes. Two wins would put Arizona at 8-5; two losses put the team below .500.
And in the tight NFC West, every game seems particularly critical from here on out. Despite sitting only one game above break even, the Cardinals enter Week 13 tied for the division lead with the Seahawks. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers each are a game back at 5-6. The Cardinals have one game remaining with each of the three teams.
"We're in playoff football right now, is what it is," Gannon said. "We don't shy away from that. With the holiday coming up, you can be thankful we're playing meaningful games right now. Because we've earned that right. But it really doesn't mean you-know-what."
Kyler Murray owns a 98.0 passer rating, throwing for 2,343 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also has 380 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
James Conner is Arizona's top backfield threat with 705 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Tight end Trey McBride has a team-high 61 catches for 685 yards.
For Minnesota, Sam Darnold has taken full advantage of his opportunity to show the rest of the league that he can be a capable starter. He has a 101.7 passer rating and has thrown for 2,717 yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
But Darnold's recent performance is very much a mirror of the Vikings' play during their second month-long winning streak of the season -- not nearly as impressive as the first streak, but still good enough to win. The 27-year-old has thrown five interceptions during the four-game stretch (though none in the last two games). After throwing 11 TDs in his first four games, he has seven in his past four.
One of his primary protectors, left tackle Cam Robinson, is a game-time decision because of a foot injury. That could be a concern given David Quessenberry, who played the final 62 offensive snaps for Minnesota at Chicago last Sunday, has been inconsistent in two games this season when he played significant snaps at left tackle.
And the Vikings have struggled to put teams away in November, winning by eight, five, 10 and three points. Against the Bears, Minnesota blew a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead -- including surrendering 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation before escaping in OT.
Aaron Jones has 1,083 yards from scrimmage (798 rushing, 285 receiving) and four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) for the Vikings. Justin Jefferson leads the team with 61 catches for 939 yards and five touchdowns.
The Vikings signed ex-New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones this week. Jones provides the team with depth but the offense belongs to Darnold as the playoff push approaches.
The Vikings will play without linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., who was placed on injured reserve this week because of a hamstring strain. Tight end Josh Oliver (wrist/ankle) and safety Jay Ward (elbow) are also out.
Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson (calf) was limited Friday and is questionable, as are safeties Joey Blount (hip), Jalen Thompson (ankle), running back Emari Demercado (back) and offensive lineman Jonah Williams (shoulder). Blount, a special teams standout, was first listed on the injury report Friday.
This will be the teams' first meeting since Oct. 30, 2022, when the Vikings won 34-26 at home.
--Field Level Media