In what sounds like a broken record, the Arizona Cardinals won in impressive, but ugly fashion yet again
The media will play up just how good Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater was in this game with a career passing effort, however, a lot of this can be attributed to the decoy factor of Adrian Peterson. Even though Peterson, aside from that first drive and that first touchdown, his 100th in the regular season, the defense managed to bottle him up. Problem was, bootlegs and under-routes using tight ends were left wide open. Ridiculously open.
The Cardinals do have some work here an keeping focus on what you’re responsible for as well as the next guy, but some of those passes, especially on third down with the house coming at Bridgewater, were groan inducing on just how open the receivers were to convert.
The struggles in the red zone cropped back up, none more so than the 1st and Goal after David Johnson’s touchdown was called back from the two yard line. Three plays with less than two yards to go, and they couldn’t get the ball in, sticking with a field goal, but in plays like that, in a season like this, in what the playoffs are sure to be, you can’t stall out like that, not at the doorstep.
Overall the game was handled well by Carson Palmer, who, after last week, looks almost pedestrian in his numbers but did put up two more touchdown passes to break Kurt Warner’s single season mark which was 30. Palmer was very efficient, with no interceptions, although a sure pick-six was dropped by Xavier Rhodes. This is when the ball bounced the Cardinals way.
Dec 10, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Officiating was okay, many would argue that Drew Butler was run into, and in real-time from the stands it looked like it, but watching the replay on NFL Network after I got home from the game, that was a very fine acting job by the punter. Very good non-call by the officiating staff. John Brown took a shot to the head in what appeared to be a “defenseless receiver position” on a long pass at the goal line that he nearly secured but that was not called.
The Cardinals won the turnover battle again this week with a +3 (having committed none), the fumbles were costly by the Vikings, all coming with a score potential of at least a field goal, including the last fumble by Bridgewater to seal the game.
Still, the Arizona Cardinals did what good teams do, and we keep reiterating that fact, they take the good games, the bad games and the weird games, where Mike Iupati averages 10 yards per reception, and they win them. The team is two errant passes from 13-0 at this point, but 11-2 will just have to do.
Next up a trip to Philadelphia in the dead of December for a night game on Sunday Night Football on 12/20. Enjoy the min-bye!