The Vikings (6-4) held onto their first-place tie with Detroit in the NFC North, with a rematch against the Lions looming in four days.
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Fantasy Impact: This week Bradford has to face the talented defense of the Arizona Cardinals. He outgained the Vikings on his own in the first half, and he earned a total of 160 yards and two touchdowns on 29 touches for the game.
It wasn’t all good for the Vikings. “They did it, and it just wiped everybody out”.
“It was very tough to come out and lose this game”, Johnson said. That means the Vikings converted and moved the sticks only 11 times. Peterson, the 6-1 corner with the long arms and a load of confidence, has made five Pro Bowls and been named first-team All-Pro three times.
CARDINALS offense ranked 8 in total yards (382.0 ypg) but only 20 in points (22.4 ppg) figures to be challenged by VIKINGS ‘ top-ranked scoring defense (16.9 ppg). However, their lack of production offensively is a testament to how few weapons they have.
At least Robert Griffin III offers some hope at quarterback and that is more than the Chicago Bears and New York Jets can say. The other was Phil Loadholt, who retired this offseason and hadn’t played in the regular season since 2014. That’s the confidence we have on special teams. They looked like they could go undefeated this year just a handful of weeks ago, but haven’t won since October and can’t afford to continue this risky downward spiral.
INDIANAPOLIS Andrew Luck led the Indianapolis Colts to a big early lead, and the defense held on in the second half.
– There was confusion – and anger – over the two 15-yard penalties called on Patrick Peterson (hitting QB-turned-wide receiver Sam Bradford) and Tony Jefferson (hitting what looked like a live Diggs on the sideline apparently too hard) and I personally am not sure why they were flagged. The stagnant offense is a big reason as to why the Vikings are now 5-4. The Cardinals, however, have conceded 27 sacks this year, and have had conceded a similarly high amount of fumbles. They just weren’t effective.
Romo, who broke a bone in his back in a preseason game, was active for the first time since Thanksgiving last year, and was the Dallas backup for the first time in 10 years. Once again, the Vikings couldn’t produce anything in the run game. Some of the routes I messed up on and running the ball better when we needed.
Their lack of a ground game is especially concerning with the way Minnesota’s offense is built.
With interim offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, Minnesota has lost two straight and averaged 18 points per game. Patterson’s good friend Adam Thielen, an undrafted player out of Division II Minnesota State, Mankato, had surpassed him on the receiver depth chart. Linebackers can remain in their designated zones rather than creeping up on play action. “I think both offensive lines have their work cut out for them”.
The defense, once the lynchpin of the Vikings team, has struggled in recent weeks against the run and has looked strangely vulnerable, a major shift after the dominate start to the season. Of course, it’s great when all the points don’t have to come from the offense, but that can’t be counted on every week. They had to kick it back, but Jeff Locke boomed a 72-yard punt after a friendly roll to the Arizona 13 with 2:20 left.
NY took the lead on Manning’s 15-yard touchdown pass to receiver Sterling Shepard with 6:49 left in the third quarter.
“Probably the best group that we’ve faced”, Bradford said.
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The evidence that this was far from a ideal performance by the Vikings included the fact the defense gave up 263 yards (110 on the ground) in the opening half.
