In their three seasons together, the Cardinals are 32-13, the best stretch in franchise history since the team was in St. Louis in the mid-70s.
Advertisement
When the Vikings started the drive at their own 10-yard line, the win probability model projected just 0.43 points from the possession (otherwise known as a punt) and gave Arizona a 94.7 chance to win. Happy Friday, everyone, courtesy of 35-year-old Dwight Freeney.
The team clinched a playoff spot last night with a 23-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings, a game that was sealed by a late strip sack of Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Bridgewater finished with 335 yards and 1 touchdown. Well, the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles could be something of a problem when it comes down to one-game-or-you’re-out due to their offenses, but even though we haven’t seen the Cards or the Panthers do anything for a very long time, they have the balance on both sides of the ball to finally make a deep playoff run.
“The season speaks for itself”, said Cardinals coach Bruce Arians. “It was a great play by him and that’s why he’s going to the Hall of Fame”. “I made a few plays, but it was a team effort”, Campbell said. I had that clock going off in my head.
Chandler Catanzaro’s 47-yard field goal with 1:23 to go was the winning score as Arizona (11-2) won its seventh in a row.
Following a failed Cardinals drive, Bridgewater would complete 4 of 6 passes, racking up 78 yards before finding Mike Wallace for the go-ahead touchdown, tying the score at 20 apiece. They can claim their first division title since 2009 if the Seattle Seahawks lose or tie Sunday at Baltimore.
For most of the evening, the Minnesota offense managed to keep the sticks moving with big plays in the passing game (six receptions of 20 yards or more) while Adrian Peterson grinded away on the ground.
Palmer connected on scoring plays of 65 yards to John Brown and 42 to Michael Floyd. His main beneficiaries were Floyd (five receptions; 102 yards; TD) and Brown (four receptions; 78 yards; TD). Trae Waynes had an interception called back due to an offside call, Cardinals left guard Mike Lupati had a 10-yard reception on a tipped ball and David Johnson sneaked out of the backfield for a 14-yard game that put Catanzaro in position for the game-winner. Peterson, who rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries after twice calling out the Vikings’ coaching staff for only giving him the ball eight times in last week’s loss to the Seahawks, had one of the fumbles.
Peterson had one of the fumbles on what was supposed to be a reverse. They fought hard and drove the ball back up the field, cashing in on a 54-yard field goal to reduce the lead to 20-13. Earlier, Minnesota was driving for what would have been the go-ahead touchdown when Jarius Wright caught a short pass from Bridgewater, then was hit by Deone Bucannon and fumbled.
This was everything we’ve come to expect from Carson Palmer.
“Let them try”, Watt said.
Advertisement
“It’s not good enough, clearly, but I think it’s a step back to where we want to be”, linebacker Chad Greenway said.
