Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Friday, in retrospect, he would probably make another call on the team’s final offensive play of Thursday night’s 23-20 loss at Arizona. Just like against the Broncos, the Vikings turned a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit into a tie, allowed the go-ahead field goal after the two-minute warning, and had the ball with a realistic chance to force overtime only to be foiled by a sack and strip of Teddy Bridgewater. Once Campbell recovered the fumble, the Cardinals had secured a 23-20 win and a second-straight trip to the playoffs.
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The Stars: Palmer played well here, tossing 25-of-35 for 310 yards and two touchdowns.
Bison safety Robbie Grimsley says Wentz’s return is an emotional boost, but adds that the defense needs more than attitude to stop UNI’s 1-2 punch of quarterback Aaron Bailey and running back Tyvis Smith. “The first one, he blocked me, so I said no one will ever expect another one“. After Minnesota forced a punt, they drove 88 yards, with two completions to the sparingly used Mike Wallace, including the touchdown to tie the game.
“To be able to have this type of dream situation, fourth quarter, game on the line, it’s kind of like ninth inning, two outs”, Freeney said, “one of those situations for a defensive lineman, and I was able to make a play”. I didn’t feel there was any way we could throw the ball in bounds and still get a play off. So we were trying to get a little closer, play created to get to the sideline.
As noted by Sports Illustrated, the Vikings are still looking for a “statement win”, as critics love to point out that Minnesota has only beaten one team this year with a record above.500.
The Cardinals’ defensive game plan was clear, as they put a ton of focus on stopping the NFL’s leading rusher. Neither one of them had monster games but when they had to, they provided excitement and took pressure off of Bridgewater and Peterson.
Minnesota got the ball back at its own 20-yard line and quickly moved down the field, reaching Arizona’s 31 with 18 seconds left. “It was just a bad decision by me to try to pitch it. I should have just held onto it and taken the loss”.
“I don’t think we could get much better than winning seven in a row, but we can play better”, Arians said.
Bridgewater moved the Vikings to the Arizona 31-yard line, well within the range of Blair Walsh. Adrian Peterson scored a 100th career touchdown in the 1st quarter that Minnesota on top by a score of 7-3.
Before he sacked and stripped Teddy Bridgewater of the ball, he made a game-winning call. Palmer used it to his advantage once again, connecting with Brown on a 65-yard touchdown pass and a 10-7 Cardinals lead. “When the Arizona Cardinals have an injury, it’s next man up”. Arizona is 4-0 in prime time games this season.
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“I didn’t know who to throw it to”, Carson Palmer said after the game.
