Minnesota Vikings (10-2) – Arizona Cardinals (6-6): 23-22
In the cold of Minnesota, Cardinals and Vikings struggled to warm up the atmosphere. In a very close match, the defenses ruled the roost. But when it came time to win, Kevin O'Connell (HC, Vikings) showed his fiery temperament.
Sam Darnold (21/31, 235 yards, 2 touchdowns) kept his cool to find Justin Jefferson brilliant at the end of the match. Minnesota reverses a meeting that has been going poorly for a long time, to cool down the franchise in the Arizona desert.
Impactful defenses
The first half is an ode to defense. The two teams go blow for blow in a particularly similar manner. Even Brian Flores (DC, Vikings) calling blitzes is a habit. He is no exception to the rule and puts a lot of pressure on Kyler Murray. He couples that with a deep defense to prevent big plays from the Cardinals.
The cocktail works. Marvin Harrison Jr. is muzzled (5 receptions, 60 yards, 1 touchdown). But Arizona's offensive game plan is suitable. Runs and short passes follow one another. This is good, James Conner (recently extended) and Trey McBride (12 receptions, 96 yards) are the best players for Arizona. They push their team forward but stall in the scoring zone.
The Cardinals defense applies a game plan similar to its purple counterpart. Sam Darnold doesn't have Kyler Murray's ability to avoid early pressures. The quarterback keeps making sacks. Aaron Jones doesn't help him any more by dropping two balls on trivial runs.
The locked meeting ended at half-time with a sluggish 6-9. The best is yet to come.
Heroes and zero, crossed destinies
Kyler Murray (31/45, 260 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions) is having a game at different speeds. The first is slow and diligent. The second is intoxicating when the little quarterback finds Michael Wilson (5 receptions, 55 yards) in an acrobatic manner, then Marvin Harrison Jr. with a superb touchdown for the touchdown (6-19).
But the last gear is not one, it is rather reverse. Murray sends two interceptions to close his meeting. Unlike a decisive Sam Darnold on two final drives which transformed into points. The quarterback finds Johnny Mundt (TE) first. And goes back up the field to offer Aaron Jones a liberating touchdown, 23-22 final score.
Fear of Justin Jefferson, fear of winning
It's in the final moments of matches like this that the best players are reminded why they are. Justin Jefferson once again wrote his name in capital letters during this meeting. The long silent receiver forced the decision. He had big wins and conversions of 4e attempts to overturn a poorly started match. Thanks to his 99 yards in 7 receptions, he exceeds for 5e consecutive year the 1000 yard mark.
Arizona loses a game with fear. The Cardinals fell behind for the first time in the game with 1 minute 13 seconds remaining. They ran for 406 yards on offense while allowing only 273 to the Vikings. Minnesota only converted one 3e attempt out of 8 attempts, conceded 5 sacks and lost one ball. But Arizona has never known how to be realistic or daring, unlike Minnesota which finds, like the Chiefs, different ways to win.
