Vikings Cook the Cardinals, End Their Losing Streak

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

In a game they desperately needed to win, the Minnesota Vikings were able to get an impressive 30-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in front of their home crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium. The win improves the Vikings’ record to 6-4 and ends their embarrassing four-game losing streak.

Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer always talks about performing well in all three phases of the game and the Vikings did just that Sunday. The team got 18 of their 30 points against the Cardinals courtesy of their defensive and special teams units.

One of those scores came from Minnesota cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who gave the team a big boost with his performance against Arizona on Sunday. After leaving last week’s game against the Washington Redskins with a concussion, Rhodes responded in a big way against the Cardinals by snagging two interceptions, including a momentum swinging, 100-yard pick six in the second quarter.

But before Rhodes celebrated his touchdown, the Vikings had a great offensive drive to open the game to give the team an early 7-0 lead. When Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford found Adam Thielen on the side of the end zone early in the first quarter, it was just the team’s second opening drive touchdown of the season.

Thanks to Thielen, Rhodes, and another touchdown in the second quarter from Matt Asiata, Minnesota headed into the locker room up 20-17 at the half.

With Arizona within three to start the third quarter, the Vikings got a nice surprise after wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson returned the opening half kickoff 104-yards for six points. The return touchdown was Patterson’s first of the season and the fifth in his four-year NFL career.

A big difference in Minnesota getting the win on Sunday was due to their defense stepping up on third down and generating a bunch of pressure. The Cardinals were only able to convert on 4 of their 13 third down attempts and the Vikings’ defense ended a game with multiple sacks for the first time since their Week 5 win over the Houston Texans.

Minnesota does not have much time to get ready for their next game as they have a Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Detroit Lions on Thursday.  The Vikings will be trying to avenge their overtime loss to the Lions back in Week 9.

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