Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals: 5 keys to victory

The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Arizona Cardinals on December 8, 2015 on Thursday Night Football. Here are the five keys to success for the Vikings.

Coming off a big loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Minnesota Vikings now have a short week to rebound and get healthy enough to compete with the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football. Arizona is on a roll both offensively and defensively, putting on a show that should lead most to believe that they’re a Super Bowl contender.

In order to compete with the Cardinals, the Vikings will need to play an inspired game of football and rebound immensely during the short week. For that, I’ve come up with my list of the top 5 things Minnesota will have to do to win the game.

Here are my five keys to victory in no particular order:

Feed off anger from Sunday’s game. Hopefully, the Minnesota Vikings are as humiliated and angry about the lopsided loss to the Seattle Seahawks that their fans are. The team should come out with a fire under them if the tone and mood in the locker room is to not let something like that happen again.

Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback

Carson Palmer

(3) looks to throw the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi

Frustrate Carson Palmer. Arizona is ranked #1 in the NFL in total offense (419.5 yards per game) and #3 in passing (299.3 yards per game). The Minnesota Vikings will need to get to Carson Palmer and control the backfield in order to stand with Arizona.

Have backups step up to the challenge. With Anthony Barr, Harrison Smith and Linval Joseph already ruled out for the game, there will be some young players stepping into a starting role. Filling the shoes of those guys will not be easy, but if the backups can prove to be capable it would mean a lot for the defense.

Offensive line needs to block better. The Cardinals own the #4 rush defense (89 yards per game), making things really difficult for running back Adrian Peterson. Getting yards will not be easy, and the Vikings offensive line will need to get a push as well as stand their ground in the passing game to give the offense a chance.

Get the ball out faster in the passing game. The coaching staff needs to have Teddy Bridgewater get the ball out faster. While Arizona doesn’t have many sacks on the year (21), they allow the fourth fewest yards per pass (6.6) and give up the second fewest passing first downs in the league (124). Not to mention the athletic Cardinals secondary.

Those are my five keys to victory for the Minnesota Vikings against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football. Do you agree with my keys? Have any that you’d like to add? Let me know in the comments below.

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