ARIZONA, Sporting Alert – NFL Week 14 fixtures get going on Thursday with the Minnesota Vikings taking on the Arizona Cardinals at U of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ.
The Cardinals (10-2) will look to clinch the NFC West Division with a win in Thursday Night Football, while pushing their current win streak to seven games.
Entering this game, Arizona is allowing 19.3 points per game, which is fourth in the NFL this season, but is expected to be tested by a Vikings offense that will be led by star running back Adrian Peterson, who has tallied 1,182 total yards rushing.
Defensively, both teams are giving up identical 19.3 points per battle, so it could come down to the most productive offense.
The Cardinals are scoring 31.8 points per game — No. 1 in the NFL this season — but Minnesota (8-4) is only scoring 19.8 points per game, which is only better than for teams in the league.
Last time out for Arizona, they cruised to a comfortable 27-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams, while covering in the game as a 3.5-point favorite.
In that matchup, quarterback Carson Palmer passed for 356 yards and two touchdowns without an interception for a QBR of 87.4.
Meanwhile, when the Vikings last played, they were beaten 38-7 by the reigning two-time NFC West champions Seattle Seahawks, and as a result, failed to cover in that game as the 3-point underdogs.
Arizona comes in as a 10.5-point favorite to beat the Vikings, this is according to VegasInsider, with the game’s total sitting at 46.5.
In early team news, for the Minnesota Vikings, it is now confirmed that defensive tackle Linval Joseph (foot), who is regarded as the team’s best defender, has been ruled out of the clash with the Cardinals.
Also missing this game for the Vikings are linebacker Anthony Barr (groin) and safeties Harrison Smith (knee/hamstring) and Andrew Sendejo (knee).
This game will be live on the NFL Network, while there are still 689 tickets available from $105. Game time is set for 8:25 PM ET.
