When these two teams met a year ago, the Arizona Cardinals didn’t have much to play for as they had already clinched the NFC West Division Championship and it showed. The Cardinals took a beating by the much more hungry Vikings, 35-14. This year however, Arizona has just a two game lead in the NFC West and will want to build on that lead in order to secure another division crown. The Vikings meanwhile can clinch their division title with a win and a Green Bay loss on Monday Night. With so much on the line, you can expect both teams to bring their 'A' game.

Minnesota is the second best team in the NFC record wise, behind the New Orleans Saints and they are looking to dethrone the Cardinals as the reigning NFC Champs. The Vikings have been a very profitable team to bet on this year going 10-1 SU and 8-3 ATS. Odds makers have installed the Vikings as 3 point road favorites over the 7-4 Cardinals. There has been some uncertainty about whether or not QB Kurt Warner will be able to play on Sunday night as he missed last week’s game against the Titans with a concussion. Warner is listed as probable and should be ready to go.

The Arizona secondary has been a major weakness of this Cardinals team. They certainly will get tested as the Vikings have multiple weapons at the wide receiver position to really stretch the field. Arizona is ranked 30th in pass defense, yielding 258.7 yards passing per game. That doesn’t bode well for a team that is facing a quarterback in Brett Favre who is playing at an elite level. The conundrum for the Cardinals’ defensive staff is if they drop linebackers and safeties back in coverage that will open up the run game for the best running back in football, Adrian Peterson. With Favre completing passes all over the field and AP pounding the rock, this Vikings’ offense is very difficult to stop because they can beat you in so many different ways.

Arizona also boasts one of the top passing attacks in the NFL. They have arguably the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. They are averaging 262 yards per game through the air and they will be facing a Viking defense that is ranked just 19th in pass defense. Antoine Winfield would provide a boost to the secondary but is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game. In order for Arizona to outscore the Vikings, they will have to protect Kurt Warner. The Vikings have arguably the best front seven in all of football and Jared Allen is a terror of a speed rusher of the edge. Arizona hasn’t proven they can run the ball and will likely struggle to run against this Minnesota defense. Thus, the Cardinals’ best shot at moving the ball will be through the air which makes the key to the game the health of Kurt Warner. If he is not 100%, the offense could struggle.

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