The Arizona Cardinals, the NFC West leading team, beat the Minnesota Vikings Thursday, assuring themselves a spot in the NFL playoffs. It also means that the Vikings are behind their rivals, the Green Bay Packers by a half of a game, but on Sunday the Packers will be playing the Seattle Seahawks. It was a nail-biting game until the end.
The Cardinals were playing a Vikings team that had four injured players missing from their defensive line. Key players on the bench were linebacker Anthony Barr with groin and hand problems, defensive tackle Linval Joseph had a foot issue, and safety Andrew Sendejo had a hurt knee, as well as another safety, Harrison Smith with a hurt knee and injured hamstring.
Thursday’s game not settled until the very end
Even though the Cardinals made the win that gets them into the NFL playoffs, the Vikings didn’t give up during the game and hung on until the bitter end. Adrian Peterson scored a 100th career touchdown in the 1st quarter that Minnesota on top by a score of 7-3. Then, Carson Palmer made a 65-yard touchdown pass to John Brown to make the Cardinals the leader by a score of 10-7.
The end of the 2nd quarter the Vikings kicker Blair Walsh made the sole points in that quarter by getting a field goal that made the score a tie game at 10-10.
Last quarters in the game made the difference for Cardinals
Then came the 3rd quarter and Palmer threw a touchdown pass to score the only points in that quarter, and then there was a field goal for 35 yards in the top of the 4th and the Cardinals were back in the lead.
However, the Vikings retaliated and the game was tied again at 20-20 with another field goal and a touchdown pass.
Finally, the Cardinals got another field goal putting them ahead, 23-20, and cinched their seat in the NFL playoffs.
Cardinals were leading even before Thursday’s win
Prior to the win on Thursday, the Cardinals were already leading and had won six games in a row, and were ahead of Seattle by three, and now by 3.5.
Now, the team will go to Philadelphia to play the Eagles, whose team is in a tie for 1st place in the NFC East, but the Cardinals will go to the NFL playoffs no matter what happens in the upcoming games.
