Game Preview
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals
sunday, december 14, 2008 - 4:05 pm
*Cardinals, Vikings vying for No. 3 seed*
Minnesota (8-5) at Arizona (8-5), 4:05 pm EST
GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- With their first division title in 33 years secured, the Arizona Cardinals are setting loftier goals.
Fresh off wrapping up the NFC West crown, the Cardinals host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in a clash of division leaders.
Arizona beat up on the St. Louis Rams, 34-10, last weekend to win its first division title since 1975, when the Cardinals were based in St. Louis.
The matchup with the Vikings could decide the No. 3 seed in the NFC, although some of the Cardinals' players have set their sights considerably higher.
"Let's try to win the big one," defensive tackle Darnell Dockett said. "We ain't got nothing to lose. Nothing. We ain't the defending champions, we ain't the ex-Super Bowl champions.
"I mean, if you look at Vegas, probably one in 27 million picked us to win the division and even get into the playoffs. So when we get in there, let's shock some people."
Dockett helped break the game open against the Rams, returning a fumble for a touchdown in the third quarter to boost the lead to 27-7.
Kurt Warner finished 24-of-33 for 279 yards and a touchdown, giving him 347 completions this season to break Neil Lomax's franchise mark of 345 set in 1984.
"I can only speak for the four years I've been here," Warner said. "I have no idea what it is like to be here for 20-plus years (and not make the playoffs)."
Arizona will look to spread out Minnesota's defense with their bookend 1,000-yard receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, as well as Steve Breaston, who needs 137 yards to reach that total.
The Vikings struggled in last weekend's 20-16 win over the winless Detroit Lions, getting a spark off the bench from Tarvaris Jackson.
After Gus Frerotte went down with a back injury, Jackson came on and completed 8-of-10 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Frerotte's status for Sunday's game is uncertain.
"I can't say enough about Tarvaris coming into the game with limited reps," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "That's what happens in that position. He did a good job coming in moving the football around and converting third downs."
Adrian Peterson rushed for 102 for Minnesota, which has won three straight games and holds a one-game lead over the Chicago Bears atop the NFC North.