There's a growing sentiment in NFL circles that the Arizona Cardinals are actually the best team in the NFL. They haven't played the toughest schedule in the world, but they've got a chance to flex their muscles down the stretch here with home games still coming against three of the best teams in the NFC. The first of those three tests happens on Thursday Night Football in Week 14, as the Minnesota Vikings pay a visit to the desert.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Minnesota Vikings +7
Arizona Cardinals -7
Over/Under 45
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Cardinals have been favored in all but one of their games this year, and this very well might not be an exception for the rest of the year. They're giving a full touchdown in this game, a very high number considering the fact that Minnesota is indeed just two games back of Arizona.
Let's not forget that Arizona can clinch a playoff spot with a win and move its magic number to just one between its wins and Seattle losses to win the NFC West. Minnesota is still trailing in the NFC North via tiebreaker to Green Bay, but it has to worry about what's behind it as well. If the Vikes lose this one, there's a good chance that they'll have the same record as Seattle and be just a game up on Tampa Bay in the NFC Wild Card chase, too.
WHEN THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL
We just don't see it out of the Minnesota offense right now. The Vikes have been held under 350 yards in each of their last three games, and they were dreadful against Seattle last week with just a total of nine first downs and 125 yards of offense.
Running the ball between the tackles is a real chore against these Cardinals, something that virtually everyone has had to deal with. That's why there's going to be a huge onus here on Teddy Bridgewater. It's not that Adrian Peterson is destined for another game with eight carries for 18 yards like he had last week against Seattle. It's just that we know Bridgewater is going to have to make some plays with his arm (and potentially his legs) if the Vikings want to beat the live betting lines against one of the best teams in the league.
Once again, that's easier said than done. The Cardinals are allowing just 227.8 passing yards per game, and they make more big plays in the secondary than arguably anyone else in the NFL. Rashad Johnson and Tyrann Mathieu are two of the many ball hawks sitting back there waiting for Bridgewater to make a mistake, and as we've seen in recent weeks, a banged up offensive line in front of him is leaving the former Louisville Cardinal little time to diagnose routes, which is giving DBs plenty of time to make plays.
WHEN THE ARIZONA CARDINALS HAVE THE BALL
Common thought suggests that it should be tough to throw the ball deep against these Vikings. They've got a heck of a secondary, and their front seven is tremendously aggressive. However, with Anthony Barr, Linval Joseph and Harrison Smith all sidelined last week, the Seahawks ripped this secondary apart for two Doug Baldwin touchdowns which covered at least 20 yards. Russell Wilson went 21-of-27 for 274 yards and three TDs.
J.J. Nelson is the newest weapon for Carson Palmer to utilize. He's got touchdowns in two of his last three games, and when you combine him with Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown, you've got the best set of receivers in the NFL for our money.
If those guys are getting loose, Palmer can mask a lot of the problems this running game might have if both Andre Ellington and Chris Johnson are once again inactive. The Cards can score from anywhere on the field, and they turn turnovers into points in a hurry, so don't miss out on your chances to live bet on them if you get the sense that the tide is starting to turn just a bit in their favor.
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The Week 14 duel between the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals will go down Thursday, December 10, 2015 at 8:30 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium. The game will be televised live on the NFL Network.
