Final
Cardinals, Vikings vying for No. 3 seed
Dec 9, 2008 - 9:38 PM Minnesota (8-5) at Arizona (8-5), 4:05 pm ESTGLENDALE, 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.
- ** CONFIRMED **
NFL
MINNESOTA 35
ARIZONA 14 FINAL
Dec 14 7:10 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 21 7 7 35
ARIZONA 0 0 14 14 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: MIN - TD, BERNARD BERRIAN 82 YD PUNT RETURN
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 3:55.
MINNESOTA 7-0
MIN - TD, BERNARD BERRIAN 41 YD PASS FROM
TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL
KICK), 8:21. Drive: 6 p
Dec 14 6:31 PM
TD MIN BOBBY WADE 59 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 35, Cardinals 14 3rd - 0:17Dec 14 6:28 PM
TD MIN BOBBY WADE 59 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 35, Cardinals 14 3rd - 0:17Dec 14 6:28 PM
TD MIN BOBBY WADE 59 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 35, Cardinals 14 3rd - 0:17Dec 14 6:28 PM- NFL
TD MIN
BOBBY WADE 59 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
MINNESOTA 35
ARIZONA 14 0:17 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Vikings 35, Cardinals 14 3rd - 0:17Dec 14 6:28 PM
TD ARI RODERICK HOOD 68 YD RETURN OF BLOCKED FIELD GOAL (NEIL RACKERS KICK)
Vikings 28, Cardinals 14 3rd - 4:27Dec 14 6:22 PM
TD ARI RODERICK HOOD 68 YD RETURN OF BLOCKED FIELD GOAL (NEIL RACKERS KICK)
Vikings 28, Cardinals 14 3rd - 4:27Dec 14 6:22 PM- NFL
TD ARI
RODERICK HOOD 68 YD RETURN OF BLOCKED FIELD GOAL
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)
MINNESOTA 28
ARIZONA 14 4:27 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Vikings 28, Cardinals 14 3rd - 4:27Dec 14 6:22 PM
TD ARI JERHEME URBAN 50 YD PASS FROM KURT WARNER (NEIL RACKERS KICK)
Vikings 28, Cardinals 7 3rd - 13:43Dec 14 5:49 PM
TD ARI JERHEME URBAN 50 YD PASS FROM KURT WARNER (NEIL RACKERS KICK)
Vikings 28, Cardinals 7 3rd - 13:43Dec 14 5:49 PM
TD ARI JERHEME URBAN 50 YD PASS FROM KURT WARNER (NEIL RACKERS KICK)
Vikings 28, Cardinals 7 3rd - 13:43Dec 14 5:49 PM- NFL
TD ARI
JERHEME URBAN 50 YD PASS FROM KURT WARNER
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)
MINNESOTA 28
ARIZONA 7 13:43 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Vikings 28, Cardinals 7 3rd - 13:43Dec 14 5:49 PM - NFL
HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 21 7 28
ARIZONA 0 0 0 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: MIN - TD, BERNARD BERRIAN 82 YD PUNT RETURN
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 3:55.
MINNESOTA 7-0
MIN - TD, BERNARD BERRIAN 41 YD PASS FROM
TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL
KICK), 8:21. Drive: 6 plays
Dec 14 5:31 PM
TD MIN CHESTER TAYLOR 11 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 28, Cardinals 0 2nd - 2:08Dec 14 5:22 PM
TD MIN CHESTER TAYLOR 11 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 28, Cardinals 0 2nd - 2:08Dec 14 5:22 PM
TD MIN CHESTER TAYLOR 11 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 28, Cardinals 0 2nd - 2:08Dec 14 5:22 PM- NFL
TD MIN
CHESTER TAYLOR 11 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
MINNESOTA 28
ARIZONA 0 2:08 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Vikings 28, Cardinals 0 2nd - 2:08Dec 14 5:22 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 21 21
ARIZONA 0 0 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: MIN - TD, BERNARD BERRIAN 82 YD PUNT RETURN
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 3:55.
MINNESOTA 7-0
MIN - TD, BERNARD BERRIAN 41 YD PASS FROM
TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL
KICK), 8:21. Drive: 6 p
Dec 14 4:51 PM - NFL
TD MIN
SIDNEY RICE 6 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
MINNESOTA 21
ARIZONA 0 2:43 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Vikings 21, Cardinals 0 1st - 2:43Dec 14 4:45 PM
TD MIN BERNARD BERRIAN 41 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 14, Cardinals 0 1st - 6:39Dec 14 4:32 PM
TD MIN BERNARD BERRIAN 41 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 14, Cardinals 0 1st - 6:39Dec 14 4:32 PM
TD MIN BERNARD BERRIAN 41 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 14, Cardinals 0 1st - 6:39Dec 14 4:32 PM- NFL
TD MIN
BERNARD BERRIAN 41 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
MINNESOTA 14
ARIZONA 0 6:39 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Vikings 14, Cardinals 0 1st - 6:39Dec 14 4:32 PM
TD MIN BERNARD BERRIAN 82 YD PUNT RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 7, Cardinals 0 1st - 11:05Dec 14 4:16 PM
TD MIN BERNARD BERRIAN 82 YD PUNT RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
Vikings 7, Cardinals 0 1st - 11:05Dec 14 4:16 PM- NFL
TD MIN
BERNARD BERRIAN 82 YD PUNT RETURN
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK)
MINNESOTA 7
ARIZONA 0 11:05 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Vikings 7, Cardinals 0 1st - 11:05Dec 14 4:16 PM
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