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Jackson, Peterson pace Vikings' rout of Cardinals

Dec 15, 2008 - 2:22 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Vikings looked hungry. The Arizona Cardinals looked hung over. The result was predictable.

Tarvaris Jackson threw a career-high four touchdown passes and Adrian Peterson set a single-season franchise record for rushing yards Sunday as the Vikings moved closer to the playoffs with a 35-14 victory over the Cardinals.

Minnesota (9-5) remained one game ahead of Chicago (8-6) in the NFC North and can clinch the division next week with a victory over Atlanta.

"I am not going to worry about Chicago," Peterson said. "I am worried about the Vikings and the team we are facing."

Starting in place of the injured Gus Frerotte, Jackson completed only 11-of-17 passes for 163 yards, but he made the most of his opportunities.

"I kind of feel that I figured that I would go out there and just have fun and let it all hang," said Jackson, who was benched after the Vikings started 0-2. "You know what you are doing so go out there and just play."

After Minnesota's Bernard Berrian set an early tone by returning a punt 82 yards for a score,

Jackson tossed TD passes of 41 yards to Berrian and 6 yards to Sidney Rice to complete the Vikings' 21-point first quarter.

Jackson and Chester Taylor then hooked up for an 11-yard score with 2:08 left in the first half to give Minnesota a 28-0 halftime cushion.

Although he was kept out of the end zone, Peterson rushed for 165 yards on 28 carries, raising his season total to 1,581 yards. He broke Robert Smith's previous franchise mark of 1,521 set in 2000.

"We spread the ball around and four or five players scored today," Peterson added. "When you look at that, that is what you need. Being in the hunt to win the division, you can't ask more than that, getting the other guys involved."

Last week, the Cardinals (8-6) clinched the NFC West, winning their first division crown since 1975, when the franchise was located in St. Louis.

In the first half Sunday, Arizona played like it was still celebrating the accomplishment.

"Not much positive about that game," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "I didn't see it (a lack of focus) in practice. I thought we were prepared and ready to play."

The Cardinals got some life in the second half, but it was too little, too late.

Kurt Warner tossed a 50-yard TD pass to Jerheme Urban just 67 seconds into the second half and Roderick Hood returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for a score to bring Arizona within 28-14 with 4 1/2 minutes still left in the third quarter.

However, Jackson put away the contest by tossing a 59-yard TD strike to Bobby Wade with 17 seconds left in the third quarter.

"Big win from the standpoint (of) going on the road and beating the NFC West champs," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "We knew they were explosive and we needed to control the ball. I thought we would have the ability to run the ball on them and then made sure we scored on those drives."

Taylor added 66 yards on the ground as the Vikings rushed for 239 yards on 44 carries, an average of 5.4 yards per attempt.

"We came in and we were going to try to pound the rock," Peterson said.

Warner completed 29-of-45 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown before being pulled in the fourth quarter.

"I don't know if it was a letdown but we didn't play very well," Warner said. "That team beat us today all across the board, so I don't know if it was because of a letdown or we just didn't play very well."

The Cardinals rushed just seven times, one more the NFL season low.