Cardinals at Vikings
THE STORY: Similarities abound when the winless Minnesota Vikings host the struggling Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Both teams feature quarterbacks who built their reputations in Philadelphia and both squads have shown an uncanny ability to lose close games this season. Kevin Kolb, who inherited a short-lived tenure as starter when the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to Washington, has lost three straight in his first season with Arizona. That still 1-ups former Pro Bowler McNabb, who has Minnesota fans calling for his job – and rookie first-round pick Christian Ponder – for presiding over one of the league’s worst passing attacks.
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Vikings -3, O/U 45.5
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (1-3): Arizona blew a late 10-point lead at home to the New York Giants last week, watching Eli Manning throw two TD passes in a 58-second span. That spoiled a brilliant performance by RB Beanie Wells, who rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns – both career highs. During Arizona’s three-game losing streak, the defeats have come by a total of eight points. WR Larry Fitzgerald had eight catches for 102 yards to become the franchise leader with 8,565 receiving yards.
ABOUT THE VIKINGS (0-1): Minnesota dropped to 0-4 for the first time since 2002, losing 22-17 at previously winless Kansas City last week. The Vikings, who blew double-digit halftime leads in their first three losses, have been a disaster in the second half, getting outscored 80-16. Star RB Adrian Peterson leads the NFC in rushing with 376 yards but has cracked 100 yards only once. Minnesota has the league’s second-worst passing attack (154.8 yards per game). McNabb is averaging a dreadful 6.1 yards per completion.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The Cardinals have never won at Minnesota in six meetings. That includes last season’s overtime loss in which they squandered a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead to Brett Favre.
2. Vikings DE Jared Allen is second in the league with 6.5 sacks, including five in the past two weeks.
3. Minneapolis native Fitzgerald has put on a show in his two visits to the Metrodome, hauling in 18 catches for 279 yards.