SAN FRANCISCO vs ARIZONA
When: 12/26/2020 4:30 PM
Where:

TV: 4:30 PM
LINE: -5
PREDICTION: ARIZONA , SAN FRANCISCO

Oddsmakers currently have the ARIZONA listed as -5 point favorites versus the SAN FRANCISCO, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.

The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals meet up at a familiar setting when the NFC West rivals duel on Saturday afternoon in Glendale, Ariz.

The rematch of a 24-20 Arizona win in Week 1 has far more significance for the Cardinals (8-6), who remain in the running for an NFC playoff spot, than the 49ers (5-9), whose bid to repeat as conference champs officially ended with last week’s loss at Dallas.

Both teams will be playing on the State Farm Stadium field for the third time in the last four weeks, with the 49ers having been forced to relocate from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., because of COVID-19 restrictions in the region.

The 49ers have lost their first two neutral-site games in Arizona, beaten in Week 13 by Buffalo 34-24 and then a week later by Washington 23-15.

The 49ers were thumped 41-33 at Dallas last week, and lost far more than just a game that eliminated them from playoff contention. Top running back Raheem Mostert has been ruled out for the season after aggravating a high ankle sprain in the loss, while quarterback Nick Mullens suffered an elbow injury that the 49ers fear could require Tommy John surgery.

Regular starter Jimmy Garoppolo has returned to practice after suffering an ankle injury against Seattle in Week 8, but San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan noted that he’s unlikely to get medical clearance to return to game action either this week or in the finale against Seattle, another game that will be played in Arizona.

“(He will play) only if the doctors told me it’s 100 percent safe and he feels good, and I’d be very surprised if that happens,” Shanahan reported. “Right now, he’s safe to go out to practice. It’ll be fun for him to throw the ball around a little bit, but we’re going to be very safe with him this week and we’ll see next week. But I’d be very surprised if that changes.”

Shanahan wouldn’t name a starter for the Arizona game as the practice week began, but by process of elimination, the last man standing appears to be C.J. Beathard, who came on in mop-up duty in Dallas and threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne on the final play of the game.

The 49ers have since gone out and plucked veteran Josh Rosen off the Tampa Bay practice squad to serve as Beathard’s backup.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, will take the field in third place in the NFC West, two games behind Seattle (10-4) and one back of the Los Angeles Rams (9-5). Arizona visits the Rams next week.

The Cardinals can clinch a wild card this weekend with a win over the 49ers and a Chicago (7-7) loss to Jacksonville (1-13).

Kyler Murray kept Arizona in a favorable position when he threw for a season-best 406 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 33-26 home win over Philadelphia.

But like the 49ers, the Cardinals didn’t escape the game unscathed. Veteran wideout Larry Fitzgerald strained his groin and star linebacker Haason Reddick injured his shoulder in the win, leaving both a bit iffy for the San Francisco game.

Murray, who rushed for 91 yards but threw for just 230 in the earlier loss to the 49ers, warned not to overlook a prideful opponent.

“Good team,” he insisted. “They’ll be ready to go, obviously. It’s a divisional game. It’s going to be very competitive.”

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ARIZONA vs LA RAMS
When: 1/3/2021 4:25 PM
Where:

TV: 4:25 PM
LINE: -4
PREDICTION: LA RAMS , ARIZONA

Oddsmakers currently have the LA RAMS listed as -4 point favorites versus the ARIZONA, while the game’s total is sitting at 41.5.

With their seasons on the line, a pair of NFC West rivals will meet on Sunday in what amounts to an early playoff game as the Arizona Cardinals face the Los Angeles Rams at Inglewood, Calif.

The short-handed Rams (9-6) need a victory or a Chicago Bears (8-7) loss to the Green Bay Packers to make the actual playoff field, but they maintain they will play Sunday’s game as if a loss means elimination. The Cardinals (8-7) are in a true win-or-go-home scenario.

The Rams will be without quarterback Jared Goff, who sustained a thumb injury last Sunday at Seattle and underwent surgery. John Wolford, who has not taken a snap in a regular-season game, is scheduled to start for a team that has lost consecutive games.

Also expected to be out is wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who tested positive for COVID-19, according to NFL Network. The Rams have not confirmed a positive test for their top receiver, who leads the team with 92 receptions and 974 yards.

The offense has other issues as running back Darrell Henderson (high ankle sprain) is out while running back Malcolm Brown (shoulder) has been limited at practice. Rookie running back Cam Akers (ankle) will try to get back on the field after not playing against the Seahawks.

“I believe in this team,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I trust in their mental toughness and I think that the overarching message is let’s put everything that we have into this. Let’s not be afraid to put it all out there one more time. Get back up off the mat and keep swinging and have no regrets no matter how this thing ends up.”

The Rams are in their near do-or-die situation after failing to clinch a playoff berth in a Week 15 loss to the previously winless New York Jets before also losing at Seattle in Week 16.

The Cardinals were dealt a blow last week when they were completely taken out of their game in a 20-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The defeat came after consecutive victories over the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cardinals, who are trying to get into the playoffs for the first time since 2015, will have quarterback Kyler Murray at the helm even though he sustained a right leg injury on his final pass attempt Sunday.

“Yeah, I’ll be playing,” Murray said. “There’s no holding back. If we lose, I’ll be home chillin’. It’s my leg. I’m fine.

“It’s an opportunity that only we could ask for. It’s an opportunity to play in the playoffs, get in and we’re right where we want to be with everything that has happened this year.”

The Cardinals do have questions at running back with Chase Edmonds nursing a hip injury that has his status in doubt. Murray was a full participant in practice Wednesday, but Edmonds did not participate.

Also not participating for the Cardinals on Wednesday were wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins (hip) and Larry Fitzgerald (groin). Members of the defense missing at practice Wednesday were linebacker Haason Reddick (hip) and safety Chris Banjo (hip).

The Rams took linebacker Micah Kiser (knee) off injured reserve, but he still is not expected to play Sunday.

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ARIZONA vs SAN FRANCISCO
When: 9/13/2020 4:25 PM
Where:

TV: 4:25 PM
LINE: -8
PREDICTION: SAN FRANCISCO , ARIZONA

Oddsmakers currently have the SAN FRANCISCO listed as -8 point favorites versus the ARIZONA, while the game’s total is sitting at 46.5.

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At the point, the Ravens will turn their attention toward keeping their former teammate clear of quarterback Lamar Jackson.

”To see his face on the scouting report is pretty funny. It’s crazy,” Baltimore guard Marshal Yanda said. ”We can talk before the game and we can talk after the game, but during the game it’s business.”

For 16 years, Suggs was Baltimore’s premier pass rusher. In addition to establishing the franchise record for sacks, Suggs provided leadership and comic relief on the field and in the locker room.

During this past offseason, however, the 36-year-old opted to return to his roots and signed a one-year, $7 million contract with Arizona.

When Suggs saw the Cardinals were playing the second game of the season in Baltimore, he began preparing for a strange, nostalgic journey.

”It’s kind of a unique situation, isn’t it? It’s kind of weird,” he said. ”Once it hit me that it was actually (Baltimore’s) home opener, that’s when I was kind of like, `Wow.’ That’s when the craziness of it kind of set in.”

Suggs launched the second stanza of his career with four tackles and two sacks in Arizona’s season-opening tie with Detroit. If the Ravens (1-0) are to build on their 59-10 rout of Miami, they’re going to have to stop their old friend from creating havoc in the backfield.

”I’m going to have to bring it,” tight end Mark Andrews said. ”Everyone on this team is going to have to bring it with him. He’s a beast.”

After Ray Lewis retired, Suggs was always the last defensive player introduced to the crowd. On Sunday, he’ll come out with the Cardinals, but surely will be recognized for his past accomplishments in Baltimore.

”I don’t know how I’m going to feel,” he said. ”This is something that in 17 years I’ve never experienced, so this is going to be a first.”

Some things to know about the first meeting between Arizona and Baltimore since 2015:

JACKSON’S ENCORE

After throwing for 324 yards and five touchdowns against the Dolphins, Jackson will be looking to keep the offense rolling in Game 2 of his second NFL season.

He said his objective is to ”try to put on a show.”

Jackson proved last week that he can pass the ball as well as run with it.

”I had a whole year to get chemistry down pat, study a lot, work hard on throwing the ball,” he said.

QUITE A DEBUT

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray brought his team back from an 18-point, fourth-quarter deficit and finished 29 of 54 for 308 yards and two touchdowns.

The 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall selection in the draft is the first player in franchise history to throw for 300 yards in his debut.

Jackson and Murray both have a Heisman in their trophy case and have the potential to shine as pros for years to come.

”In my opinion, they’re two guys that can be the future of the sport if they continue to progress and put in the work and the time,” Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury said.

THE OTHER MURRAY

The Cardinals are relying on more than one Murray on offense.

Justin Murray started at right tackle in Week 1, just a few days after Marcus Gilbert injured his right knee in practice during a non-contact drill. The team put Gilbert on injured reserve on Tuesday.

Murray wasn’t perfect against the Lions, but he more than held his own, especially considering it was the second-year player’s third career NFL game. The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder did enough that Kingsbury expects him to start against the Ravens.

WELCOME CRABTREE

Arizona’s offense already has multiple playmakers. Now it’s adding Michael Crabtree to the mix.

The veteran receiver signed with the Cardinals a few weeks ago, but didn’t play in Week 1. Kingsbury said he expects Crabtree will be in the rotation this weekend.

”He brings a lot of experience, a lot of savvy, a lot of catches and a lot of physicality,” Kingsbury said. ”I know he’ll be excited for this one.”

Crabtree played for the Ravens last season, starting all 16 games and catching 54 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns.

BROWN DELIVERS

Baltimore’s top draft pick Marquise ”Hollywood” Brown caught four passes for 147 yards and two TDs in his first NFL game.

The speedster was a teammate of Kyler Murray’s at Oklahoma. Andrews also played for the Sooners, but those ties will be put on hold at game time.

Andrews said of Murray: ”He’s an Oklahoma guy, but he’s a rival this week.”

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ARIZONA vs BALTIMORE
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Ravens -13.
O/U: 44.5.
PREDICTION: Ravens 35, Cardinals 24

Oddsmakers currently have the BALTIMORE listed as -13 point favorites versus the ARIZONA, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.5.

The Baltimore Ravens’ new offense with Lamar Jackson firmly installed under center looked like the best unit in the league while dominating the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. Jackson and company will try to prove that was no fluke when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

The thought prior to the start of the regular season was that Jackson might be a candidate to break Michael Vick’s record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback but instead he went 17-for-20 for 324 yards and five touchdowns through the air in a 59-10 thrashing of the Dolphins. “He’s definitely better,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh told reporters of Jackson after watching his quarterback become the youngest players in NFL history (22) to record a perfect passer rating of 158.3. “He was a rookie last year. He didn’t practice much throughout the course of the year. So, he’s had a chance to be with the No. 1 offense on a daily basis and he did a great job with it.” The Cardinals have their own former Heisman Trophy winner under center in No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray, who led his team back from a 17-0 deficit in his NFL debut before settling for a tie against the Detroit Lions. “That would’ve been terrible if we had not done anything at all (on offense),” Murray told reporters. “That would’ve left a bad taste in our mouth. The fact we can kind of feel decent with what happened. … It’s something to build on going forward.”

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (0-0-1): Arizona is young at quarterback and coach with first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury learning the NFL after a long stint in the college ranks but there is plenty of veteran help around with Larry Fitzgerald on offense and Terrel Suggs on defense. Suggs spent the first 16 seasons of his career in Baltimore before leaving in the offseason and recorded a pair of sacks in the opener to push his career total to 135 1/2. “I have no clue what’s going to happen on Sunday,” Suggs told reporters. “I don’t know what kind of reception; I don’t know how I’m going to feel. This is a very unique situation for me. This is something that in 17 years I’ve never experienced.”

ABOUT THE RAVENS (1-0): Arizona won’t be the only team with a rookie first-round pick from Oklahoma on the field Sunday as Baltimore wide receiver Marquise Brown takes the field for his second game. Brown made an immediate impact in his debut with a 47-yard touchdown grab on his first catch and an 83-yard TD reception on his second catch. “We knew it was there,” offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley told reporters of the connection between Jackson and Brown. “Everybody was kind of, ‘Wait till the game to really see that thing happen.’ But we knew what those guys are capable of and the connection they had just being out in the locker room and stuff. It was good to see it translate to the field.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ravens CB Jimmy Smith will miss several weeks but is not expected to need surgery after suffering a knee sprain in Week 1.

2. The Cardinals placed RT Marcus Gilbert (knee) on injured reserve and signed OL Jordan Mills.

3. Arizona WR Michael Crabtree, who spent last season in Baltimore, is expected to make his team debut on Sunday after being inactive for Week 1.

PREDICTION: Ravens 35, Cardinals 24

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DETROIT vs ARIZONA
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, September 8, 2019
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Lions -2.5
O/U: 46.5
PREDICTION: Lions 24, Cardinals 21

Oddsmakers currently have the ARIZONA listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the DETROIT, while the game’s total is sitting at 47.

The much-anticipated Kyler Murray era begins Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals host the Detroit Lions, but the first overall pick in the 2019 draft boasts a sense of calmness as the moment nears. “I’m chillin’,” Murray, the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma, told reporters. “I’m excited for Sunday obviously knowing it’s a big day for everybody – the start of the season. But we want to start it off the right way and that’s with a win. So, I’m preparing like any other season for me.”

Cardinals first-year coach Kliff Kingsbury wants his quarterback, who is listed at 5 feet 10, 207 pounds, to “play his game, cut it loose” as he takes the keys to the Air Raid offense that Kingsbury brought with him from Texas Tech. Detroit on Wednesday bought a look inside Kingsbury’s playbook when it signed quarterback Chad Kanoff, who was cut by Arizona last weekend, to the practice squad. Kingsbury said that Kanoff knows “pretty much everything. Whatever he says is exactly what we’re going to run in the game. That’s tough for us.” The Lions – like the Cardinals – finished last in their division in 2018 and hope that quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has played every game over the last eight years, can lead them back to the postseason.

ABOUT THE LIONS (2018: 6-10, LAST IN NFC NORTH): Stafford owns a franchise-record eight straight seasons with 3,500 or more passing yards and needs 1,474 to become the 21st quarterback in NFL history with 40,000. Second-year coach Matt Patricia, who was defensive coordinator in New England from 2012-17, has a pair of ex-Super Bowl champions making their club debuts in defensive end Trey Flowers (7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles in 2018 with the Patriots) and wide receiver Danny Amendola, who spent last season with Miami after five years in Foxborough. Running back C.J. Anderson, who also makes his team debut, rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown against Arizona last season while with the Los Angeles Rams.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (2018: 3-13, LAST IN NFC WEST): Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (1,303 catches, 16,279 yards) is second all-time in receiving yards to Jerry Rice (22,895) and needs 23 receptions to move past Tony Gonzalez and into second behind Rice (1,549). Running back David Johnson recorded 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing and 80 receptions for 879 yards and four scores during his breakout season of 2016 but didn’t approach those numbers last year (940 yards, seven TDs rushing; 50 catches, 446 yards, three TDs) after missing the final 15 games of 2017 with a wrist injury. Arizona boasts a formidable pass rush in linebacker Chandler Jones, whose 53.5 sacks since 2015 lead the NFL, and linebacker Terrell Suggs, who joins the team while leading all active players with 132.5.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Detroit CB Darius Slay tied for third in the league with 17 passes defended last season and his 86 PDs since 2014 lead the NFL.

2. Fitzgerald carries a 227-game reception streak into the season – second-longest in NFL history behind Rice (274).

3. The Lions lead the series 33-28-5 and snapped a seven-game slide by winning the last two meetings, including 17-3 last season in Arizona with Slay returning an interception 67 yards for a touchdown.

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The Cardinals announced the move Saturday in a one-sentence statement.

A Phoenix police spokeswoman, Sgt. Maggie Cox, confirmed Saturday that Philon had been arrested, but declined to provide further information, referring a reporter to court documents that were not immediately available Saturday.

According to TMZ, Philon was taken to a Maricopa County jail Friday on charges from an incident in May outside a Phoenix-area strip club. A court video of Philon’s initial court appearance posted by KPNX-TV showed that a judge set bond for Philon and imposed conditions that included allowing Philon to travel out of state for work.

Phillip Noland, an attorney who represented Philon during the brief court appearance, did not immediately respond to a request by The Associated Press for comment.

The 25-year-old Philon was a projected starter after signing in the offseason as a free agent. He started the Cardinals’ preseason opener Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers and played briefly, recording an assist on a tackle. The team had Friday off and reconvened for training camp Saturday without him.

”We’re aware of the situation and the serious allegations,” Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said before Philon was released. ”It’s been reported to the league (NFL), so we will allow that process from a league perspective and a legal standpoint to move forward.”

The Cardinals signed Philon to a two-year, $10 million contract in March. The former sixth-round draft pick out of Arkansas spent his first five NFL seasons with the Chargers, starting 19 of 54 career games with 9 1/2 career sacks.

Kingsbury said rookie Zach Allen, a third-round pick out of Boston College, will take over as the starter at Philon’s position.

NOTES: Safety Josh Shaw suffered a shoulder injury against Los Angeles and is expected to miss a week or two, Kingsbury said. LB Haason Reddick, a former first-round pick who is on the physically-unable-to-perform list after arthroscopic knee surgery, is still expected to return around the time of the first regular-season game.

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DETROIT LIONS vs ARIZONA CARDINALS
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, December 9, 2018
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

TV: 4:25 PM
LINE: 3
PREDICTION: ARIZONA , DETROIT

Oddsmakers currently have the ARIZONA listed as 3 point favorites versus the DETROIT, while the game’s total is sitting at 40.5.

The Arizona Cardinals attempt to post back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Arizona recorded its first win of 2018 against a team other than San Francisco last week as it recorded a 20-17 triumph at Green Bay that led to the firing of Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

The Cardinals registered a season-high 182 yards on the ground against Green Bay behind an offensive line that saw two more members land on injured reserve this week, bringing the current total to six. Arizona’s chances at a second straight win appear good, as the team has won seven of its last eight meetings with Detroit. The Lions hopes to avoid its second three-game losing streak of the season after dropping home decisions against Chicago and the league-leading Los Angeles Rams. Detroit halted its seven-game slide in the all-time series in the last meeting as it posted a 35-23 home victory on Sept. 10, 2017.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Lions -3. O/U: 40.5

ABOUT THE LIONS (4-8): Matthew Stafford, who threw four touchdown passes in last season’s win over Arizona, has been limited in practice this week due to a back ailment but figures to be under center on Sunday. The 30-year-old has been impressive on the road this season, passing for 1,344 yards with nine touchdowns and only two interceptions in five contests. LeGarrette Blount has rushed for 43 scores since 2013, the second-most among active players.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (3-9): Tackle D.J. Humphries and guard Mike Iupati both landed on injured reserve with knee injuries, joining center A.Q. Shipley (knee), tackle John Wetzel (neck) and guards Jeremy Vujnovich (hamstring) and Justin Pugh (knee) on the shelf. Arizona also placed wide receiver Christian Kirk (foot), who leads the team with 590 receiving yards, and defensive tackle Olsen Pierre (knee) on IR. Veteran wideout Larry Fitzgerald is one reception away from passing Jerry Rice (1,281) for most by a player with one team in NFL history.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Lions RB Kerryon Johnson (knee) has not practiced this week and is expected to miss his third straight game.

2. Arizona signed Rees Odhiambo from Indianapolis’ practice squad and inked fellow OL Joe Barksdale (released by the Chargers) while promoting DE Vontarrius Dora and WR Jalen Tolliver from its practice squad.

3. Detroit placed LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin on injured reserve with a neck injury.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 24, Lions 20

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DENVER BRONCOS vs ARIZONA CARDINALS
When: 8:20 PM ET, Thursday, October 18, 2018
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

TV: 8:20 PM
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: ARIZONA , DENVER

Oddsmakers currently have the ARIZONA listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the DENVER, while the game’s total is sitting at 40.

The Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos went shopping in the offseason to fix their respective quarterback issues and came away with a pair of players who spent last season with the Minnesota Vikings. Neither move has panned out for the Cardinals and Broncos, a pair of teams who have a collective three wins entering Thursday’s matchup at Arizona.

Denver has dropped four in a row since opening the season with a pair of narrow victories at home, but Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller all but guaranteed a win over the Cardinals. “I wouldn’t say it’s a must-win, we’re going to kick their (butt), though,” Miller told reporters Tuesday. “Make sure you put that up there. We’re going to kick their (butt).” Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen, who supplanted Sam Bradford as the starter in Week 3, said their was no “sense of desperation” to win after his team’s 1-5 start, but first-year coach Steve Wilks disagreed. “I would say all our jobs are in jeopardy, including mine, if we don’t win,” Wilks said.

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, FOX, NFL Network. LINE: Cardinals -1.5. O/U: 41.5

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (2-4): Denver has to tighten up against the run, ranking last in the league with an average of 161.3 yards permitted on the ground after allowing a 200-yard rusher for the second straight week in a 23-20 loss to the unbeaten Los Angeles Rams. The Broncos’ pass rush did generate five sacks in the latest setback, including 3.0 by rookie linebacker Bradley Chubb. Case Keenum threw scoring passes to wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas on Sunday but still has more interceptions (8) than TDs (7) through the first six games. Rookie running backs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman were held to a combined 40 yards on 13 carries last week.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (1-5): Arizona ranks last in the league in total yards (220.5) and rushing (64.0) under offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, who was fired by the Broncos during the 2017 season following a six-game slide. Rosen did throw for a career-high 240 yards but failed to throw a touchdown pass in last week’s 27-17 loss at Minnesota. Rosen connected with fellow rookie Christian Kirk six times for 77 yards against the Vikings, but running back David Johnson has surpassed 55 yards rushing just once in six games despite scoring six touchdowns. The offensive woes are magnified by a defense that ranks 31st against the run by surrendering an average of 151.2 yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Denver has won eight of the past nine meetings against the Cardinals.

2. Johnson has had at least 100 yards from scrimmage in nine of his last 11 at home, scoring 13 TDs in that span.

3. Miller has 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in his last six games versus NFC opponents.

PREDICTION: Broncos 23, Cardinals 20

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ARIZONA CARDINALS vs MINNESOTA VIKINGS
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 14, 2018
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -10
PREDICTION: MINNESOTA , ARIZONA

Oddsmakers currently have the MINNESOTA listed as -10 point favorites versus the ARIZONA, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.

The Minnesota Vikings made a statement by avenging their NFC Championship Game loss last week and are bidding for their first winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings, however, would be wise not to overlook the Cardinals after being upended earlier this season by Buffalo, which also entered that contest as a double-digit underdog.

Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins continues to ingratiate himself to his new team’s fan base by completing at least 30 passes in his fourth straight game during last Sunday’s 23-21 victory over Philadelphia. “I think that’s fun for everybody on the outside, for people who follow this league to talk about, to discuss around the water cooler. But for me, I just want to do whatever it takes to win,” the 30-year-old Cousins told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Cousins completed a season-high 40 passes in a shocking 27-6 loss to the Bills on Sept. 23, a result that had many questioning if the Vikings had overlooked a foe that has struggled on offense this season. With that in mind, the Cardinals enter Sunday’s game at U.S. Bank Stadium with the NFL’s league-worst offense and rushing attack despite posting their first win of 2018 with a 28-18 triumph over San Francisco last week.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Vikings -10. O/U: 43

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (1-4): Josh Rosen recorded his first career win last week despite completing just 10 of 25 passes for 170 yards, with fellow rookie Christian Kirk reeling in his lone touchdown pass from 75 yards out. David Johnson posted his eighth career two-touchdown performance for Arizona, which nearly doubled its season scoring output despite being limited to just 220 total yards, 10 first downs and 49 offensive plays. Budda Baker had 16 tackles last week to increase his team-leading total to 36 while fellow safety Tre Boston notched his second interception in three weeks.

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (2-2-1): Adam Thielen leads the league in receptions (47) and third-down catches (14) while serving as the third player in NFL history with five 100-yard performances to start the season. Fellow wideout Stefon Diggs has done quite well in his own right, reeling in double-digit receptions in back-to-back contests. While the passing game is potent, Minnesota’s 31st-ranked rushing attack has yet to get off the ground as Dalvin Cook has missed two of the last three contests with a hamstring injury. Latavius Murray matched season highs in attempts (11) and yards (42) last week and faces a Cardinals rush defense that has yielded an NFL-high eight touchdowns and second-worst 142.4 yards per game on the ground.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald did not score a touchdown in his previous five road games against his hometown team.

2. Minnesota DE Danielle Hunter has collected a sack in each of first five contests of the season.

3. Cardinals DE Chandler Jones earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a sack, forced fumble and recovery versus San Francisco.

PREDICTION: Vikings 31, Cardinals 13

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