Currently the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture, the Arizona Cardinals hope to distance themselves from the pack when the Minnesota Vikings come to town for a Thursday Night Football showdown.
Vikings vs. Cardinals 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Cardinals have the chance to add extra cushion in the playoff race.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Cardinals have won their last six games, with only two falling into the closely contested category. Quarterback Carson Palmer has delivered the best season of his 12-year career, placing him on the periphery of the MVP discussion. He has already thrown for nearly 3,700 yards, a 29:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a career-high 8.8 yards per pass attempt.
Palmer isn't the only veteran enjoying a year of rejuvenation, however, as Larry Fitzgerald has crossed the 1,000-yard threshold for the first time since 2011 and became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions. With four games left to play, the wideout could set a new personal record for most receiving yards in a season.
On defense, Arizona has established itself as both stout against the run and suffocating versus the pass. The accomplishment is made even more impressive considering that coordinator James Bettcher has never run a defense before this season.
However, the Cardinals are still figuring out how to adjust without lead tailback Chris Johnson in the backfield. The veteran ball carrier broke his leg a few weeks ago, leaving the team with Andre Ellington and rookie David Johnson as the only viable replacements. So far, the rookie Johnson has carried the load, but that could change once Ellington returns from his turf toe injury. Either way, both backs expect to see plenty of work in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the Vikings find themselves in the midst of the toughest part of their schedule. Over the last three weeks, they faced off against the division-leading Green Bay Packers, the Atlanta Falcons on the road, and a home matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Minnesota went 1-2 during that stretch, and now has to travel to Glendale on a short week to take on the Cardinals. While a game against Arizona would have presented issues in a normal week, the shortened preparation times makes the task even more difficult given the Vikings' youth and inexperience.
Still, Minnesota has a chance to pull the upset this week if they can get Adrian Peterson back into a groove. Last week, the former MVP rushed for just 18 yards and made minimal impact in the passing game. He remains the league's leading rusher, though, with 1,182 yards on the ground this season.
Even if Peterson plays well, the Vikings need more from second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater if they hope to emerge victorious. Last week, Bridgewater averaged just 4.2 yards per pass attempt and threw a critical interception. He doesn't need to force the ball down the field on every passing play, but he has to make a few big throws in order to keep the Arizona defense from collapsing on Peterson.
The Cardinals come into the game with a 10-2 record and are at the top of the NFC West. The Vikings enter the week 8-4, tied with the Packers for the lead in the NFC North.
How to watch
When: 8:25 p.m. ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV: NFL Network
Commentators: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson
Online: Verizon NFL Mobile, NFL.com/watch
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