Mike Wulf/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA

Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings: A do or die for the Cards

The Arizona Cardinals are visiting the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Can the Cardinals save the season?

The Arizona Cardinals are second in the NFC West with a 6-5 record, including 2-3 on the road. They are coming off a 16-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks that ended their four-game winning streak. Kyler Murray went 24 of 37 for 285 yards.

The Vikings have a promising season

The Minnesota Vikings are second in the NFC North with a 9-2 record, including 4-1 at home. They have won the last four games and are coming off a 30-27 overtime win over the Chicago Bears. Sam Darnold went 22 of 34 for 330 yards with two touchdowns and led the game-winning drive in overtime.

Betting Trends

The Vikings are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games overall, 10-0 SU in their last 10 home games against Arizona and 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played on Sunday. They are 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games against teams from the NFC West and 0-5-2 ATS in their last 7 games played in December. Minnesota has played over the total point line in 4 of their last 5 games against Arizona and 4 of their last 5 games against teams from the NFC and under in 4 of their last 5 home games. The Cardinals are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games overall, 4-13 SU in their last 17 games against Minnesota and 4-13 SU in their last 17 games on the road. They are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against Minnesota, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against teams from the NFC North and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games played in December. Arizona has played under the total point line in 4 of their last 5 games overall and 4 of their last 6 games against teams from the NFC.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Minnesota Vikings have won four straight games and start a stretch with three consecutive home games. They are coming off three straight road wins for the first time in French history. Sam Darnold is fifth in the league with 21 touchdowns so far in the season, but the Vikings real strength is in their defense, as they are tied for the top of the league, holding their opponent scoreless in 18 out of 44 quarters this season. The week they will host the Arizona Cardinals, who haven’t won in Minnesota since 1977, when the team was still in St. Louis. The Cardinals saw their four-game winning streak snapped last week against the Seahawks. Arizona’s QB Kyler Murray had a streak of 20 straight completions that also got snapped in that game against the Seahawks last week. The Cardinals’ defense has allowed just five touchdowns over the past five games, the best in the NFL over that span. They will need to bite strong in this one to keep their playoff hopes alive, and no matter how good the Vikings are, the Cardinals will stay close enough to cover the +3.5-point spread.