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The Arizona Cardinals (3-4) come calling this week as the next opponent for the Minnesota Vikings (2-5). These are two teams that are searching for their identities, but in very separate ways. I think it can be said with great confidence here, that nobody expected the Cardinals to have a better record than the Vikings, when fans were looking at their teams schedules and opponents before the season started. Here we are nonetheless though, and many are still waiting for the real Minnesota Vikings to stand up and be counted for.

I think the Vikings can take a big step forward Sunday, if they can prove dominance over this very mediocre Cardinals team, and step up and win big, when these two teams meet at Mall Of America Field in Minnesota.

To think of the success in recent seasons that both of these teams have experienced, and to see where they are now is kind of unbelievable. I think this statement speaks more loudly about the Vikings though. The Minnesota Vikings were one Brett Favre interception away last season, from beating the New Orleans Saints and playing in the Super Bowl. The Arizona Cardinals were actually in the Super Bowl two seasons ago, and if it weren’t for the Pittsburgh Steelers pulling off a last minute miracle drive down the field late in the 4th quarter, the Cardinals would have been Super Bowl champs.

The Vikings still basically have the same team as last season, but the same cannot be said for the Arizona Cardinals. No Pro Bowl/Hall Of Famer quarterback in Kurt Warner anymore, following his retirement at the end of last season. No sure handed, Pro Bowl wide receiver in Anquan Boldin anymore, with his off-season free agency departure to the Baltimore Ravens. The Cardinals have legit excuses to be where they are, but the Vikings on the other hand, don’t. So while the Arizona Cardinals look for a new identity, the Minnesota Vikings are still desperately seeking their true identity.

The Minnesota Vikings defense should be able to step up in this game for the first time in a while, because their defense should be playing with a lead, thus allowing them to pin their ears back and just attack the quarterback. The Vikings defense has been playing on their heels much of this season so far, because they’ve been playing without leads, and on a much shorter field, due to all of the interceptions Favre has thrown (11) to date. The Vikings defense has gone 4 games in a row now without recording a quarterback sack, but I think that will change this week.

Minnesota’s linebacker Chad Greenway is currently 4th in the NFL with 74 tackles.

It’s good to have a linebacker with allot of tackles on your team, but it’s also a bad sign if your linebacker is 4th in the NFL in tackling, because that means that nobody on your defensive line is getting to the quarterback, and people on your defensive line are getting pushed around.

The Arizona Cardinals are 29th in the league against the rush, and that spells bad news for the Cardinals defense, because Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is leading the league in rushing with 776 yards. The Cardinals defense also rank 23rd in the NFL against the pass, so watch for an old pro like Brett Favre to exploit that weakness early and often.

I will be very surprised if the Minnesota Vikings aren’t able to blow this game open early, and run away with a dominant victory of the Arizona Cardinals.