Minnesota travels to Sun Valley

Vikings faces NFC West Champion Cardinals

The NFC North-leading Vikings take a trip to the Valley of the Sun to take on the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals. The teams have matching 8-5 records.

Minnesota will likely still have DTs Kevin and Pat Williams for this game as they try to slow down the Cardinals’ prolific passing offense, led by MVP candidate QB Kurt Warner. He has an excellent receiving corps at his disposal, with WRs Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston all having productive seasons. Rookie RB Tim Hightower has 10 rushing touchdowns this season as he has taken over as the team’s primary RB from veteran Edgerrin James. The Vikings will likely have to generate pressure on Warner, ideally without sacrificing pass coverage with exotic blitzes, to have success defensively this week.

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The status of QB Gus Frerotte is still in doubt for this week’s game after he suffered a lower back injury while making a tackle last week against Detroit. Former starter Tarvaris Jackson rallied the team to victory last week and will start if Frerotte can’t go this week. Head coach Brad Childress has said Frerotte will start if he is healthy enough to do so. Frerotte’s veteran presence may be a stabilizing force for the Vikings’ offense as they try to win a tough road game this week, the type of presence Jackson has yet to show.

Minnesota can take a big step toward clinching the NFC North, depending on the result of the Chicago Bears-New Orleans Saints game on Thursday night, with a win over Arizona. They will finish the season with two home games, the first coming next week against the playoff-contending Atlanta Falcons.

Brad Berreman

ProFootball-fans.com Vikings corespondent