The Arizona Cardinals’ next matchup is on the road in Week 13 taking on the 9-2 Minnesota Vikings. The Cardinals are 3.5-point underdogs in the game and are coming off one of their worst offensive performances of the season, losing 16-6 to the Seattle Seahawks. The loss snapped a four-game winnings streak and dropped them out of first place in the NFC West and out of the NFC playoff picture.
They face a Vikings team that has won four in a row and has both a top-10 offense and top-10 defense. They are No. 1 against the run. They have weapons all over on offense.
So how will this play out?
The Cards Wire writers are both optimistic. Here are our expert predictions for the game.
Jess Root
Call me crazy, but I have a hunch that the Cardinals will bounce back from their loss and look great. It will be tight and go down to the wire. The running game will be better than expected against the No. 1 rush defense in the league and Kyler Murray will protect the football. DL Dante Stills gets another sack and the defense picks off Sam Darnold at least once. Cardinals 23, Vikings 21
Howard Balzer
The proof that there is a strong national belief in the Cardinals, at least among bettors, is that despite a poor offensive performance in last week’s loss to the Seahawks, and despite playing the 9-2 Vikings in another loud environment, the line has Minnesota favored by only 3.5 points. Perhaps it’s because the Vikings are 6-1 in one-score games including last Sunday’s 30-27 overtime win over the Bears and that the Cardinals have proven they are capable of having bounceback wins on the road after losses, most notably in San Francisco and Miami. It says here they will do it again.
Cardinals 24, Vikings 20
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