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Minnesota Vikings-Arizona Cardinals: Game keys and who will win Thursday night

By Derek Harper, The Sports Xchange
Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater (5) hands off to RB Adrian Peterson. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
1 of 2 | Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater (5) hands off to RB Adrian Peterson. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

Minnesota Vikings (8-4) at Arizona Cardinals (10-2): Thursday Night football preview

Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. - TV: NFL Network

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*TV announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

*Keys to the game: The one-dimensionality that many experts feared would prove the Vikings' Achilles Heel was fully exposed by Seattle last week. Shut down RB Adrian Peterson, build an early lead and Minnesota is woefully ill-equipped to play from behind with shoddy pass protection and QB Teddy Bridgewater's poor mechanics when pushing the ball vertically.

You can bet the house Peterson will get the ball more than the eight times he saw against the Seahawks, the Vikings simply have no other choice than to win time of possession and shorten the game. Problem is, Arizona enters with the fourth-ranked run defense allowing just 89 yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry. The Cardinals did give up 146 yards to St. Louis rookie Todd Gurley, but that was in Week 4 and Arizona has sported the leading rusher in nine of 12 games this season.

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Injuries are the issue for Minnesota on the other side of the ball. They were without four starters for much of last week's game, and it's unknown if NT Linval Joseph (knee), OLB Anthony Barr (groin) or FS Harrison Smith (hamstring) - their top three playmakers at each level - will be available. Arizona has the league's top scoring offense and rookie RB David Johnson is proving capable of taking over the lead back role. If the Vikings can't slow him and get after QB Carson Palmer, it's going to be a long day for the Minnesota secondary. The Vikings added two safeties for depth on Tuesday.

*Matchup to watch - Vikings LG Brandon Fusco vs. Cardinals DT Ed Stinson/OLB Alex Okafor: Fusco has struggled since moving to the left side due to injury, and the Vikings have allowed 14 sacks over their past four games. Okafor hasn't had a sack since recording two in the season opener, but will be a factor rushing against Fusco and LT Matt Kalil.

*Player spotlight - Vikings DT Sharrif Floyd: Floyd is an emerging presence in his third season, but had to move to nose tackle with Joseph out last week and the entire defensive line suffered from the domino effect.

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*Fast facts: Vikings WR Stefon Diggs' 42 receptions is a team rookie record for most catches in nine consecutive games, breaking the mark set by Randy Moss (40) in 1998. ... Palmer has a 122.3 passer rating with 17 touchdowns against two interceptions in the second half of games this season.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

It would be difficult to envision a worse matchup for the Vikings while traveling on a short week. Their injury-depleted defense is undermanned against Arizona's top-ranked scoring offense and Minnesota proved last week it is not built to play from behind or match scores.

*Our pick: Cardinals 34-20.

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