The Minnesota Vikings (0-1, 0-1 away) battle the Arizona Cardinals (1-0, 0-0 home) in Week 2 of NFL action. Minnesota stumbled in the season opener, falling 27-24 in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cardinals surprised many around the league with a 38-13 statement victory on the road against the Tennessee Titans.
Sunday’s kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. EST inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. According to the oddsmakers, the Cardinals are a 2.5-point favorite, and the total over-under is set at 51.
What to Know – Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota started slowly in the opener and fought back before an overtime field goal sent the Vikings home with a loss. The Vikings committed 12 penalties for 116 yards and had a crucial fumble late in overtime, leading to the game-winning field goal try.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 351 yards and a pair of touchdowns to wideout Adam Thielen. Cousins found nine different pass catchers in the contest.
Star running back Dalvin Cook carried the ball 20 times for only 61 yards, scoring a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to bring Minnesota within three. Cook had a rare blunder in overtime, fumbling the ball in Bengals’ territory.
Thielen hauled in nine passes for a team-high 92 yards. Wide receiver K.J. Osborn tallied seven catches for 76 yards, and Justin Jefferson added five receptions for 71 yards.
Minnesota’s defense allowed 366 yards of offense and held Cincinnati to just 3-of-14 on third-down attempts.
What to Know – Arizona Cardinals
Arizona was firing on all cylinders in their opening road victory over the Titans. The Cardinals put up 416 yards of offense against the Titans, averaging 6.2 yards per play.
Kyler Murray did it all for the Cardinals, throwing four touchdown passes and rushing for another. Murray completed 21-of-32 passes and accounted for 309 yards of offense. Murray’s four touchdown passes were a career-high for the third-year pro.
The Cardinals split the carries in the backfield between Chase Edmonds and James Conner. Conner out-carried Edmonds 16-12, but Edmunds led the rushing attack with 63 yards. Conner chipped in 53 yards in his first game as an Arizona Cardinal.
DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk each grabbed a pair of touchdown passes. Hopkins caught six passes for 83 yards, and Kirk supplied five grabs for 70.
Arizona got a boost defensively linebacker Chandler Jones. Jones tied a franchise record with five sacks, including three in the first quarter. The Cardinals held the Titans to 248 yards of offense and forced three turnovers.
The Pick is In
Murray and the Cardinals looked in midseason form in the opener, and if Arizona’s defense can perform like they did last week all season, Arizona will make some noise in the NFC. Minnesota shot themselves in the foot against the Bengals and won’t be able to make the same mistakes again.
Arizona’s home opener goes as planned for the host, and the Cardinals begin 2-0 while sending the Vikings to 0-2.
Betting Pick: Arizona Cardinals -2.5
