After Further Review is a deeper look at plays or stats after Vikings games…
The Vikings pressured and hit Carson Palmer repeatedly throughout Sunday's game but finally "got home" for four sacks in the second half.
The sack total against Arizona exceeded the three that Minnesota had totaled in its four previous games.
Brian Robison was first one the on the board, reeling in the 6-foot-5 quarterback in the third quarter. Danielle Hunter took down Palmer twice in the fourth quarter, including the Cardinals final play. Safety Harrison Smith also recorded a sack and played a part in Hunter's second of the game.
Here's a look at the four sacks:
Q3, 8:26 left; Third-and-4 at the Arizona 44:The Vikings overload the right side of the Cardinals offensive line, placing Tom Johnson to center A.Q. Shipley's right. Robison is on the left of Johnson and in a two-point stance, and Hunter is out wide as the left defensive end. Johnson crosses in front of the center, taking away inside help from Earl Watford, whom is plowed into by Robison.
Hunter takes a couple steps forward but circles around behind Robison, who generates a significant push. Right tackle D.J. Humphries isn't able to help much with Robison or slow down Hunter. The two linemen try to make a pass off, with Watford picking up Hunter, but this allows Robison to squeeze through with the most direct path to Palmer. Hunter knocks down Watford as Robison closes in on Palmer.
Q4, 5:16 left; Second-and-10 at the Minnesota 47: This time the Vikings have Hunter in at defensive end to the left of Linval Joseph at one defensive tackle spot. Shamar Stephen is at the other defensive tackle spot, and has Griffen to his right.
Joseph works against reserve guard Taylor Boggs, pushing the right guard toward Palmer, and the Vikings also blitz with Eric Kendricks. This play, however, is decided by Hunter convincingly winning his one-on-one battle with Humphries. Palmer has nowhere to go, and Hunter is able to take him down with a one-armed tackle, showing his strength and excellent wingspan.
Q4, 1:53 left, Third-and-10 at the Arizona 13:With Arizona backed up deep, the Vikings turn to their Double-A gap scheme with Anthony Barr and Kendricks across from Shipley. They also have Munnerlyn on the outside of Hunter and Smith on the outside of Griffen with Andrew Sendejo back as a single-high safety.
The Vikings drop Hunter, Munnerlyn, Barr and Tom Johnson into coverage and wind up only rushing four players. Smith makes it across the line untouched between the left tackle John Wetzel and running back David Johnson, who is going out for a route. He has more than enough speed to catch Palmer from behind while the quarterback is still looking to his right and unable to find an open man.
Q4, 0:44 left, Fourth-and-6 at the Arizona 34:This time the Vikings overload the left side of the Cardinals offensive line.
The ball is snapped before Palmer is ready, but he collects it and tries to go to Brittan Golden, but Smith jumps the route and is in prime position for the pick. Palmer pumps and collects the ball, continuing to survey his next option.
It appears that Larry Fitzgerald briefly finds an opening at the Arizona 45, but Hunter is winning a battle with Boggs just two yards in front of Palmer. As Palmer tries to direct traffic, Hunter springs free and stays under control to not let Palmer escape.
