MINNEAPOLIS –The Vikings offense and Sam Bradford had a few things up their sleeves for the Cardinals defense Sunday.
One wrinkle added in by Interim Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur was a heavier dose of Wildcat plays, including two consecutive midway through the second quarter.
On the second, running back Jerick McKinnon took a direct snap on second-and-5 and handed off to wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who then lateralled the ball back to Bradford. The quarterback dropped back at the Cardinals 43 and let it fly to Adam Thielen, drawing a 29-yard pass interference penalty at the Arizona 2.
Bradford said that the play was one specifically designed in this week's game plan.
"We haven't shown anything but runs out of that formation," Bradford said. "So, we felt like if we could throw a wrinkle in there and get a pass, it would probably catch them off guard.
"We just feel like there's some things we can do in our Wildcat package with Jet (McKinnon)," he added.
McKinnon, who played quarterback and running back in college, said he enjoys the added responsibility of running plays out of the Wildcat.
"It allows me to make a decision, and I think for the most part this year when we ran those things, I made the right decisions – handing it off or keeping it," McKinnon said. "It's a different look – I like it a lot."
The Vikings went back to the formation later in the game, and Bradford took a hit from Patrick Peterson – that was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Bradford said it was the first time he'd been taken down in that scenario.
"I think each team handles it a little different," Bradford said. "There's been games where they really don't acknowledge me, and the corner kind of tightens in on number two […] I would say for the most part they normally don't pay attention when I'm out there."
Arizona paid Bradford the attention he deserved throughout the game, sacking him twice and adding six quarterback hits in addition to the strike from Peterson.
True to the "tough guy" reputation he's gained in his first nine games with Minnesota, however, Bradford kept his cool under the heat.
Thielen said it's a quality of Bradford's that is hard to ignore.
"When you go back and look at film and see him take shots and deliver it on the money, it's pretty impressive," Thielen said. "It definitely just makes you go out there and do your job, because you know he's going to find you."
Inside the four-minute mark of the third quarter, the Cardinals were charged with back-to-back penalties against Bradford.
He remained unrattled, however, and continued to move the Vikings downfield in a drive that wrapped up with a 27-yard field goal by Kai Forbath to give Minnesota a 30-17 lead over Arizona.
"After that late hit on the quarterback […] to come back in four more plays and get after it again, I thought that was good," Zimmer said.
Bradford finished the game 20-of-28 passing for one touchdown and a passer rating of 98.7. He connected on throws with seven different Vikings, Stefon Diggs leading the pack with six catches for 37 yards.
Diggs said after the game that it was a great demonstration of a team win with everyone playing their part.
"The best thing about it is that when you play complementary football, you get a win," Diggs said, giving shout outs to teammates Cordarrelle Patterson and Adam Thielen, who combined for 118 yards on nine receptions. "I just love seeing my guys staying involved. I try to be the best teammate I can be first, and I just love seeing my guys get open and do things at a high level."
Bradford said implementing some new plays and involving a number of players helped the Vikings accomplish a much-needed win. He felt the four losses were weighing on the team, and a great group effort will hopefully set Minnesota back on the right track.
"The joy of winning is a great feeling," Bradford said. "That feeling that we had in the locker room today, I think it solved a lot of problems."
