So long, bye week.
The Minnesota Vikings have bid farewell to their week-long break, and now turn their attention to the Arizona Cardinals at home on Sunday.
The Vikings (5-1) have won four consecutive games while the Cardinals (3-4) snapped a two-game losing streak last week with a 42-34 victory against the New Orleans Saints.
Minnesota and Arizona have met 29 times, with the Vikings holding a 17-12 advantage in the all-time series. The Vikings are 11-4 at home against the Cardinals, with wins in 10 consecutive games dating back to Oct. 13, 1991.
Minnesota has won five of the past seven matchups since the 2010 season. Arizona won the previous meeting 34-33 in Week 2 last season.
Let's see who the experts are picking to win the game:
Vikings 27, Cardinals 23 — Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com
Everything about the Vikings statistical profile screams average, not 5-1 ... except field position. They are first in average starting field position and second in opponent's average starting field position, which makes them the '85 Bears of field position teams. DeAndre Hopkins helps the Cardinals make more sense here, but it feels too early to trust them. The only prediction I feel comfortable with considering these two unpredictable, streaky teams: CHAOS.
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Vikings 31, Cardinals 28 — Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
The Cardinals are coming off a Thursday victory over the Saints, while the Vikings are coming off a bye. The Arizona defense was better against the Saints, but this is a real challenge in the Vikings offense. Look for a lot of points here as the Vikings win with Kirk Cousins having a big day.
Vikings 27, Cardinals 23 — Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports
The Cardinals are another team that was featured in my locks a week ago that are now fading. The offense welcomed DeAndre Hopkins back into the fold last week in its win over New Orleans and, while the star wideout played well, the offense as a whole didn't look that impressive. Hopkins accounted for half of Arizona's total in the receiving game with no other pass catcher recording five receptions or going over 32 yards.
I believe the Vikings will be able to do enough to disrupt Hopkins, which will then force Kyler Murray to go to other options. If they produce similar results as they did a week ago, Minnesota shouldn't worry about laying the field goal and the hook. The Vikings are also a perfect 3-0 at home this season with an average margin of victory sitting at nine points.
Vikings 28, Cardinals 23 — Staff, Bleacher Report
The Arizona Cardinals certainly missed three-time All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who made his 2022 season debut after serving a six-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.
In Week 7, against the New Orleans Saints, Hopkins hauled in 10 out of 14 targets for 103 yards in a 42-34 win. Also of note, the Cardinals defense had a strong performance in its last outing with pick-sixes on consecutive drives.
On the other hand, a majority of our crew believes the Vikings Week 7 bye allowed them to tighten up in areas such as their pass defense and come out of an off week on a tear.
Vikings 24, Cardinals 21 — Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk
The Vikings may run away with the NFC North, which I don't think anyone was expecting before the season. They'll get another win on Sunday.
Vikings 28, Cardinals 24 — Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk
Minnesota keeps finding a way to win late, as long as the Vikings can avoid a couple of pick-sixes.
Cardinals 24, Vikings 23 — Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Cardinals are coming off a mini bye. The Vikings are coming off an actual bye. Arizona found something more around Kyler Murray with DeAndre Hopkins returning. Murray's running ability can give the Vikings defense fits. The Cardinals defense is also making big plays and will capitalize on a few key mistakes from Kirk Cousins.
Vikings 29, Cardinals 26 — Bill Bender, Sporting News
The Vikings are coming off a bye week, and they are building a cushion in the weak NFC North with each victory. Both teams have bad pass defenses, which should give Kyler Murray more than enough down-field chances with DeAndre Hopkins to make this interesting. We're still sticking with the home team. Kirk Cousins clinches this one with a late connection to Justin Jefferson.
Pre-game win probabilities: Vikings 73% — FiveThirtyEight.com
6 of 6 experts (3 experts didn't pick) pick the Vikings, ESPN
5 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB
4 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report
10 of 10 experts pick the Vikings, The Athletic
