Vikings (0-1) at Cardinals (1-0)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
TV: Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Cardinals by 4 ⁄2
1
Vikings’ keys to victory: If you look at the box score from the Vikings’ season-opening loss in Cincinnati, you wonder how they didn’t win. They outgained the Bengals and held them to 3 of 14 on third down. However, they turned the ball over once, did not force any turnovers and were penalized 12 times. Against the Cardinals, they will need a similar performance from QB Kirk Cousins (351 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1), and they will need more from RB Dalvin Cook, who averaged only about 3 yards per carry.
Cardinals’ keys to victory: If they replicate what they did to the Titans, they will roll. Arizona held RB Derrick Henry to 58 yards (and only 8 in the first half ). They sacked QB Ryan Tannehill six times and forced three Titans turnovers. QB Kyler Murray threw four touchdown passes and rushed for a TD. He passed for 351 yards, and his QB rating for Week 1 was 121.
Matchup to watch: Vikings LT Rashod Hill vs. Cardinals OLB Chandler Jones. Jones opened the season with a career-high five sacks and forced two fumbles. After playing only five games in 2020, Jones looked more dominant than he was from 2017 to 2019, when he was All-Pro twice. Cousins was sacked three times in Week 1.
Who wins? The Cardinals defense limits Cook in the running game and harasses Cousins a couple of turnovers. Murray throws a pair of touchdown passes and rushes for another as the Cardinals open the season 2-0.
Cardinals, 31-19