Vikings 35, Cardinals 14: Vikings Throttle Cards Out of the Gate, Arizona Can't Recover

It was 21-0 before an eye was even blinked.

The Arizona Cardinals, fresh off clinching their first division title in ages, had the chance to prove they belonged in the playoffs as more than the beneficiary of a pathetic division. They failed miserably. In fact, they embarrassed themselves in the first quarter.

Offensively, they just couldn't get anything going until it was too late. They still only ended up scoring one offensive touchdown against a normally vulnerable Minnesota secondary. Kurt Warner ended up throwing for 270 yards, but an early interception and generally looking awful in the first half pretty much eliminated his chances at an MVP season.

The implications of this game for Arizona aren't huge on the surface, but their confidence surely has to be shaken. The only quality team they've defeated all season is the Dallas Cowboys, who aren't near as strong as they were once thought to be.

For the Vikings, this was a huge victory for them, as they now have a commanding grasp on the NFC North. Because of advantageous tiebreakers over the Bears, they'd have to lose their last two games while the Bears won their two in order to not make the playoffs.

The number of Vikings players who starred is quite large. Adrian Peterson carried the offense with 165 yards on 28 carries, while Tarvaris Jackson threw four touchdown passes. Yes, seriously. Four. Bernard Berrian caught a 41 yard touchdown and took a punt 82 yards for the score. Jared Allen had two sacks, Cedric Griffin made a pivotal first quarter interception, and the defensive front generally harassed the Cardinals all day long.

They get to stay home for the next two weeks, facing the Falcons and Giants. Again, one win is gonna sew this thing up for them, and if they play the way they did today, it will be rather easy.

For the Cardinals, it doesn't get any easier. They head to New England, and we know how poorly they play in the East. At least they get to close with Seattle at home in what should be a morale boosting victory before hosting their first home playoff game ever in Arizona.