National Football League

Why the Cardinals will beat the Vikings

Published Oct. 5, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Hide the women, children and Andy Reid. It's Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals taking on the Minnesota Vikings and Donovan McNabb. Andy Reid never saw this coming in 2009 when McNabb and Kolb topped his depth chart!

And I know who wins. I know who the better quarterback is on Sunday. Andy Reid already told the world. He chose Kevin Kolb over Donovan McNabb in 2010. I’m choosing Kevin Kolb over Donovan McNabb in 2011.

The Cardinals are on the road in Minnesota. And yes, Arizona is struggling at 1-3. But the Cards are the lock of the century, Peter Schrager. The Cardinals are going to smoke the Vikings. Minnesota is 0-4. Morale is low. The home crowd will be frustrated. Bernard Berrian is so much on edge that he is ripping fans, and elected officials, who tweet him and remind him how he hasn’t come close to living up to his contract.

McNabb will start the game for the Vikes, but will he finish? The natives are restless, begging for first round draft pick Christian Ponder. They want McNabb on the bench. If McNabb struggles early, an in-game quarterback switch is not out of the question. Yes, the Cardinals pass defense has been miserable at times this season. But I don’t see how McNabb, off to a horrible start, and his pedestrian group of receivers, can take advantage.

Sure, the Vikings employ Adrian Peterson, the ultimate blend of power and speed at running back. But Leslie Frazier and Bill Musgrave aren’t giving him the needed touches to thrive. And don’t underestimate the Cardinals defensive line, led by Darnell Dockett.

The Cardinals were my upset special pick last week against the Giants. At 27-17, I looked like an absolute genius. Credit Eli Manning for the comeback. But also crucify official Jerome Boger for making a pathetic and wrong call. Victor Cruz fumbled the football. He didn't try to give himself up. The bonehead call cost the Cardinals a win. The Cards are going to be an angry bunch in Minnesota on Sunday afternoon.

In the loss, the Cardinals finally found their running attack. Beanie Wells rushed for a career-high 138 yards and three touchdowns. This was much needed. Wells needed to prove he was healthy after missing the game in Seattle in Week 3. He needed to prove he can be relied upon. Wells is going to shred the Vikings run defense.

This means that my guy Kevin Kolb will have the balance he needs on offense. Larry Fitzgerald, a Minneapolis native, always dominates his hometown club. Fitzgerald has 31 catches and 474 receiving yards in four career games against the Vikings. Match-up wise, Fitzgerald and Kolb will torch this overmatched Vikings defense. Early Doucet has a been a first down maker for the Cards, with eight catches already this season to move the chains, 3rd best in the NFL.

Kolb’s been my man crush for a while. I said in February that the Cardinals would trade for him and they did. I’m not jumping off the bandwagon. He’s been solid. With a run game and playing the Vikings defense, he will dominate.

Cardinals 31, Vikings 17. If the Vikes even get to 17.That’s right. It’s a blowout.
 

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League