MINNEAPOLIS – The Cardinals’ offense looked completely different from the previous week in Seattle, but even that wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Their defense performed well, which should have been sufficient.
However, the Cardinals suffered a heartbreaking 23-22 loss to the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. They carried a 19-6 lead late into the fourth quarter, sacked Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold five times, and outgained the Vikings by 133 yards.
“This one definitely hurts,” said wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who scored the touchdown that gave the Cardinals (6-6) their largest lead. “That’s a really good team. We just couldn’t finish.”
The defeat stung even more considering its impact on the NFC West standings. The Seahawks (7-5) overcame a two-touchdown deficit to beat the Jets 26-21 in New York, pulling a full game ahead of the Cardinals. The Seahawks visit State Farm Stadium next week.
“It’s tough, especially at this point in the season when you’re trying to achieve something,” said cornerback Garrett Williams. “Not being able to close it out is frustrating.”
Despite the defense’s strong play, the Vikings (10-2) scored two touchdowns and a field goal on their final three possessions. The game-winning moment came with 1:13 left when running back Aaron Jones caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Darnold, and the extra point sealed the victory.
Quarterback Kyler Murray had more than a minute and three timeouts to mount a field-goal drive, but it fizzled quickly. On second down, Murray was stripped of the ball, recovering it but losing yardage and burning a timeout. Moments later, his deep fourth-down throw to Harrison was intercepted – Murray’s second pick of the game – ending the Cardinals’ hopes.
“We didn’t make enough plays,” Murray admitted, spending much of the postgame reflecting at his locker. “It came back to haunt us.”
The Cardinals managed 406 yards, their second-highest total of the season, and ran a season-high 77 plays. Kicker Chad Ryland contributed five field goals, although he missed a sixth. Still, it wasn’t enough.
Penalties derailed their opportunities, including a sequence late in the game where a first-and-goal at the Vikings’ 5 turned into a second-and-20 at the 25 due to infractions. A touchdown there would have sealed the win.
“That was brutal,” coach Jonathan Gannon said, acknowledging the 10 penalties called on his team. He noted the officiating crew typically calls fewer penalties but added, “We shot ourselves in the foot too much.”
Turnovers also hurt, with Murray recording his first two-interception game of the season. Explaining the first pick, he said he was trying to throw the ball away but misjudged the throw, which landed in the hands of Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy, a former Cardinal.
Statistically, the Cardinals had the edge. They bounced back in the running game, gaining 154 yards against the league’s top run defense. James Conner ran for 68 yards, while Murray added 48. Trey McBride was outstanding with 12 catches, and Harrison Jr., despite a slow start, contributed 60 yards and a touchdown on five receptions, though he was targeted 12 times.
Defensively, the Cardinals made Darnold struggle for most of the game, but their inability to maintain dominance late proved costly.
“They’re disappointed and down,” Gannon said. “This is the NFL. They’ll get back to work.”
Turning Point
With less than five minutes remaining and a three-point lead, the Cardinals had a first-and-goal at the Minnesota 5. A false start by tight end Tip Reiman, his fourth penalty of the game, and an intentional grounding call on Murray pushed them back 20 yards. They settled for a field goal, but the six-point lead wasn’t enough as the Vikings scored a touchdown and added the decisive extra point.
Standouts
Trey McBride had another stellar performance with 12 catches for 96 yards, carrying the offense at critical moments. Marvin Harrison Jr. delivered a highlight-worthy 15-yard touchdown grab. On defense, linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. shone with two sacks and a pass deflection.
Darius Robinson Makes Debut
Rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson saw his first NFL action, playing limited snaps as part of a plan. “I thought he did well,” Gannon said. “He’ll be better next week.”
Despite some frustrations, Robinson played a role in teammate L.J. Collier’s sack by occupying two blockers in the first half.
“It felt good to be out there, but I didn’t do enough to help the team,” Robinson said. “I’m a game-changer, and I didn’t change the game at all.”