NFL Week 8 Game Recap: Minnesota Vikings 34, Arizona Cardinals 26

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) catches a pass against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings kept their strong start to the season intact, coming away with a 34-26 win over the Arizona Cardinals at home in Week 8.

Offensive spotlight: DeAndre Hopkins was arguably the best player on the field in a losing effort for the Cardinals. He caught 12-of-13 targets for 159 yards and a spectacular one-handed touchdown. Three of those receptions were contested catches.

Defensive spotlight: Za’Darius Smith was able to come up with multiple key sacks in the game, bringing down Kyler Murray twice even though his overall pass-rush win rate (10.3%) was far from stellar. Smith rushing from the interior is an athletic matchup problem for guards and centers.

Rookie spotlight: Rookie guard Ed Ingram had another tough day for the Vikings, rejuvenating the pass-rush performance of J.J. Watt. Ingram allowed a 14.3% pressure rate but did at least earn a solid run-blocking grade on first review.

Offensive line spotlight: Minnesota’s tackles were both excellent in this game, but the interior had significant problems even beyond the rookie Ingram. Christian Darrisaw is beginning to look like one of the best left tackles in the league. He earned a team-high pass-blocking grade on first review and allowed only one pressure on 42 such snaps.

Box Score

Passing
Arizona Cardinals
Player Fantasy Comp/Att Yds YPA TD Int
Kyler Murray 29.64 31 / 44 326 7.4 3 2
Minnesota Vikings
Player Fantasy Comp/Att Yds YPA TD Int
Kirk Cousins 24.48 24 / 36 232 6.4 2 0
Rushing
Arizona Cardinals
Player Fantasy Car Yds YPC TD Long
Kyler Murray 29.64 6 36 6 0 8
Rondale Moore 23.4 2 12 6 0 9
Eno Benjamin 8.5 9 22 2.4 0 7
Darrel Williams 3.4 5 8 1.6 0 5
Minnesota Vikings
Player Fantasy Car Yds YPC TD Long
Dalvin Cook 28.1 20 111 5.6 1 30
Kirk Cousins 24.48 4 22 5.5 1 17
Alexander Mattison 10 5 40 8 1 15
Receiving
Arizona Cardinals
Player Fantasy Tgt Rec Yds YPT TD
DeAndre Hopkins 36.9 13 12 159 12.2 1
Rondale Moore 23.4 8 7 92 11.5 1
Zach Ertz 13.4 5 4 34 6.8 1
Eno Benjamin 8.5 7 4 23 3.3 0
Darrel Williams 3.4 3 2 6 2 0
Greg Dortch 2.2 3 2 12 4 0
A.J. Green 0 1 0 0 0 0
Robbie Anderson 0 3 0 0 0 0
Minnesota Vikings
Player Fantasy Tgt Rec Yds YPT TD
Dalvin Cook 28.1 6 5 30 5 0
Justin Jefferson 15.8 8 6 98 12.2 0
Adam Thielen 12.7 7 6 67 9.6 0
K.J. Osborn 8.8 5 2 8 1.6 1
Johnny Mundt 7.1 1 1 1 1 1
Irv Smith Jr. 6.8 4 4 28 7 0

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