I was only half-watching for much of the game because I've gotten hooked on NBA DFS. I also had to watch my nearly four-year old daughter for the entire first half, and that meant playing with magnetic tiles and these other small blocks of different shapes we call "tetris blocks." She's better with the tiles, I'm better with the tetris blocks, probably because I wasted so much time in college playing Tetris. That said, here are my thoughts on the game:
• The Cardinals looked shaky in a home game against a banged up Vikings team. They struck for a couple big plays to John Brown and Michael Floyd, but the Vikings moved the ball more consistently, and Arizona's defense looked vulnerable and porous. But for three turnovers, Minnesota (10-point underdogs at kickoff ) probably would have won the game.
• Carson Palmer completed 25-of-35 passes for 310 yards (8.9YPA) and two TDs with no picks. He's automatic at this point, especially with Brown and Floyd healthy.
• Teddy Bridgewater lit up the Cardinals for 335 yards on 9.3 YPA. His terrible sack/fumble to end the game overshadow a great performance in a tough spot.
• Adrian Peterson looked like he was shot out of a cannon at times, but managed only 69 yards on 23 carries.
• David Johnson went 19-for-92, but dropped a would-be touchdown on the team's first drive and was tackled just short of the goal-line in the second half. He also caught five balls for 31 yards.
• Michael Floyd is a star receiver, and it's bizarre the Cardinals forgot that for a season and a half. He led the team in targets (9) and went for 102 yards and a score.
• With Floyd and Brown healthy and integrated completely into the offense, Larry Fitzgerald's role is smaller than it was early in the year when he was a top-10 receiver.