The Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings Match Player Stats from Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season tell the story of a game that Arizona appeared to control but Minnesota ultimately won through late-game execution. The Cardinals produced more yards, ran more plays, controlled possession, and led for nearly the entire afternoon. However, the Vikings made the most important plays when the pressure increased.
Minnesota defeated Arizona 23-22 at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 1, 2024. Arizona held a 19-6 advantage late in the third quarter and remained ahead until Aaron Jones caught the winning touchdown with only 1 minute and 13 seconds remaining. Shaquill Griffin then intercepted Kyler Murray on Arizona’s final possession to protect the one-point victory.
Quick Bio Table
| Quick detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings |
| Game date | December 1, 2024 |
| Venue | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis |
| Final score | Vikings 23, Cardinals 22 |
| Leading passer | Kyler Murray — 260 yards |
| Winning quarterback | Sam Darnold — 235 yards and 2 touchdowns |
| Leading receiver | Justin Jefferson — 7 catches for 99 yards |
| Arizona’s leading receiver | Trey McBride — 12 catches for 96 yards |
| Kyler Murray’s age | 27 years old during the game |
| Kyler Murray’s height | 5 feet 10 inches |
| Sam Darnold’s age and height | 27 years old and 6 feet 3 inches |
| Net worth | Players’ exact personal net worth figures are not officially verified |
Game overview
The Arizona Cardinals entered the contest with a 6-5 record and an opportunity to remain competitive in the NFC West. Minnesota arrived at 9-2 after building one of the strongest records in the conference. Following the result, the Vikings improved to 10-2, while Arizona dropped to 6-6.
The Cardinals vs Vikings box score looked unusual because Arizona controlled many traditional statistical categories. The Cardinals gained 406 total yards, compared with Minnesota’s 273, and held the football for 35:49. Minnesota possessed it for only 24:11. Arizona also ran 77 offensive plays, 26 more than the Vikings.
Still, Minnesota scored two touchdowns, while Arizona scored only one. The Cardinals repeatedly moved into scoring range but settled for five field goals. That difference in red-zone finishing became more important than total yardage.
| Game detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Final score | Vikings 23, Cardinals 22 |
| Date | December 1, 2024 |
| Venue | U.S. Bank Stadium |
| Attendance | 66,873 |
| Arizona record after game | 6-6 |
| Minnesota record after game | 10-2 |
| Arizona total yards | 406 |
| Minnesota total yards | 273 |
| Winning touchdown | Aaron Jones, 5-yard reception |
| Game-sealing play | Shaquill Griffin interception |
Score by quarter
Arizona opened the game with an 11-play, 57-yard drive that ended in a 32-yard Chad Ryland field goal. Minnesota answered with John Parker Romo’s 44-yard kick, leaving the score tied 3-3 after the first quarter.
The Cardinals continued to move the ball in the second quarter. Ryland connected from 31 yards, while Romo responded with a 55-yard field goal. Arizona then completed a quick scoring drive before halftime, allowing Ryland to make a 24-yard kick as time expired. The Cardinals entered halftime with a 9-6 lead.
Arizona created its largest advantage during the third quarter. Ryland added a 40-yard field goal before Kyler Murray found Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 15-yard touchdown. That score pushed the Cardinals ahead 19-6 and appeared to place Minnesota in serious trouble.
However, Sam Darnold immediately guided the Vikings on a 70-yard touchdown drive. He completed a four-yard scoring pass to Johnny Mundt, reducing the deficit to 19-13. Minnesota then opened the fourth-quarter scoring with Romo’s 31-yard field goal.
Arizona answered with another long drive but could only manage Ryland’s fifth field goal. Consequently, the Cardinals led 22-16 instead of holding a two-score advantage. Darnold responded with the decisive drive, throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to Jones before Romo supplied the winning extra point.
Quarterback stats
The quarterback numbers provide the clearest contrast in the Cardinals vs Vikings player stats. Murray completed more passes and gained more passing yards, yet Darnold protected the football and finished drives more effectively.
| Quarterback | Comp/Att | Pass yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Murray | 31/45 | 260 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 72.5 |
| Sam Darnold | 21/31 | 235 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 111.6 |
Kyler Murray completed 31 of 45 passes for 260 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He also added 48 rushing yards on seven attempts, giving Arizona another dimension against Minnesota’s defense. For most of the afternoon, Murray operated efficiently enough to sustain drives. However, his two fourth-quarter interceptions changed the game.
The first interception came when former Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. tracked down a pass near the sideline. The second occurred on Arizona’s final fourth-down attempt when Griffin intercepted a deep throw intended for Harrison. Murray’s 72.5 passer rating reflected how heavily those turnovers affected an otherwise productive performance.
Sam Darnold completed 21 of 31 attempts for 235 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Arizona sacked him five times for 30 lost yards, but he remained composed. His 111.6 passer rating and mistake-free fourth quarter proved more valuable than his overall yardage.
Most importantly, Darnold completed the passes Minnesota needed during its final drive. He connected with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison for important gains before finding Jones for the winning score.
Arizona offense
The Arizona Cardinals player stats showed a balanced attack. Arizona recorded 154 rushing yards, averaging five yards per carry against a Minnesota defense that had entered the matchup with a strong reputation against the run.
James Conner led the backfield with 68 yards on 17 carries. Murray followed with 48 rushing yards, while rookie Trey Benson produced 20 yards on only three attempts. Emari Demercado added 12 yards, and Greg Dortch gained six on his lone carry.
Arizona’s passing game leaned heavily on Trey McBride. The tight end caught all 12 of his targets for 96 yards, consistently giving Murray an option underneath. McBride did not score, but his reliability helped Arizona earn 25 first downs and sustain several long possessions.
Harrison recorded five catches for 60 yards and Arizona’s only touchdown. The rookie received 12 targets, although Minnesota limited his overall catch rate. Michael Wilson contributed five receptions for 55 yards, while Elijah Higgins added two catches for 23 yards.
| Arizona player | Category | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Kyler Murray | Passing | 31/45, 260 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT |
| James Conner | Rushing | 17 carries, 68 yards |
| Kyler Murray | Rushing | 7 carries, 48 yards |
| Trey McBride | Receiving | 12 catches, 96 yards |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | Receiving | 5 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD |
| Michael Wilson | Receiving | 5 catches, 55 yards |
| Chad Ryland | Kicking | 5 of 6 field goals |
Arizona’s offensive production looked impressive between the 20-yard lines. Nevertheless, its one touchdown on six red-zone trips prevented the yardage advantage from becoming a comfortable scoring lead.
Minnesota offense
The Minnesota Vikings player stats were less impressive in terms of volume, but the key players delivered during the comeback. Minnesota finished with 205 net passing yards and only 68 rushing yards. Even so, Darnold distributed the ball effectively once the Vikings increased their tempo.
Justin Jefferson led Minnesota with seven receptions for 99 yards on nine targets. His longest catch covered 30 yards. Although he did not score, his ability to find space became especially important on the final possession.
Jefferson also passed 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth consecutive season during the game. He became only the fourth player in NFL history at that time to record at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first five seasons.
Jordan Addison caught four passes for 54 yards, including a crucial 26-yard reception on the winning drive. T.J. Hockenson supplied three catches for 28 yards, while Johnny Mundt recorded two receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown.
Jones had a difficult statistical afternoon before his decisive play. He carried five times for 22 yards and caught three passes for six yards. He also fumbled twice, losing one of them. However, Darnold returned to him with the game on the line, and Jones rewarded that confidence by catching the winning touchdown.
| Minnesota player | Category | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Darnold | Passing | 21/31, 235 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT |
| Justin Jefferson | Receiving | 7 catches, 99 yards |
| Jordan Addison | Receiving | 4 catches, 54 yards |
| Johnny Mundt | Receiving | 2 catches, 22 yards, 1 TD |
| Aaron Jones | Receiving | 3 catches, 6 yards, 1 TD |
| Aaron Jones | Rushing | 5 carries, 22 yards |
| John Parker Romo | Kicking | 3 of 4 field goals |
Defensive stats
Arizona’s defense controlled much of the game and recorded five sacks. Mack Wilson Sr. led that pressure with two sacks, seven combined tackles, and a pass defended. L.J. Collier also recorded two sacks, while Kyzir White contributed the fifth.
Sean Murphy-Bunting forced two fumbles, and Arizona recovered one of Jones’ mistakes. Budda Baker finished with seven combined tackles, while White added six. For three quarters, that defensive effort kept Minnesota from developing rhythm.
Minnesota recorded only one sack, but its secondary produced the two most important takeaways. Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted Murray early in the fourth quarter and defended three passes. Griffin later registered the game-clinching interception, five solo tackles, and a pass defended.
Blake Cashman led Minnesota with 11 tackles. Camryn Bynum and Joshua Metellus each recorded 10, while Jonathan Greenard produced Minnesota’s only sack and forced a late Murray fumble. Arizona recovered that fumble, but the play cost valuable time and contributed to the failed final possession.
Team comparison
The complete Cardinals Vikings game breakdown demonstrates why total yardage alone can be misleading.
| Team statistic | Arizona | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 406 | 273 |
| First downs | 25 | 19 |
| Offensive plays | 77 | 51 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 68 |
| Net passing yards | 252 | 205 |
| Third downs | 5/13 | 1/8 |
| Fourth downs | 0/1 | 1/1 |
| Red-zone efficiency | 1/6 | 2/4 |
| Penalties | 10-96 | 3-56 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Sacks recorded | 5 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 35:49 | 24:11 |
Arizona gained 133 more yards, earned six more first downs, and possessed the ball for nearly 12 additional minutes. However, Minnesota scored touchdowns on half of its red-zone visits, while Arizona converted only one of six.
Penalties also damaged the Cardinals. Arizona committed 10 penalties for 96 yards, compared with three penalties for Minnesota. Several Arizona mistakes occurred near scoring range, making their effect greater than the raw yardage suggests.
Turning point
The defining sequence began late in the fourth quarter. Arizona held a 19-16 lead and reached first-and-goal at Minnesota’s five-yard line. A touchdown would likely have forced the Vikings to score twice or attempt a difficult two-point conversion.
Instead, tight end Tip Reiman committed a false start. On the following play, Murray received an intentional-grounding penalty, pushing Arizona much farther from the end zone. The Cardinals eventually settled for a 23-yard field goal and a six-point lead.
Minnesota then drove 70 yards in just over two minutes. Darnold opened the possession with a short completion to Jefferson and followed it with the 26-yard pass to Addison. Later, Jefferson helped convert a critical fourth down. Jones completed the drive with his touchdown reception.
Arizona still had three timeouts and more than a minute remaining. However, Greenard’s strip of Murray caused a loss, forced Arizona to use a timeout, and placed the offense behind schedule. Griffin ended the comeback attempt with 33 seconds left.
Player profiles
The leading players brought different body types and backgrounds to this matchup. Their listed measurements also explain some of their playing styles.
| Player | Age during game | Height | Weight | Public family or background detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Murray | 27 | 5-foot-10 | 207 pounds | His father, Kevin Murray, played quarterback at Texas A&M |
| Sam Darnold | 27 | 6-foot-3 | 225 pounds | Comes from an athletic family; his parents and sister competed in college sports |
| Justin Jefferson | 25 | 6-foot-1 | 195 pounds | His older brothers Jordan and Rickey also played football at LSU |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | 22 | 6-foot-3 | 220 pounds | Son of Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison |
| Trey McBride | 25 | 6-foot-4 | 246 pounds | Developed into Arizona’s dependable receiving tight end |
Final analysis
The Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings matchup showed the difference between controlling a game and finishing it. Arizona won the yardage battle, possession battle, rushing battle, and first-down battle. Its defense also generated five sacks. However, penalties, two interceptions, and poor red-zone efficiency left the door open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings game?
The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Arizona Cardinals 23-22 on December 1, 2024. Minnesota completed a late comeback after trailing for most of the game.
Who recorded the most passing yards?
Kyler Murray led the game with 260 passing yards. However, Sam Darnold delivered the more efficient performance, throwing for 235 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Who was the leading receiver?
Justin Jefferson led Minnesota with seven receptions for 99 yards. Trey McBride paced Arizona with 12 catches for 96 yards.
What was the main turning point?
Arizona settled for a field goal after reaching Minnesota’s five-yard line late in the fourth quarter. The Vikings then drove 70 yards and scored the winning touchdown through Aaron Jones.
Why did Arizona lose despite gaining more yards?
The Cardinals struggled in the red zone, committed 10 penalties, and threw two interceptions. Minnesota produced touchdowns on its most important drives and protected the football more effectively.
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