Cardinals Vs. Vikings: Looking at the stats, history and connections

Both at 4-2, the Arizona Cardinals are on the road to play the Minnesota Vikings. However, the Cardinals are banged up. They lost quarterback Kevin Kolb last week against the Buffalo Bills and now John Skelton, who was injured in Week 1 after being named the starter after the preseason, will start. They also will be without safety Kerry Rhodes.

Here is a look at the pertinent stats between the two teams, as well as history and connections.

Stats:

Offensively, Arizona will take their 28th ranked unit in yardage and 26th in scoring against a Vikings defense that is eighth overall in yardage allowed and ninth overall in points allowed.

Minnesota allows about 313 yards per game and just under 20 points per contest.

Arizona's offense only amasses 283 yards of offense a game

Arizona on defense is allowing just under 330 yards per game, but are fourth in the entire league in scoring defense, allowing only about 16 points a game.

Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder is being asked to take care of he ball. He is passing 239 yards a game with eight touchdowns and four picks. He has a QB rating of 92.4.

Running back Adrian Peterson is playing very well, having returned from knee surgery. He is averaging 4.4 yard per carry and has gotten 499 yards rushing with two touchdowns.

Percy Harvin is their leading receiver with 49 catched and 540 yards.

John Skelton is not doing too well statistically. He is completing under 43 percent of his passes. He has thrown two interceptions and has not yet thrown for a touchdown.

Running the football has been a struggle for Arizona. Of the players that are not injured, William Powell leads in yardage with only 79.

Larry Fitzgerald leads the Cardinals in receiving. He has 36 catches and 430 yards, with three TDs. However, Andre Roberts leads the team in TDs with four.

Neither team punches the ball in the end zone well. Arizona has 11 TDs and Minny only 14.

History:

This is the fifth straight year the two teams play and the third straight year they play each other in Minnesota. Last season, Minnesota got out to a 28-0 lead, cruising to a 34-10 win. Kevin Kolb was picked off twice. The previous year, the defense allowed Brett Favre to come back late in the game and lead the Vikings to a 27-24 overtime win.

The Cardinals are 10-12 against the Vikings, 4-8 on the road.

Connections:

The only player that played for the other is cornerback A.J. Jefferson, who was traded from the Cardinals to the Vikings just before the regular season.

However, both Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd of the Cardinals grew up in the state of Minnesota.