Winfield out, Fitzgerald on other side -- no sweat

The fear of playing Arizona without cornerback Antoine Winfield proved to be unwarranted anxiety as the Vikings led 28-0 before the Cardinals could muster a first down.

Missing its leader and finest player because of a strained neck, the Vikings secondary still played its best game of the season with three interceptions, an early tone-setting tackle for loss and a key fourth-and-1 stop during Sunday's 34-10 win at Mall of America Field.

"Everybody knows not having Antoine is a big blow, so we, I think, maybe we all felt like we had to do a little more today," free safety Husain Abdullah said. "For us to do what we did, after starting 0-4, well, it lets us know that we are as good as we think we can be."

Neither starting cornerback was on the field for the opening series. Right cornerback Cedric Griffin was held out for unspecified disciplinary reasons, but the Cardinals still went three-and-out with Asher Allen, Chris Cook and Marcus Sherels starting in the nickel package.

Abdullah's 3-yard tackle for loss on the Cardinals' next possession contributed to another three-and-out and a dramatic change in field position when Sherels returned a punt 22 yards to the Cardinals 18. Adrian Peterson scored the first of his three touchdowns four plays later.

On the next play, Allen intercepted a Kevin Kolb pass that was tipped by lineman Everson Griffen. A play later, Peterson scored from 24 yards out.

"Turnovers cause points," Allen said. "Points win games."

"Best game I've had, yeah, I would say that," Sanford said after collecting the first two picks of his career. "When you get two picks, there aren't too many games that can top that. Not that I've played in."

The secondary also played key roles in two fourth-down stops in the second half. On fourth-and-1 from the Arizona 46 on the last play of the third quarter, the 5-9, 194-pound Allen shot in and undercut 6-2, 229-pound running back Beanie Wells short of the first down on an aggressive play reminiscent of the ones Winfield makes routinely.

"Yeah," said Allen, "that was a little inner Antoine going there."

The other fourth-down stop came on fourth-and-22 from the Vikings 30 with 9 minutes left. Kolb threw the ball up for grabs to All-Pro receiver and former Holy Angels standout Larry Fitzgerald. But Abdullah and linebacker Chad Greenway broke up the play at the goal line.

Fitzgerald had a quiet game, catching four passes for 66 yards. He caught a 21-yard pass against dime back Sherels on fourth-and-10 and three balls for 45 yards against Griffin. Fitzgerald did not catch a ball on the 6-2, 212-pound Cook, who did a nice job jamming Fitzgerald at the line of scrimmage.