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Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals: PFM Team Comparison

PFM rates the Minnesota Vikings higher than the Arizona Cardinals overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense.

Current PFM Team Scores

Clear edgeMIN

Minnesota Vikings

79.0PFM Team Score#17 NFL
ARI

Arizona Cardinals

73.3PFM Team Score#27 NFL
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Minnesota Vikings Higher

Kevin O'Connell is the coaching difference. Minnesota has the more dependable answers when the first answer stops working. Arizona's strongest counterargument is QB Stability. The Arizona Cardinals ask fewer questions at quarterback because Jacoby Brissett sets the floor of the offense. That stability matters when a game moves away from the opening script.

Minnesota also brings the stronger defense. Minnesota adds the less limited big-play ability. PFM still has the Minnesota Vikings in front.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Minnesota vs. Arizona Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

MINMinnesota Vikings
ARIArizona Cardinals
Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Minnesota Vikings 76.4, Arizona Cardinals 78.4, edge ARI +2.0; Offense: Minnesota Vikings 77.2, Arizona Cardinals 75.8, edge MIN +1.4; Defense: Minnesota Vikings 82.0, Arizona Cardinals 72.3, edge MIN +9.7; Coaching Direction: Minnesota Vikings 82.2, Arizona Cardinals 71.9, edge MIN +10.3; Roster Depth: Minnesota Vikings 79.1, Arizona Cardinals 73.0, edge MIN +6.1. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
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THE COUNTERARGUMENT

Arizona Cardinals’ Best Argument

Quarterback is the clearest separator. Jacoby Brissett gives Arizona more certainty than the Minnesota Vikings have at the position. That is why the overall gap is smaller than the score first suggests. Minnesota still answers with the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense, which keeps the overall judgment in place.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

MIN79.0
Minnesota Vikings 79.0
ARI73.3
Arizona Cardinals 73.3
Clear Minnesota Vikings edge

Overall NFL Rank

MIN#17
Minnesota Vikings #17
ARI#27
Arizona Cardinals #27
Minnesota Vikings ranks higher

QB Stability

MIN76.4
Minnesota Vikings 76.4
ARI78.4
Arizona Cardinals 78.4
Clear Arizona Cardinals edge

Roster Strength

MIN79.1
Minnesota Vikings 79.1
ARI73.0
Arizona Cardinals 73.0
Clear Minnesota Vikings edge

Coaching Direction

MIN82.2
Minnesota Vikings 82.2
ARI71.9
Arizona Cardinals 71.9
Major Minnesota Vikings edge

Recent Performance

MIN79.9
Minnesota Vikings 79.9
ARI68.3
Arizona Cardinals 68.3
Major Minnesota Vikings edge

Offense

MIN77.2
Minnesota Vikings 77.2
ARI75.8
Arizona Cardinals 75.8
Slight Minnesota Vikings edge

Defense

MIN82.0
Minnesota Vikings 82.0
ARI72.3
Arizona Cardinals 72.3
Clear Minnesota Vikings edge

Franchise Direction

MIN77.0
Minnesota Vikings 77.0
ARI73.1
Arizona Cardinals 73.1
Clear Minnesota Vikings edge

Explosiveness

MIN77.1
Minnesota Vikings 77.1
ARI67.4
Arizona Cardinals 67.4
Clear Minnesota Vikings edge

Conference Rank

MIN#8
Minnesota Vikings #8
ARI#14
Arizona Cardinals #14
Minnesota Vikings ranks higher

Division Rank

MIN#4
Minnesota Vikings #4
ARI#4
Arizona Cardinals #4
Even rank

Outlook

MINIn the Playoff MixARINeeds More Help
Stronger outlook: Minnesota Vikings
TEAM CONSTRUCTION

How These Teams Are Built Differently

Minnesota Vikings

Strongest Rating
Coaching Direction
Category Edge
Coaching Direction
Biggest Matchup Concern
QB Stability

Arizona Cardinals

Strongest Rating
QB Stability
Category Edge
QB Stability
Biggest Matchup Concern
Coaching Direction

Arizona's clearest category edge is QB Stability. Jacoby Brissett gives the Arizona Cardinals the steadier quarterback room against the Minnesota Vikings. That lets the offense stay on schedule without asking the rest of the team to cover constant uncertainty. The biggest problem in this matchup is Coaching Direction, where Minnesota owns the clearer advantage.

SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Minnesota Vikings

Full schedule rank: #17

Toughest stretch: Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers

Strongest opponents: San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills

View Minnesota Vikings Road Ahead

Arizona Cardinals

Full schedule rank: #1

Toughest stretch: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs

Strongest opponents: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs

View Arizona Cardinals Road Ahead

Arizona has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 1. The strongest opponents include Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and Kansas City Chiefs. Minnesota also has the more favorable road, which adds to the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated September 8, 2026. Schedule data updated June 29, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams