MINNEAPOLIS -- Carson Palmer, still in full pads and uniform, sat motionless in front of his cubicle deep inside Minnesotas stadium long after another disheartening defeat.The Arizona Cardinals, coming off an NFC runner-up finish with all kinds of star power on both sides of the ball, have stunned themselves with their underperformance in this steadily spoiling season.Xavier Rhodes took back one of his two interceptions 100 yards for a touchdown and Cordarrelle Patterson returned the second-half kickoff 104 yards for a score for the Vikings in a 30-24 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday that stopped their four-game losing streak.We have some situations where we made it a lot tougher on ourselves, said Larry Fitzgerald, the Minneapolis native who fell to 0-5 in his hometown. The mindset is not going to change. Were still in the thick of it.The schedule isnt going to get easier. The Cardinals (4-5-1) have four road games remaining.Palmer, who passed for 198 yards and two scores, was off the mark for much of the afternoon and had no time to find anyone on the final two possessions. The Vikings sacked him four times and the Cardinals netted only 27 yards after halftime.Youre on the road in a tough environment, Palmer said, and this one we really wanted, really needed.The Vikings (6-4) faced the same urgency, though. They held onto their first-place tie with Detroit in the NFC North, with a rematch against the Lions looming in four days. After scoring twice each on defense and special teams during their NFL-best 5-0 start, the Vikings failed to produce a return touchdown over their last four games until this breakthrough.The Cardinals climbed within six with David Johnsons third-down catch with 7:24 remaining. The Vikings revved up their pass rush, though, and sealed the critical victory.I dont know if its an exhale. It definitely gives you a little bit of confidence, gets things back feeling normal a little bit, defensive end Brian Robison said. We needed that one.Takeaways from the game:DUAL-THREAT DAVID: The Vikings have been vulnerable against versatile running backs, and Johnson is as good as they get. He rushed for 103 yards and a score and tacked on 57 yards and a touchdown receiving, giving him 10 straight games with 100-plus yards from scrimmage.Johnson was resting on the sideline in favor of Andre Ellington during the drive late in the second quarter that ended with the end-zone interception by Rhodes.He had just had two long drives, coach Bruce Arians said. Andre needs to play too.ABOUT THAT INTERCEPTION: The Cardinals argued to no avail that John Brown was being held by Captain Munnerlyn before Rhodes picked off Palmer . Brown said Palmer made a great throw that he wouldve caught without the contact, but he had barely turned around when the ball was in the air.Im sure well turn that into the league, Palmer said, and Im sure theyll come back and say it was holding.While Arians was not in the mood to discuss the officiating at all after the game, his son Jake -- who kicked for the Buffalo Bills in 2001 -- sent out a tweet with an obscenity directed at the NFL and its officials.SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: In addition to the touchdown from Patterson , the fifth of his career to match Percy Harvin for most in team history, the Vikings also benefited from a 72-yard punt from Jeff Locke that pinned the Cardinals at their 13 with 2:20 left, a 23-yard punt return by Marcus Sherels that set up their first touchdown and three extra points and a 27-yard field goal from new kicker Kai Forbath.That was enough to render moot a blocked extra point.Pattersons celebration wasnt quite as smooth as his return. He accidentally knocked a fans drink over in the process of jumping into the seats.Im going have to owe that person, Patterson said. So if he finds me, just let me know. Two beers next time I see him.The Vikings are the first team since the 1962 Dallas Cowboys to have a 100-yard interception return touchdown and a 100-plus yard kickoff return touchdown in the same game. The Cowboys Amos Marsh had a 101-yard kickoff return touchdown and Mike Gaechter had a 100-yard interception return touchdown in Dallas 41-19 win over Philadelphia.MORE THAN A THIELEN: Sam Bradford went 20 for 28 for 169 yards and no interceptions for the Vikings, with a touchdown pass on their first drive to Adam Thielen that was originally ruled incomplete but overturned when the Vikings successfully challenged that he landed both feet in bounds.With Patrick Peterson following Stefon Diggs, holding him to 35 yards on five catches, Thielen and Patterson became the go-to targets for Bradford. Thielen, who went undrafted out of NCAA Division II Minnesota State, has become a sure-handed safety blanket in Bradfords first season with the Vikings with 518 yards and three scores. Asked if hed heard of Thielen before arriving in Minnesota, Bradford blushed.Can I choose not to answer that one? he said, smiling.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAPNHL Jerseys China . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Cheap NHL Jerseys . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. https://www.cheapnhljerseysjustwholesale.com/ .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. Authentic NHL Jerseys . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard.PHILADELPHIA -- Whoever Chip Kelly chooses to be the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback may have plenty of success by doing one simple thing: handing the ball to LeSean McCoy. While Michael Vick, Nick Foles and Matt Barkley will get most of the attention during training camp, McCoy could be the most important part of Philadelphias offence. The 25-year-old running back is looking to get back to his All-Pro form of 2011. "I want to be more dominant," McCoy said. "The last few years Ive had good years, but I want to be dominant. I think in this offence, theres the ability to run the ball more, where I can really take over a game. There have been flashes of it in the past, but having the ability to do it day in and day out, game in and game out, I think thats a different story." The Eagles held their first full squad practice Friday, and the pads will be on for the first time Sunday when the team moves across the street to Lincoln Financial Field and welcomes in 60,000 fans. They might be treated to an unfamiliar sight if Kelly emphasizes the run game, as expected. Its no secret that former Eagles coach Andy Reid had a pass-first philosophy. The offence ran the ball just 38.2 per cent of the time last year. Their highest average during McCoys first four seasons was 43.4 per cent in 2011. Thats when McCoy had 1,309 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl. But Reid is now in Kansas City teaching his version of the West Coast offence. Kelly has a unique offensive system of his own. He prefers an up-tempo style centred on moving quickly, running a lot of plays and keeping defences off-balance. At Oregon, Kellys offence averaged 44.7 points in four years. The Ducks ran the ball at least 61.7 per cent of the time during those four seasons. "Chip has shown that he runs the ball a lot, so I think thats the difference," McCoy said. "I want to get back to that old stage where Im taking over a game. I think with all the talent and supporting cast around me, that should be easy. With the offence around me, theres not as much pressure where you have to do everything. There are certain guys on different teams where if they dont play well, their team doesnt do well, and with the Eagles that isnt the case." The Eagles have several playmakers on offence, including two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jacksson, wideouts Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant and tight end Brent Celek.dddddddddddd Tight ends are a key part of Kellys offence, so he added free agent James Casey and rookie second-round pick Zach Ertz. Running backs Bryce Brown and Felix Jones give the offence even more options. "That helps me out a little bit, but as a competitor I want to be one of those guys in the offence where in the fourth quarter, I want the ball," McCoy said. "I want that type of attitude, and the type of person Coach Kelly is, he has that attitude also. It makes us more dominant as a team if each guy has that attitude and wants the ball and is willing to make plays. You dont know where to go as a defence." So whether Vick, Foles or even Barkley end up behind centre for the season opener at Washington on Sept. 9, the Eagles have the foundation for a dynamic offence. "I think well be dangerous," McCoy said. "I think we have potential to make some big noise. I think the biggest thing with this offence is it gets you in open space. Were constantly going. Foot on the gas, were constantly going. I think when teams are getting tired and thinking about defensive strategies, were gone. Were pushing it, high-tempo. I think it will be good for us, and the good thing now with this team, we finally have more depth, especially at running back." Nothing went right for Philadelphia last season when they finished 4-12. Injuries were a problem for the offence. Only one offensive lineman finished the season, McCoy missed four games, Jackson sat out the last five and Vick got hurt before losing his job to Foles. Its a new year, of course, and theres a ton of excitement surrounding the team with Kelly on board. "The skys the limit, not only Maclin and me, but McCoy, Celek, (Jason) Avant," Jackson said. "Its just from A to Z, I think its a big difference. Nothing bad to say about Coach Reids offence and his system and Marty Mornhinweg, but just the way Chip Kellys coming in with (offensive co-ordinator) Pat Shurmur and things like that. I just think theyve installed something very good here so were very excited. I think everything is going to take off real fast." Taking off fast could mean keeping the ball on the ground. "I think that our running game should be second to none," lineman Todd Herremans said. ' ' '
