om this - Im really excited that we had this game.From an ef

MINNEAPOLIS -- When the season began, the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings were expected to be among the top teams in the NFC.The two teams had Super Bowl aspirations with talented rosters coming off last years playoff appearances. Minnesota started the year 5-0, while Arizona was 1/3 a month into the season.Since their undefeated start, the Vikings have lost four games in a row. The Cardinals (4-4-1) have used two wins against the San Francisco 49ers to jumpstart the second half of the season.Despite the differing paths, there is still a road to playoff contention as they meet Sunday in Minnesota.Weve been fortunate with some of the other things that have happened in the league that were still in a good place, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. We can go out and win. I know everybody thinks Im crazy, but my goal is to win the division. So, go out and get some wins and get going again. Thats all.The last two ball games have been (close and), honestly, could go either way. We didnt win them, so we just need to get a couple of these either-way games and win. Thats kind of what happened at the beginning of the season. So, its a seven-game season now.Minnesota is tied for the NFC North lead with the Detroit Lions at 5-4. Arizona is two games behind Seattle in the NFC West but still in prime wild-card position.Both teams have dealt with plenty of injuries, which will also impact Sundays game.The Vikings lost left tackle Jake Long for the rest of the season when he injured his Achilles in last weeks 26-20 loss at Washington. Long, signed as a street free agent in October, had already been an injury replacement at left tackle after starter Matt Kalil was lost after two games.Zimmer hasnt revealed his plans for his battered offensive line on Sunday. Jeremiah Sirles could join the starting lineup. Minnesota, which has also lost right tackle Andre Smith for the season, has T.J. Clemmings at the other tackle.Weve definitely been a little bit unfortunate as far as some of the injuries that weve had up front, quarterback Sam Bradford said. But like weve done in the past, we just have to keep moving forward. Obviously, Sirles and T.J., they started a couple of games together so we feel confident in them because theyve been out there, theyve done it before. Theyve played a lot of football. As bad as this is to continue to lose guys youve just got to try to stay positive and just keep moving forward.Arizonas injuries have hit hardest in the secondary.Safety Deone Bucannon missed Wednesdays practice with an ankle injury. Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu was limited in Wednesdays practice with a shoulder injury. Mathieu missed last weeks game with the injury. Both are questionable for the game.My shoulder feels fine, its stable for the moment, Mathieu told the Arizona Republic. Ill continue to put it to work during practice and see where Im at, at the end of the week.Cardinals coach Bruce Arians and Zimmer know each other well dating back to their time as coordinators in the AFC North. Arians was the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator facing Zimmers defenses for the Cincinnati Bengals.Ive always respected Zim as one of the most sound, aggressive defensive coaches that Ive ever gone against ... They dont beat themselves, Arians said via conference call. I think our defense, our defensive line is playing at a very high level right now. I think both offensive lines have their work cut out for them.Arizona owns the leagues second-ranked defense in terms of yardage, one spot ahead of Zimmers Minnesota crew. The Cardinals are allowing 295.2 yards per game compared to the Vikings 308.8 yards per game. But Minnesota is giving a league-low 16.9 points per game. Arizona is tied for third, giving up 17.8 points per game.I think this is going to be one of our biggest challenges of the year, Bradford said. Probably the best group that weve faced. So, I think its important that we have a great week of practice and get ourselves ready to go.Both teams also made significant special teams changes this week. The Cardinals brought back punter Drew Butler after Ryan Quigley didnt prove to be an upgrade the past six games. Quigley had the leagues lowest qualifying gross punting average at 41.6 yards per punt.Minnesota parted with embattled kicker Blair Walsh and signed Kai Forbath. Walsh had only made 75 percent of his field-goal attempts and hit just 78.9 percent of his extra-point attempts.It was just something we felt like we needed to do, kind of move forward, Zimmer said. Were all accountable for the things we have to get done, and I think we gave him a lot of opportunities. Although, Blairs a great kid, and it was hard to do. Its just part of the business.Business this week, for both teams, will be trying to stay in the playoff race. Kerry Wood Cubs Jersey .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Kyle Schwarber Jersey . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Kyle-Hendricks-Kids-Jersey/ . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Javier Baez Jersey . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. Yu Darvish Jersey . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. ALTO, Calif. -- The University of Florida soccer team lost 1-0 in overtime Friday evening in front of 1,240 fans at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.It was the third consecutive meeting between the two teams that went to overtime, with the Cardinal taking two wins and one match ending in a tie.How the Match Unfolded:?Midfield play was prevalent Friday, as each team looked for an opening to reach their opponents defensive third. Gator sophomore Kaylan Marckese made some key saves Friday, including five in the second half.One of the Gators best opportunities came in the 76th minute when sophomore Melanie Monteagudo brought the ball down the left side. Her endline cross tried to find Savannah Jordan, who was making a near post run. Stanford goalkeeper Jane Campbell came out but couldnt gather the ball in and it was free just above the six-yard box. Senior Meggie Dougherty Howard was just a fraction away from getting to loose ball.On the game-winning goal, a lofted ball was sent to the top of the Gators box. SUs Kyra Carusa headed it forward to Jordan DiBiasi, who was located just above the six-yard box. A sliding Marckese stopped that shot but DiBiasis right footed shot on the deflection scored at the far corner in the 96th minute.Worth Noting These two teams have met three times at Cagan Stadium since the 2014 season. All three matches have gone to overtime, with the Cardinal taking the win twice. The 2014 NCAA Quarterfinal meeting ended in a 2-2 double overtime tie, but Stanford advanced to the NCAA College Cup on penalty kicks.Six saves equals Marckeses collegiate best. She also turned in six saves in the 2015 regular-season home finale versus Arkansas.Florida will face the preseason No. 1 team on two different polls in consecutive Friday road action. Stanford topped Top Drawer Soccers presseason poll and continues to hold that spot on the Aug.dddddddddddd 22 release. After Florida returns from its two-match California road trip, it will travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State. The Seminoles are No. 1 on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings.Records: Florida: 2-1-0, 0-0 SECStanford: 3-0-0, 0-0 Pac-12What the Gators Said: On her overall thoughts on todays match... Im really proud of the way we played. I think we learned a lot about ourselves tonight. This is a great opportunity for us to be put under some pressure and see what we could do under that pressure. We are going to learn a lot from this - Im really excited that we had this game.From an effort perspective, it was terrific energy around our team, and the game and the bench. Everything was awesome. Stanford did a good job to finish an opportunity off a set piece to end the game. But overall, win or lose, this game doesnt define us. It is more about what we take from it. - head coach Becky BurleighPreseason Conference Votes: Florida swept the 2015 SEC regular-season titles. Stanford won the 2015 Pac-12 Conference title.Florida - The Gators are picked to win the 2016 Southeastern Conference title.SU - The Cardinal are picked to win the 2016 Pac-12 Conference title.Rankings: Florida is ranked No. 6 and Stanford is No. 3 on the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.Next up: Florida continues play in the Golden State versus top-ranked teams as the Gators face No. 15 UCLA on Sunday. The Bruins took a 1-0 win Friday at No. 11 Texas A&M. Match time is set for 6 p.m. ET at Drake Stadium. The match will air on the Pac-12 Network. ' ' '