Arizona at Minnesota


Breaking down the Cardinals and Vikings


Focal Point: Moss vs. Williams


NFC: Vikes up front about their success


Young Cards don't know any better


Everything falls into place for Vikes -- almost


NFC guard officially has changed


Won from the heart

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Following the adage about the best defense being a good offense, the Arizona Cardinals hope to keep Minnesota's potent attack off the field by controlling the ball.

	Adrian Murrell must help the Cardinals control the clock Sunday.

That means Adrian Murrell has to be ready.

Murrell was grinding out yardage at about two per carry last week against Dallas when he broke free and ran 74 yards to the Dallas 3-yard line.

The resulting touchdown gave Arizona a 17-0 lead in the third quarter and sapped the Cowboys' faith that they could come back. Arizona (10-7) cruised to a 20-7 victory -- its first playoff win since 1947 -- and earned the right to play the Vikings (15-1) on Sunday in the second round.

Murrell finished the game with 95 yards on 12 carries, the bulk of Arizona's 133-yard rushing effort. Coach Vince Tobin considers it essential to put up similar numbers against the Vikings.

"We'd certainly like to keep their offense off the field, but we're not going to go with three tight ends and try to run it all the time," Tobin said. "We've got to run our offense the best way we can to move the ball and score some points, because you're not going to beat Minnesota if you don't score some points."

Murrell, acquired from the New York Jets last April in exchange for Arizona's third-round pick in the draft, promised on his arrival the Cardinals would not finish last in rushing, as they did in 1997.

He improved throughout the season as he got used to his new teammates on the offensive line and finished with 1,042 yards, becoming the Cardinals' first 1,000-yard rusher in three years and only their third since 1985. It also was his third consecutive 1,000-yard season.

He replaced Leeland McElroy, a smaller back who was released and failed to stick with Tampa Bay this season.

"It gives me great satisfaction," Murrell said about meeting his promise. "Last year, they were guys who tried very hard, but for whatever the reason it didn't pan out. I wasn't here for that, and I think that's a negative thought saying these guys were bad. But I know that we can be a dominant offense with a little more time together."

Left tackle Lomas Brown wasn't as reluctant to give Murrell credit for the improvement.

"It's like night and day as far as our running game," Brown said. "I mean, there's so many different things you can do with Adrian. He hits the hole a lot faster and a lot harder, he runs with more authority than Leeland did. The thing about it is all you have to do is stay with your block.

"If you just get a stalemate with your block, you can get some yardage with Adrian. That makes a big difference to the offensive line."