MINNEAPOLIS -- Adrian Peterson ran for 153 yards and a first-quarter touchdown, and the Minnesota Vikings survived an ugly second half to hang on and beat the Arizona Cardinals 21-14 on Sunday.
Percy Harvin caught Ponder's only touchdown pass, but the quarterback threw an interception that led to a second-quarter touchdown run by Arizona's LaRod Stephens-Howling. Ponder has seven turnovers in the last three games; two of them were turned into touchdowns last week at the Washington Redskins.
Cardinals quarterback John Skelton went 25-of-36 passing for 262 yards with two turnovers. Rookie Harrison Smith returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown in the first minute of the second half, giving the Vikings (5-2) enough of a cushion to withstand their offensive woes down the stretch.
The Cardinals fell to 4-3 after their third consecutive loss.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
