Win Probability Added: +25.12
NEP: +10.62
The Minnesota Vikings have to be proud of young cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who -- when healthy -- has helped to hold some of the top wide receivers in the league to atrocious production days. Rhodes’ presence has been one of the keys to Minnesota’s defensive success this year, and he is rapidly becoming a top-tier shutdown corner.
He displayed that kind of aplomb again this week, locking into Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer for a devastating pick. Late in the second quarter, the Cardinals were knocking on the Minnesota door at the nine-yard line. Palmer decided to test Rhodes on the diminutive wide receiver John Brown (who gives up nearly half a foot of height to his cover man). This turned out to be foolish, however; Rhodes snared the ball in the end zone and raced back 100 yards to the Cardinals’ own goal.