Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is preparing his team to face a quarterback he strongly feels should be in the MVP conversation.
That quarterback is Carson Palmer of the Arizona Cardinals.
“Honestly, watching tape, I hear about all these people talking about MVPs, and he really should be in the consideration with the way he’s playing,” Zimmer said, via ESPN. “And that’s not media talk, either. That’s true. That’s what I believe.”
The Vikings face Palmer and the Cardinals on Thursday night.
Another primetime game—this one against Zimmer, his former defensive coordinator in Cincinnati—provides the stage for Palmer to add to his MVP résumé.
Through 12 games, Palmer has thrown for 3,693 yards and 29 touchdowns. He’s currently second in the NFL in touchdowns and passer rating (106.3), and third in passing yards. In terms of MVP candidates, Palmer is wrestling with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for the top spot with four games remaining.
On Thursday night, he’ll face a Vikings defense that gave up 38 points to Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Minnesota could once again be without nose tackle Linval Joseph, linebacker Anthony Barr and safety Harrison Smith.
The Cardinals are currently first in the NFL in scoring at 31.8 points per game. At home, Arizona is averaging 32.0 a game.
Zimmer understands the test Palmer provides for his hurting defense.
“He’s playing with a ton of confidence,” Zimmer said. “He’s throwing the ball into a lot of tight places. His arm looks outstanding, better than what I remember. Footwork is great. I think he’s playing with a lot of confidence. He trusts these receivers and tight ends, obviously. Like I said before, I think he’s a legit MVP guy.”