Warner throws 3 TDs, Cardinals rattle Favre to build 27-10 third-quarter lead

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Warner throws 3 TDs, Cards lead Vikings 27-10

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kurt Warner threw three touchdown passes and the Arizona Cardinals intercepted Brett Favre twice as they built a commanding 27-10 lead Sunday over the Minnesota Vikings after the third quarter.

Favre was being outplayed by Warner in a prime-time duel between two former league MVPs and Super Bowl winners, with the Cardinals quarterback hooking up with wideouts Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald on one big play after another. Fitzgerald had six catches, 104 yards and a touchdown, and Boldin had seven receptions for 98 yards after three quarters.

Favre threw two picks in the third quarter — his first multiple interception game of the season — and the Cardinals defense rattled him and dynamic running back Adrian Peterson all night. Peterson had 11 carries for 16 yards.

It was the shakiest performance of the season for the 10-1 Vikings, who needed a win to keep pace with the New Orleans Saints in the battle for home-field advantage. The Cardinals are 7-4 and could open up a three-game lead in their division with four games to play.

Warner seemed intent on making a statement that the Cardinals are for real. He was 19 of 27 for 244 yards to go with the three touchdowns. Perhaps more importantly, the Vikings’ pass rush rarely put a hand on him and recorded no sacks through three quarters.

Favre threw his first interception on the Vikings’ opening drive of the second half, putting the ball right in the arms of linebacker Karlos Dansby in triple-coverage. Arizona quickly marched down the field on its ensuing possession and got a field goal from Neil Rackers to build a 24-10 lead with 7:45 remaining in the quarter.

He threw his second interception on the Vikings’ next drive on a third-and-25 play. Arizona then got another field goal by Rackers to make it 27-10.

With his start, Favre set the NFL record for most consecutive games played at 283, surpassing former Minnesota defensive great Jim Marshall. The 40-year-old Favre has not missed a start since the 1992 season, and is hoping to get back to the Super Bowl with the Vikings.

The 38-year-old Warner wants to do the same with the Cardinals, who are coming off their improbable Super Bowl run a year ago. Favre and Warner have a combined five Super Bowl appearances and two championships over the last 13 seasons. Favre has won three league MVPs, Warner two.

Boldin gave a big lift to the Cardinals after the Vikings jumped to a 7-0 lead on Favre’s touchdown pass to tight end Visanthe Schiancoe on their first possession.

Boldin made a nifty grab along the left sideline with Cedric Griffin covering before dashing for a touchdown to give the Cardinals a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. The Vikings countered with a long drive capped by Ryan Longwell’s field goal to make it 14-10. Warner then hit Fitzgerald for a 34-yard touchdown after the star wideout got behind the Vikings secondary and easily scored with 1:14 remaining.

The Vikings took advantage of Tim Hightower’s fumble on Arizona’s second play of the game, recovering the ball near midfield and driving for a quick score. Favre hit Shiancoe for a 3-yard touchdown with 9:47 left in the first quarter, which came after Vikings coach Brad Childress successfully challenged the original ruling of an incomplete pass.

Warner was back in the starting lineup after missing last week’s game because of lingering symptoms from the concussion he sustained Nov. 22 at St. Louis. He had started 41 consecutive games before missing the Titans game.

The game is a rematch of a December contest from last year in which the Vikings dominated Arizona 35-14 in what was part of a late-season swoon for the Cardinals, before they got hot in the playoffs and came within a couple of plays of winning the Super Bowl.

Despite being in prime position to lock up the NFC North and a first-round bye, Minnesota still has a lot to play for as the Vikings trail the undefeated Saints by only one game in the battle for home-field advantage.