MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings started the 2016 season with a 5-0 record in large part because of a defense that was often able to dictate the terms of a game to an opposing offense.

The Vikings got back to doing that on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, holding them to just 27 yards in the second half after allowing 263 in the first half. But it was a play toward the end of the first half that changed the complexion of the game and helped the Vikings' defense reassert itself against the defending NFC West champions.

Xavier Rhodes' 100-yard interception return touchdown -- the longest in Vikings history -- was set up by a defensive call the team executed almost flawlessly across the field. From a four-man rush that put pressure on Carson Palmer to a zone coverage scheme that left the veteran quarterback with few options, the Vikings turned a 3rd-and-goal situation from their 9-yard line into a game-changing play.

"Everything about that play, if you're grading the film, it's almost perfect," said ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen, who played seven years as a defensive back in the NFL. "It's everything you want, and on top of it, there's that physicality in there. They challenge receivers. [Andrew] Sendejo takes away the dig route, (and) says, 'You're not getting it.' [Captain] Munnerlyn jams up [John] Brown and says, 'You're not getting off the line on me. You're not getting a free pass.' And then you have Rhodes outside, being a veteran, understanding formation identification and route identification, lying in the weeds, saying, 'I dare you to throw this ball. If you do, I'm taking it to the house.'"

The Vikings show their double-A gap blitz look out of nickel coverage on third down but back out of it well before the snap, with safety Harrison Smith retreating to the end zone and linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks dropping into underneath zones. Tackle Tom Johnson shifts inside just before the snap, and as they did most of the day, the Vikings come after Palmer with a four-man rush, playing quarters coverage over the top of the defense.

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"The first thing here is the safety play -- look at Sendejo, look at his technique," Bowen said. "That's perfect. He stays square, gets into his pedal, and he opens his hips to [Larry] Fitzgerald. He's anticipating the dig route, or the square-in. That's exactly what you want, because now he's in a position where if they throw that ball, that's a pick, too. And you look underneath -- this jam by Munnerlyn? That's what makes the play.

"The reason [the Cardinals] motioned down to a stack alignment was to get Fitz a free release. That's what they want. But this is a great example -- you can establish contact even if you're not in a press position. What I love about this is, he holds his ground. It's about time the refs let defensive backs play. When you do that in a zone defense like this, it impacts the timing of the route, it impacts the stem of the route, it impacts the break of the route."

As Brown runs directly into Munnerlyn, the corner continues to engage the receiver up the field, throwing off the timing between Palmer and his target. Palmer could have been anticipating Rhodes playing further inside to help on Fitzgerald, Bowen said, which would have left Brown room outside of Munnerlyn. But instead of squeezing Fitzgerald, Rhodes stays in position to drive on a throw to Brown.

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"I don't believe Palmer is reading [Rhodes] in this situation," Bowen said. "I also believe he expects John Brown to be there sooner. If you watch the TV copy, there's some frustration on the field from the Cardinals after this play. And it's understandable, because he expects a free release. John Brown has electric footwork -- the break outside, beat the nickel, you've got the corner squeezing the dig route? That should be a touchdown from the Cardinals' perspective. It's a good call to beat [Cover-4.] But think of all the things that happened here for the Vikings. It's a great break by Rhodes."

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It's one example on this play, Bowen said, of a player going above and beyond his assignment. The other comes from Smith, who moves from his zone to his right as soon as he sees Palmer looking that way.

"For young safeties to study, if you watch Harrison Smith, he's going before the ball is even out," Bowen said. "Go find work. I always say that to my high school DBs -- go find work. If you stay square, if you're Harrison Smith, and you're reading the quarterback, you're doing your job. That's what the chalkboard says to do. But the next step to become a productive football player at any level is, 'Look -- the quarterback's eyes are to the open side of the formation. I'm going.' Who knows what happens? He's trying to find an area where he can make a play. And that's important.

"To me, young safeties don't do that. They do their job, 'Alignment and assignment, I'm good.' The next step is, 'How do I start making plays.' Watch Harrison Smith. That's one of the ways you do it. You start anticipating and saying, 'Hey -- this is where the football is going. I'm going to be aggressive, I'm going to help my teammates and hopefully, I'm going to go make a play.' That's making the scheme more aggressive. It's not anymore just a chalkboard defense."

It sets up a play that helped end a four-game losing streak. And if the Vikings' defense continues to make more plays like it, the team could put its season back on the trajectory it had during a 5-0 start.