TUCSON, Ariz. -- Washington has been dominant to open the season, picking teams apart with its passing game, shutting down opposing offenses with its cache of talented defensive players.The competition level is about to ratchet up a few ticks.After beating up on Rutgers, Idaho and Portland State, the ninth-ranked Huskies face their first true test of the season on Saturday night, when they head to the desert to play Arizona and its snap-before-theyre-ready offense.Well see if were ready. Thats easier said than done, Washington coach Chris Petersen said. It certainly feels better and different when in the fourth quarter you have a comfortable lead, as opposed to fighting and clawing all the way down. That does change things. That we havent experienced.It has been relatively easy so far.The Huskies (3-0) won their first three games by a combined score of 148-30 and its first-team defense has yet to allow a touchdown. Quarterback Jake Browning leads the nation in passing efficiency at 206.9, throwing for 12 touchdowns with one interception.Continuing that type of success should be a little tougher in Tucson.Arizona (2-1) had some early-season struggles on both sides of the ball, but seems to be getting the kinks worked out after rolling over Hawaii last week.The Wildcats also have a knack for playing well against the best teams; theyve knocked off a top-10 team each of the previous four seasons and are looking forward to this challenge.You come to this level to play in those games. You want to be one of those top-ranked teams, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. When you play them, there should be a little extra juice because of the attention it will get and because of the challenge you are facing. If our guys want to prove that they can play at the highest level, they are going to get a chance.A few more things to look for when Washington faces Arizona on Saturday night.ARIZONAS QB: Sophomore Brandon Dawkins has played well in two games since Anu Solomon injured his knee in practice and will likely start again on Saturday. Solomon was limited in practice this week and is listed as questionable on Arizonas injury report. But Dawkins may have started anyway. The dual-threat QB has thrown for 458 yards and a pair of touchdowns, adding 215 yards and five more scores on the ground. The Huskies prepared as if Dawkins would be the starter.HUSKY D: Facing Washingtons defense can be an intimidating task. Rodriguez estimates the Huskies have up to seven potential NFL players on their defense, including safety Budda Baker, linebacker Joe Mathis and Sidney Jones. The Wildcats like to play fast and may need to ramp it up even more with these Huskies chasing them.Theyre probably as big and explosive as any team in the country, Rodriguez said.TAYLORS TURN: Arizona became thin at running back after running back Orlando Bradford was dismissed from the team following his arrest on domestic violence charges. The Wildcats took another hit against Hawaii last week, when primary back Nick Wilson was injured in the first half. In stepped J.J. Taylor. The small but ultra-quick freshman ran his way through Hawaiis defense last week, racking up 168 yards on 18 carries, including one 61-yard touchdown dash down the sideline. Wilson is listed as questionable on the injury report and Arizona moved slot receiver Tyrell Johnson to running back to add depth.FAMILIAR FOE: The Huskies will see a familiar face across the field Saturday night. New Arizona defensive coordinator Marcel Yates spent more than a decade at Boise State working under Petersen before Petersen left for Washington. With Yates at the helm last season, Boise State held Washington to 179 total yards in a 16-13 win in Idaho. Freddy Galvis Jersey . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. Jack Morris Jersey . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-joe-carter-jersey/ . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Teoscar Hernandez Blue Jays Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Dave Winfield Blue Jays Jersey .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings returned, literally, to their winning way.Xavier Rhodes took back one of his two interceptions 100 yards for a touchdown and Cordarrelle Patterson returned the second-half kickoff 104 yards for a score in Minnesotas 30-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, helping the Vikings stop their four-game losing streak.Its been a long, long, long month, but its good to feel this again, said coach Mike Zimmer, who urged his team multiple times this week to stop chasing those momentum-shifting plays and focus instead on fundamentals. Its good to see the fight that the players had, to see the hard work.The Vikings are the first team since the 1962 Dallas Cowboys to have a 100-yard interception return touchdown and a 100-plus yard kickoff return touchdown in the same game. The Cowboys Amos Marsh had a 101-yard kickoff return touchdown and Mike Gaechter had a 100-yard interception return touchdown in Dallas 41-19 win over Philadelphia.The Vikings (6-4) held onto their first-place tie with Detroit in the NFC North, with a rematch against the Lions looming in four days. After scoring twice each on defense and special teams during their NFL-best 5-0 start, the Vikings failed to produce a return touchdown over their last four games until this breakthrough. They also sacked Carson Palmer four times, two by Danielle Hunter, for the most since their last victory six weeks ago.Palmer, who passed for 198 yards and two scores, was off the mark for much of the afternoon and had no time to find anyone on the final two possessions.They have a great front. They knew that we were in a position where we must throw, Palmer said. So they really pinned their ears back and had some good rushes, and we just couldnt quite get the ball out.David Johnson rushed for 103 yards and a score and tacked on 57 yards and a touchdown receiving, but the Cardinals (4-5-1) netted only 27 yards after halftime. The NFC runner-up last season fell further into the background of the playoff picture with four more road games remaining.Its an uphill climb, but I feel like with the veterans we have, the leaders, the players we have, we definitely still have a chance, said Johnson, who has topped 100 yards from scrimmage in all 10 games, only the fourth player to do so since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.TENSION, GONEThe Cardinals climbed within six points after Chandler Jones sacked Sam Bradford to force a fumble that Deoone Bucannon recovered at the Vikings 27.ddddddddddddThat set up Johnsons third-down catch in the end zone with 7:24 remaining.John Browns 32-yard punt return put the Cardinals in excellent position, but the Vikings fired up their pass rush and quickly forced a punt. They had to kick it back, but Jeff Locke boomed a 72-yard punt after a friendly roll to the Arizona 13 with 2:20 left.It was weighing on everyone, said Bradford, who went 20 for 28 for 169 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. I think you could feel it just at practice and in the locker room. So the joy of winning, its a great feeling. That feeling we had in the locker room today, I think it solved a lot of problems.FITZS FRUITLESS VISITLarry Fitzgerald had six catches for 63 yards, leaving his native city with a loss for the fifth time in five trips in his NFL career. Fitzgerald has scored only one touchdown in eight all-time games against the Vikings, the team he used to serve as a ball boy for when Dennis Green was the coach. Green, who died on July 22 at age 67, was honored before the game with a video tribute and a painting presentation to his wife and three of his children.OMINOUS DEBUTNew Vikings kicker Kai Forbath made a short field goal and three extra points, but he had one PAT blocked in the second quarter that loomed large at the end. Forbaths ensuing kickoff was short, setting up a 49-yard return by Brittan Golden. Forbath replaced Blair Walsh, who missed a league-leading four extra points.INJURY REPORTCardinals: DT Corey Peters (foot) and FS Tyrann Mathieu (shoulder) were inactive, with Mathieu sidelined for a second straight game. RT Mike Iupati limped off after hurting his left ankle in the second quarter but returned before halftime.Vikings: Nickel CB Captain Munnerlyn (ankle) and punt returner Marcus Sherels (ankle) each returned from injuries that kept them out last week.UP NEXTCardinals: They visit Atlanta next Sunday. Theyve lost their last three games in the Eastern time zone, including at Buffalo and Carolina this season.Vikings: They play their first Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit since 1995, their only loss in six all-time appearances on the holiday. Their last Thanksgiving Day game was in 2000 at Dallas.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '