"The roles reverse sometimes," Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said. "It was the exact opposite of what happened last year. We got outplayed -- that's the bottom line. In every phase, every aspect of the game, they outplayed us."

In the days leading up to Sunday's game, coach Brad Childress reminded the Vikings what happened the last time they faced a conference champion on the road.

On Oct. 25, the Vikings traveled to Pittsburgh and lost to the Super Bowl champions 27-17, squandering a chance to drive for the game-winning touchdown. But after trailing 21-10 at halftime Sunday, the Vikings were shut out until rookie receiver Percy Harvin caught a 31-yard touchdown with 80 seconds remaining.

"We didn't play Vikings Football," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said. "We weren't focused. They out-tempoed us, and they exerted their will on us. But we'll bounce back. It's not the end of the world. We're 10-2."

The Vikings still have a commanding lead in the NFC North, but they could have clinched the division with a win and a Green Bay loss tonight against Baltimore at Lambeau Field.

Now the Vikings prepare for the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals, who improved to 9-3 Sunday with a 23-13 win over the Detroit Lions.

"I feel sorry for the Cincinnati Bengals," Allen said, "because we'll have a good week of work and we'll go home and rectify this."

The Vikings will have to do so without one of their leaders, middle linebacker E.J. Henderson. With six minutes remaining, Henderson -- one of the bright spots in the game with 10 tackles, including one for loss -- fractured his left femur and remained overnight in Phoenix to undergo immediate surgery, Childress said.

Henderson's left leg twisted grotesquely in the fourth quarter when he collided with rookie safety Jamarca Sanford. Both players were trying to tackle Cardinals running back Tim Hightower.

"It looked bad, but I didn't want to look at (the replay)," Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams said. "I just prayed for him."

Henderson was carted off the field with team doctor Joel Boyd stabilizing his left leg and his brother, Erin Henderson -- who was inactive for Sunday's game -- holding his hand for support.

With the exception of Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield, who has missed the past six games because of a fractured right foot, the Vikings largely have avoided major injuries. But in a physical game Sunday, Viking starters were going down throughout.

Shiancoe, right tackle Phil Loadholt, left tackle Bryant McKinnie, cornerback Cedric Griffin and safety Tyrell Johnson all left the field with injuries, although each of the offensive players returned to the game.

The status of those players for Sunday's game against the Bengals at the Metrodome is not known.

But the Vikings have plenty to correct, regardless of who plays.

"I just didn't think we matched their tempo, their urgency in this particular game," Childress said. "I don't know that I've seen that. I just didn't feel like we had it, and again that comes back on me."

The Vikings had a season-low 62 rushing yards, with Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson limited to 19 on 13 carries. The team's longest run was a 13-yarder by Harvin.

And unlike other games, Brett Favre wasn't able to save the day.

He had his worst day as a Viking , completing 30 of 45 passes for 275 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

"I kind of let their defense get to me," Favre said. "The two picks, they rushed three and dropped eight. It's hard to throw into that.

"I made some decisions that I haven't made up to this point, and I'm disappointed about that."

Meanwhile, the Vikings had no answer for Pro Bowl quarterback Kurt Warner.

Last season, they sacked him four times and intercepted him once. But Warner shredded the Vikings this time, completing 22 of 32 passes for 285 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

His passer rating was 127.7.

He wasn't sacked.

"We just came out flat. But everything is cool," Williams said. "We just have to go back to the drawing board. We ain't blinking, and we ain't panicking."