Adrian Peterson is Superman, Vikings Win

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

Minnesota Vikings rookie RB Adrian Peterson looked like he was back at Oklahoma today. AD (All Day, his nickname) ran over, around and through what used to be one of the NFL’s best defenses as he piled up 224 yards and three TDs on only 20 carries in a 34-31 win over the Chicago Bears. The Vikings hung on to win the game on Ryan Longwell’s career-long 55-yard FG as time expired. Ironically, AD returned a kickoff 53 yards to setup the game-winning kick.

Adrian’s afternoon included TD runs of 67 and 73 yards as the Vikings piled up 444 yards of total offense. QB Tarvaris Jackson had to be happy. Coming off a groin injury, all he really had to do was hand the ball to AD. And RB Chester Taylor added another 83 yards on 22 carries. Tarvaris finished just 9 of 23 for 136 yards and a TD, but it was Adrian’s show today. The offensive line and wide receivers blocked very well, but it was Adrian’s speed, vision and cutback ability that left the Chicago defense gasping for air chasing him around Soldier Field. It was as impressive a display as I’ve seen from a rookie RB since LaDainian Tomlinson and it kept AD as the clear-cut favorite for the NFL’s Offensive Rookie-of-the-Year award. As a team, if the Vikings can add a passing game to go with their ground attack, they’ll have an offense to fear.