Adrian Peterson Returns From Knee Injury to Score Two TDs, Vikings Roll Over Lions

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

I know I sound like a broken record, but I was really impressed with Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson today. Coming out of a two-week layoff with a torn LCL, AD carried the ball 15 times for 116 yards and two TDs in a 42-10 thumping of Detroit. Obviously he made the most of his touches this afternoon. I figured he’d get 10-15 carries, but I had no idea he would be able to pull the cuts and jukes he was making with a three-pound knee brace in tow. The moves he put on Lions safety Kenoy Kennedy on both of his scores just left K2 dumbfounded.

Now that AD is back in the lineup, the Vikings are suddenly a team to fear. They’ve run off three straight wins in convincing fashion (over the Raiders, Giants and Lions) to get their record to 6-6 and they’re in the thick of the NFC playoff race for a number of reasons:

• Running backs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor are a great tandem that work well behind one of the NFL’s best O-lines.
• QB Tarvaris Jackson is improving on a weekly basis. I’ve been preaching his need to better manage games and make better decisions with the football. He’s doing that now. Maybe the light has come on for TJack.
• The young Vikings receivers (namely rookies Sidney Rice and Aundrae Allison) are gaining confidence with each game. Both scored today.
• DTs Kevin and Pat Williams lead the NFL’s best defense against the run.

If this kind of play continues, the only weakness the Vikings have is in their defensive secondary. That being said, even though they give up a bunch of yards through the air, they are a very opportunistic group that can not only pile up turnovers, they also score off them. No kidding, Dallas, Green Bay and the rest of the NFC should watch out for the Minnesota Vikings as the NFC playoffs approach.