Adrian Peterson Helps Lift Vikings Past Cards

By Joshua Walls

After a season-ending injury a year ago, an average start to the season, and a severe ankle injury that may have made Adrian Peterson ineligible for the game against the Cardinals, it looks as if Adrian Peterson is ready to take his throne back as top running back in the National Football League.

Kevin Seifert from ESPN said, “Tailback Adrian Peterson displayed as much explosiveness as we've seen since his return from knee surgery.”

AP Photo/ Andy King

That was one of the responses that came from Peterson’s heroic performance.  On Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, Adrian Peterson continued to improve, rushing for 153 yards on 23 carries with a touchdown.

It was a rather gruesome match yesterday in Minnesota, but the hometown hero Vikings found a way to pull a win out when many doubted that it would happen.

Peterson totaled 153 yards on 23 carries, including runs of 27, 22 and 17 yards. During his 27-yard run, two Cardinals grabbed on to Peterson, attempting to bring him down. However, that did not sop the ferocious beast. Instead, Petersen dragged the opposing players another ten yards. His 13-yard scoring run in the first quarter snapped a career-long streak of five consecutive games without a touchdown.

Peterson is not the only one to thank for the clutch win. Vikings fans can also thank Percy Harvin, who caught the only pass from the notoriously bad Christian Ponder (the only TD pass he threw all game) as well as the Vikings great defense.  During the fourth quarter this Defense really gave Cardinals’ Quarterback John Skelton an impossible barrier to overcome.

After yesterday’s impressive win, the Vikings now sit second in the NFC north right behind the fully loaded Chicago Bears who have lost just one game.

I would expect to see the Vikings dominate their opponents for the next three weeks while increasing their overall record and enhancing their chances for a home-field playoff spot.

The next challenge the Vikings will face will come when they travel to Chicago to face their division rival on the 25^th of November.  This will determine how good this team really is.

For now, however, pay close attention to Adrian Peterson and watch him climb his way back up the ladder to both football and running back supremacy.