The Minnesota Vikings square off against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, pitting the division rivals against each other as both hope to get back to.500.
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From the opening drive, it was clear Peterson was back in the playbook as he carried the ball seven times on the first series including a vintage AP run where he cut it to the outside and picks up 25 yards. Still there was some missed opportunities by them as a whole that they will need to improve on in order for defenses to respect them and take some of the pressure of the running game. The game at TCF Bank Stadium featured physical and mental domination.
Ameer Abdullah, their best running back, was on the bench, while Joique Bell lined up left of Stafford in a two-back, shotgun formation.
“The weather was attractive , and it was just a great day for football”, Peterson said.
Peterson’s performance against Detroit was much better than his season debut against the San Francisco 49ers, when he rushed for 31 yards on 10 carries in a 20-3 road loss last Monday.
In Detroit, Matthew Stafford said he’s good to go for today’s game but the arm injury he suffered last week in San Diego contributed to the Lions’ offense getting off-track in the second half.
Protecting Stafford isn’t about to get any easier. Peterson also had a 49-yard reception, when Bridgewater underhanded him the ball to stave off a sack. The Lions allowed a 29-yard run on a reverse by receiver Jarius Wright, and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater added 21 yards on six carries, including a one-yard touchdown run on a play-action fake.
Ihedigbo forced yet another fumble in the fourth quarter that Peterson recovered, shortly before Walsh’s second short field goal.
However dirty the play was, Tate said Harrison’s point on TV was malarkey.
It didn’t take long for Peterson to make his presence known … You see me at the end of the play just beating my head because I’m thinking about the block I missed. I think that overall mentality was important. He has one touchdown pass, 90 yards passing. He was sacked just once, but absorbed eight quarterback hits. “There’s no questioning his toughness”.
Lions coach Jim Caldwell, meanwhile, did not agree with Tate’s assessment.
“There were many (breakdowns), far too many”, Caldwell said.
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The Lions got little from their running game, less from their once vaunted defense, and turned the ball over three times to start the season 0-2 for the first time since 2010, when they lost four straight to open the year and finished 6-10. The touchdown catch by Johnson, a close call, was upheld. The young athlete hit Kyle Rudolph to get the Vikings on the board early. First down, Vikings. Zimmer pumped his fist. He was late and there was no question it was a penalty, but I like the mindset.
