Not only was it the regular season debut for the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, but quarterback Sam Bradford made his own debut in a purple and yellow jersey on Sunday night.
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Bradford looked particularly sharp (22-of-31 for 286 yards and two touchdowns) for a guy who had been with his team for a few weeks, but a potential loss of Peterson will put him in a familiar spot – a talented guy with a dubious cast of offensive talent around him.
Minnesota moved down field and eventually scored on a handsome throw from Sam Bradford to Stefon Diggs.
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Minneapolis.
Coach Mike Zimmer said he wouldn’t know the extent of the injury until after Peterson had the MRI, but he didn’t sound gravely concerned about it after the game.
Packers receiver Jordy Nelson will forever have the first touchdown in the Vikings’ new stadium, a 1-yard pass from Rodgers in the first quarter, giving Green Bay a 7-0 lead.
He has an ascending talent at wide receiver in 2015 fifth-rounder Stefon Diggs, who turned in his second big game of the season.
Peterson stayed down on the field after a 5-yard run with 3:32 left in the third quarter, and he hobbled off the field with the assistance of athletic trainers.
Peterson finished the game with just 19 yards on 12 carries against the Packers. Peterson, 31, led the National Football League with 327 carries and 1,485 rushing yards last season and scored 11 rushing touchdowns.
Their defense hounded Aaron Rodgers – 20-36 for 213 yards an interception and a touchdown – sacking him five times and forcing three of Green Bay’s four fumbles in Sunday’s loss. “We’re going to make you earn it and make it a struggle all night long”. The Packers, who said they were bracing for Bradford to start, forced punts on the first two possessions by the Vikings.
When he spoke to King about Bradford’s prospects in Minnesota, Spielman noted that he didn’t “think he’s ever been on a team with a top-10 rushing offense”. The Packers’ only two scoring drives were both aided by Vikings penalties – the first by a 40-yard pass interference penalty on Terence Newman and the second on a 28-yard P.I. call on Trae Waynes.
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In every season other than one, he had at least one 100-yard game in his first two games. “That’s why he was the No. 1 overall pick a couple years ago”, Randall said.
