Red Hot Vikes Stomp Detroit

Adrian Peterson made a successful return to the Minnesota Vikings lineup today, and after a few conservative plays, cut it loose, and went on to score two touchdowns as the Vikes rolled over the slumping Detroit Lions, 42-10 at the Metrodome.

I missed the game as I attended a very nice Christmas party in New Jersey. I checked for scores on my cell phone, and the first one I saw was 35-10 in the second quarter! It was no mistake as the Vikings scored early and often against the Lions, who beat the Vikings in overtime in Detroit earlier this season.

Chester Taylor scored on the Vikings first drive of the game and from two yards out. It was 7-3 as the second quarter began, and Peterson took off, scoring the second TD from 16 yards out to make it 14-3. After Detroit scored a TD to cut the lead back to 4, Aundrae Allison returned the ensuing kickoff 103 yards for another Vikings TD.

Tarvaris Jackson showed more improvement in his overall game, and threw two TD passes before the first half ended, one to Bobby Wade and the other to Sidney Rice just before the quarter concluded.

For Peterson it was a great bounceback game after missing the last two weeks with the knee injury. He wore a brace for protection, but once he found his groove, there was no stopping him. The rookie rushed for 116 yards on 15 carries and Taylor rushed for 70 yards on 14 carries to pace the Vikings attack. Peterson added another TD early in the third quarter to extend the Vikings lead to 42-10, and that would be the final. Jackson had another fine outing, going 18-for-24 for 204 yards and 2 TDs.

The Vikings have now won three straight, and are now in second place in the NFC North, tied with Detroit, who've now lost four straight. It was also the second consecutive game they scored 40 or more points. The Vikings play the 49ers in San Francisco next Sunday, and are now in a position where the playoffs can be a real possibility. Their other three remaining games are against teams with worse records: Chicago and Washington at home, and then to Denver to finish off the year.

Can the Vikings run the table and finish 10-6? It would be a satisying season if they can just make the playoffs and grab a Wild Card berth. Stranger things have happened...