Brett Favre made the national headlines yesterday for breaking Dan Marino’s NFL career record of 420 touchdown passes but there was a lot of conversation inside and outside the Metrodome about rookie running back Adrian Peterson after Green Bay defeated the Vikings 23-16.
Green Bay’s 37-year-old Favre threw two touchdown passes to move his career total to 422 while the 22-year-old Peterson tied a Viking rookie rushing record with his third 100 yard rushing game of the young season. Peterson tied the record by Chuck Foreman and A.P. even accomplished it by halftime of his fourth NFL career game. Peterson ran for 108 yards on 10 carries in the first half.
What had fans wondering, though, was why Peterson’s role was limited to two carries from scrimmage in the second half. Although it was a close game, 10-6 starting the third quarter, and 13-9 beginning the fourth, the Vikings moved into passing mode with quarterback Kelly Holcomb and away from running the football using the league’s second leading rusher (Peterson’s 383 yards trails only Oakland’s LaMont Jordan, 424).
Green Bay defensive tackle Ryan Pickett talked like a member of the Adrian Peterson fan club after the game. He said Peterson, who averaged 9.3 yards per carry, might have played better against the Packers than LaDainian Tomlinson, regarded by many as the NFL’s best running back and a player Green Bay had faced a week earlier.
“Peterson is a heck of a back,” Pickett told Sports Headliners. “He’s explosive, big. Man, he’s got great vision on the field. Any time you give him an inch, he’s going to take it. …”
Peterson doesn’t play like a rookie. “He looks like an experienced veteran out there,” Pickett said. “He’s just running the ball hard. He’s gonna be a force to reckon with this year.”
Tomlinson rushed for 62 yards against the Packers, compared with Peterson’s 112. “He might be the best back we’ve faced so this year and that’s saying a lot, playing against LaDainian and all.” Pickett said. “He’s up there and he’s got a good future ahead of him.”