Adrian Peterson of the Vikings predicts there will be no déjà vu on Sunday against the 49ers at the Metrodome. In 2007 at San Francisco Peterson had a self-termed “worst” game and predicted yesterday that results will be different on Sunday.
Peterson ran for three yards on 14 carries in San Francisco, by far his least productive day since he came into the NFL in 2007. “It was the worst game of my career so it sticks in my head,” he said. “I am looking forward to playing these guys this week.”
Peterson, who leads the NFL in rushing with 272 yards, was coming off a knee injury for the last San Francisco game but said that wasn’t the problem. He said he felt light- headed and weak in that game, suggesting his condition was probably caused by something he had eaten.
There was another factor, too. “Still with that (not feeling well), it was a lot that I didn’t do,” Peterson said. “Not being patient enough, rushing my plays. Not giving the offensive line time to do their jobs, putting guys on guys. That really was what disappointed me the most when I watched the film.”
Peterson, who said he’s been looking forward to Sunday’s game for a long time, was a rookie in 2007. His experience now is likely to help against the 49ers who are expected to use a similar defense including cornerback blitzes as in 2007.
Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said “credit” has to be given to the 49ers but he also said Peterson is a different player now. “It’s going to be a different game,” Bevell said. “It’s not going to be the same as that game, although we believe we’ll see some of the same schemes.”