I will admit that, due to the opening of deer hunting season here in Minnesota, I did not watch the big Vikings/Packers game last Sunday on TV. However, from listening to most of it on the radio and watching all the postgame shows and highlights, I would like to add a few thoughts on what has (at least so far) been the Vikings' most exciting victory of the season:
-First, let's give credit where credit is due...this was one of those games where Adrian Peterson took the team completely on his shoulders. Much like LaDainian Tomlinson did for the Chargers in recent years, Peterson absolutely dominated this game when it really counted...in the second half. However, I would caution Vikings fans not to get too over-hyped about their 5-4 and tie-for-first-place team. Peterson will NOT be able to shoulder that much of a workload every game (whether he wants to or not, the holes will not always be there, especially when defenders start keying on him again), and thus other teammates will have to step up and make big plays (something that is usually severely lacking in MN). I am confident in saying this because the exact same scenario happened last year. After A.D. single-handedly beat the Chargers (when he set the single-game rushing record) and Bears (220 some yards and 3 scores), he was by and large shut down for the rest of the season (I remember the game in San Francisco where he was held to something like 9 total yards on 15 or so carries...ouch). So, as good as it is to be tied for first in the NFC North, the Vikes have an awful lot of proving themselves to do in the remaining regular-season weeks.
