Vikings end five-game losing streak to Packers
MINNEAPOLIS – Adrian Peterson was fired up as always, so determined to beat Green Bay he stormed to the sideline at one point in the fourth quarter with a demeanor that could be described, politely, as angry.
Success for Minnesota’s star running back, though, came as usual through patience.
Peterson rushed for 192 yards and reached across the goal line with 2:22 left to lift the Vikings to a 28-27 victory on Sunday that ended their five-game losing streak to the Packers.
Though he set an NFL record with 296 yards in one game during his rookie season, Peterson acknowledged this as the most satisfying performance of his brief career.
“That’s what it’s all about. We came in, knew it was going to be a dogfight, and we pulled it out,” Peterson said.
Mason Crosby’s 52-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds was just wide, helping the Vikings (5-4) pull into a first-place tie with the Chicago Bears. Green Bay (4-5) is one game back in the NFC North.
The Packers’ leaking front seven — they ranked 27th in the NFL in yards rushing allowed entering the game – suffered another setback when middle linebacker Nick Barnett limped off with what coach Mike McCarthy called a bruised right knee on the first series of the second half.
The secondary was sharp, again, picking off Gus Frerotte three times and turning that into 17 points. Nick Collins ran an interception back 59 yards for a score, and 2 1/2 minutes later Will Blackmon’s 65-yard punt return put Green Bay in front 24-21 late in the third quarter.
But the Packers let the Vikings march 69 yards in seven plays for the winning score after Crosby’s second field goal stretched their lead to six with 5:56 left.
On the climactic drive, Peterson carried four times for 40 yards and caught two passes for 24 yards.
“He’s a great back. He wanted the ball at the end. They gave it to him,” Collins said.
Peterson ran the ball 30 times. He gave Minnesota the lead on a 29-yard scamper sprung by a big block from tight end Jim Kleinsasser and help from guard Anthony Herrera and tackle Ryan Cook.
The Vikings ran right all afternoon, telling Peterson to look for the backside cut.
“Somewhere he’s going to bust out on you, and I thought our offensive line did a great job of exerting their will on that defensive front,” coach Brad Childress said.
Childress had never beaten McCarthy since they were hired in 2006.
“You put so much equity into this game, you need to let it go,” Childress said. “I’m just so happy for those guys, like I said. Players, coaches, owners, fans. Just that they’re able to do that.
“I’m happy to have that game ball, and I will paint it up and put it in a prominent spot.”