Vikings Find Success Returning To The Run Game
By Adam Carlson
Nov 3, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT
The Vikings may not have come out of Dallas with a win, but there was at least one positive thing to be taken from this game: the run game still works. And, of course, when you talk about Minnesota’s run game, you have to be talking about Adrian Peterson.
Nov 3, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs the ball against Dallas Cowboys free safety Barry Church (42) and defensive end Caesar Rayford (95) in the second quarter at AT
Peterson found him the recipient of 25 handoffs from quarterback Christian Ponder. In an offense that has been heavily weighted toward passing the ball the last couple weeks, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave finally let the beast loose. Peterson made the most of those touches, getting 140 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Adrian also added three catches for 37 yards.
Is it not a coincidence that running the ball with last year’s NFL MVP is a recipe for success. Not only does a good run game move the chains and get the defense rest on the sidelines, but it also forces the defense to respect the run even more. When teams fear the run, it opens things up in the passing game.
Christian Ponder has to love when the offensive game plan features the run. Ponder was 25 for 37 passing the ball with one touchdown and one interception. The balance by the offense kept the team in the game and gave fans a real feeling that this team could have won this game.
Hopefully, Minnesota continues this strategy into next week’s game against the Washington Redskins on NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football.