Adrian Peterson rushed for 212 yards and one touchdown to help earn the Minnesota Vikings a much needed 36-22 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

Peterson, cut through St. Louis’ defense in the second quarter for an 82-yard touchdown score tying his season long he set just two weeks ago against the Green Bay Packers. This is his eighth consecutive 100+ yard game for the NFL’s leading rusher. With two games to go, Peterson needs 294 yards to break Eric Dickerson’s 2,105 NFL single-season rushing record.

His success on the field not only has him in contention for comeback player of the year but also keeps him in the running for MVP.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder completed 17 of 24 passes for 131 yards. On his first offensive drive of the game on 3rd and 5, Ponder scrambled in for a 5-yard touchdown run giving the Vikings an early 7-0 lead. His favorite target was Jerome Simpson, who caught four catches for 27 yards.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford completed 35 of 55 passes for 377 yards three touchdowns and one interception. Bradford’s first touchdown came in the second quarter when he connected on a 4-yard pass to wideout Brian Quick.

Bradford threw his lone interception in the second quarter to defensive end Everson Griffen, who returned it 29 yards for a touchdown.

Bradford and the Rams started to come back in the fourth quarter. First Bradford connected with wideout Danny Amendola on a 6-yard touchdown pass. The Rams defense was able to force the Vikings to punt  on the following drive. On the Rams ensuing offensive drive, Bradford lead his offense from their own 12-yard line. Bradford connected with tight-end Lance Kendricks for a score and converted a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 33-22.

The Vikings answered back with a 51-yard field goal from kicker Blair Walsh and preserved the lead, earning Minnesota their second consecutive win.

At 8-6, the Vikings are still in contention for a wildcard play-off position, but will need help. They will have a tough match-up on the road next week against the Houston Texans. As for the Rams, they will head to Raymond James Stadium to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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The Seattle Seahawks improved to 5-4 this year and 4-0 at home after their 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Running back, Marshawn Lynch carried the Seahawks to victory with 26 carries for 124 yards and one touchdown. His three yard touchdown run in the third quarter put them ahead of the Vikings 27-17. Lynch also contributed with two catches for 26 yards. Lynch has ran for over 100 yards five times this season and it is his third consecutive game with over 100 yards on the ground.

Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson completed 16-of-24 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. This was the second time Wilson threw three touchdowns in a game this season. Wilson’s first touchdown pass was to wideout Golden Tate in the first quarter to tie the game up 7-7.

Golden Tate caught an 11 yard pass from Wilson for his second touchdown catch of the game, cutting the lead 20-17. Tate finished off the game with four receptions for 28 yards along with his two touchdown passes. Wideout Sidney Rice caught four passes for 54 yards and one touchdown.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder struggled to complete 11-of-22 passes for 63 yards and one interception. Ponder has thrown for less than 100 yards in two of the last three games for the Vikings. Wideout Percy Harvin, caught two passes for 10 yards and ran the ball four times for 24 yards.

Harvin exited the game in the third quarter with a left ankle injury. Although, returning he was not effective and was limping.

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson carried the ball 17 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson also caught three passes for 11 yards. He has rushed for over 100 yards and one touchdown in three consecutive games.

The Vikings have dropped their last two games and hold a slim 3rd place lead over the Detroit Lions in the NFC North standings. Minnesota will welcome the Lions to Mall of America Field in a divisional showdown next week. They already defeated the Lions at Ford Field earlier in the year; Minnesota’s lone road victory.

As for the Seattle Seahawks, they will welcome the New York Jets to CenturyLink Field as they look to improve to 5-0 at home this season.

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Robert Griffin III led the Washington Redskins on their first victory at FedEx Field, 38-26 over the Minnesota Vikings, to end an eight-game home losing streak.

RGIII was questionably well enough to play the Vikings, after suffering a concussion last week against the undefeated Atlanta Falcons. RGIII showed no signs of having suffered the concussion with his efficient performance through the air and on the ground. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 182 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His lone touchdown pass came in the second quarter to fullback Darrel Young, for his first touchdown of the season.

Wideout Santana Moss led the Redskins with four receptions for 46 yards. In addition, tight-end Fred Davis caught three passes for 46 yards.

The Redskins’ running game was led by RGIII carrying the ball 13 times for 138 yards, and with two touchdowns. His electrifying 76-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter put the finishing touches on the Vikings and solidified the victory. RGIII is now atop the NFL, with six rushing touchdowns. Running back Alfred Morris had 47 yards on 16 carries for a touchdown.

This loss for the Vikings may solely be based on their offense’s inability to convert in the red-zone early. On the Vikings’ first three possessions, they had to settle for three field goals, all three less than 30 yards out.

Quarterback Christian Ponder completed 32 of 52 passes for 352 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and one fumble. This was Ponder’s second career game throwing over 350 yards, and first game this season exceeding 300 yards in the air. Ponder’s 52 pass attempts were also a career high for the two-year quarterback.

Percy Harvin led the Vikings’ receiving core with 11 receptions for 133 yards. Harvin’s 133 yards is a season high, and it is also Harvin’s second consecutive week with 100+ receiving yards.

Harvin has already surpassed last years’ two total 100+ receiving yards game with three, just six weeks in. Tight-end Kyle Rudolph and wideout Michael Jenkins caught touchdown passes.

Adrian Peterson continues to run hard for the Vikings, compiling 79 yards on 17 carries. Peterson also caught seven passes for 50 yards. He had compiled 100 total yards in four consecutive games.

The 4-2 Vikings are in second place in the NFC North Division, behind the Chicago Bears, who had their bye week. The Vikings will be back in action Sunday, October 21 against the Arizona Cardinals. As for the Washington Redskins, they will be heading to MetLife Stadium to take on divisional rivals the New York Giants.

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In a duel between rookie quarterbacks, Christian Ponder and the Minnesota Vikings topped Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers 24-21. Ponder looked sharp in only his second start of the season managing the game, converting on third down, and letting Vikings all pro running back Adrian Peterson shoulder most of the load.

Peterson’s versatility gave the Panthers defense nightmares, he finished with 156 all-purpose yards, scoring two touchdowns: one through the air and getting the other on the ground. The solid play by Peterson grabbed most of the attention from the Panthers defense and allowed Ponder to excel.

Ponder threw for over 230 yards, with one touchdown, no interceptions and stayed poised in the pocket when under duress.  That type of quarterback play is what the Vikings have been looking for all year. He is a quarterback that can convert on 3^rd and 5, not turn the ball over, and accurately deliver the ball to open receivers, and hand the ball off to tried and true to Peterson to deliver the big plays.

The formula almost didn’t work, as Newton showed why he was the number one pick in the 2011 draft and the leading candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year.  Newton passed for just shy of 300 yards and had three touchdowns.  Newtown hooked up with 3 different receivers on each of his touchdowns throws, going to Steve Smith, Greg Olsen, and Jeremy Shockey.

Behind Newton’s great play the Panthers jumped out to a 21-14 lead early in the 3^rd quarter, but fizzled out going three-and-out on three consecutive possessions.  That Carolina drought allowed the Vikings to put together a run dominated drive featuring Peterson to score a touchdown and later a Ryan Longwell field goal, which proved to be the game winner.

Newton and the Panthers had a chance to come back and put together a memorable game winning drive when they received the ball back with 2:43 left in the 4^th. Newton and Panthers drove down the field, even completing a 4^th and 15 with a 44 yard bomb from Newton.

Later, a key 3^rd down conversion was reversed after Smith was called for offensive holding instead of having first and goal on the Vikings 8; it was 3^rd and 7 on the 18 yard line. After not converting the replayed 3^rd down, the Panthers still had a chance as they were forced to kick a field goal that would tie the game at 24.

With the game on the line kicker, Olindo Mare missed a 31 yard field goal wide left, dashing any hopes of a Panthers win. Although only one rookie quarterback won on Sunday, the future looks bright for both Ponder and Newton.

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The Chicago Bears routed the Minnesota Vikings 39-10 to move to 3-3 on the season and gain some much needed ground in the NFC North division. The Bears served the Vikings a steady dose of Matt Forte, hard nose defense, and Devin Hester. From the first Chicago offensive series the tone was set as Jay Cutler threw a 48 touchdown pass to a streaking Hester.

Not to be outdone, the defense forced a safety on Viking QB Donovan McNabb, giving the Bears there first safety since early 2009. From there Cutler went to work through the air as his whittled offensive line provided him with protection not evident in any of the previous game this season — a task not thought possible, since Minnesota has the second best pass rushing defense in the NFL.

Shockingly the Bears offensive line only allowed Cutler to be sacked once all night and afforded him time to sit in the pocket. This was an almost night and day difference from last week against the Detroit Lions where Cutler was under duress the entire night. With the offense humming on all levels, almost scoring at will, and a stingy defense only allowing 3 points, the Bears jumped out to big 26-3 lead at halftime.

However the Vikings would not go quietly into the night. Early in the 3^rd, Jared Allen sacked Cutler and in the process created at fumbled ball which Allen recovered. With a short field the Vikings behind their star running back Adrian Peterson managed a touchdown drive. Peterson carried the ball in from 4 yards out and the momentum seemed to be shifting in the Vikings favor, until they made a crucial mistake.

It has been said around the NFL that you don’t kick the ball to Devin Hester. The Vikings must have missed that memo as Hester returned the kickoff for a 98 touchdown, and shut off any steam the Vikings were gathering. Hester’s kickoff return put the game firmly out of reach, prompting the Vikings to replace McNabb with their 2011 first round draft pick Christian Ponder.

In his first action as a QB in the NFL, Ponder did some things well such as reading the defensive pressure, hitting open receivers, and extending plays with his feet. Ponder still showed that he was a rookie by overthrowing a few receivers, but he played well enough to stir up some quarterback controversy, especially with Minnesota’s 1-5 record.

The only question left to ponder is the Vikings QB position. Will they stick with the old or bring in the future?

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