Minnesota Vikings: 4 steps to beating the Falcons
By Luke Sims
1) A healthy dose of Adrian Peterson
Perhaps the most astonishing thing about the Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers was that the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t get Adrian Peterson going.
The league-leading rusher amassed just 45 yards on 13 carries, finishing with the third lowest yards per carry of the season (3.46). Of the three games that Peterson has averaged below four yards per carry, two of them have been losses.
Minnesota’s offense still flows through Adrian Peterson, even if Teddy Bridgewater did show he could put up numbers despite constant pressure last week. It still wasn’t enough, however, and Peterson will have to carry his share of the load if the Vikings hope to win.
He’ll have his work cut out for him, however, as the Atlanta Falcons have the league’s best rushing defense, having allowed just 874 yards on the season.
Peterson is the best rusher in the league (1006 yards) and will be facing the best rushing defense, which makes an exciting matchup to watch. Expect Peterson to enter with a chip on his shoulder after last week’s game and a desire to prove that Atlanta’s stingy defense is still mortal.
Next: Keep the offense moving