1. Nicolette Miller
01/02/2013
Minnesota Vikings’ Final Regular Season Game Recap for Female Sports Blog
A Bittersweet Victory
“You just can’t bring him down.”
“He makes it look easy.”
The commentator definitely had it right on Sunday as the world watched Adrian Peterson attack
Dickerson’s rushing record against the Packers. It was also a crucial game for the rest of the team as it
served the difference between grabbing the wild card for playoffs and saying goodbye to the season.
AP’s quest for the record certainly went hand in hand with the team’s success on Sunday, but
unfortunately, only one of the results were in the Vikings’ favor.
As a fan, it was hard to celebrate completely. The final run by AP was also the Vikings’ last and gained
them 26 yards with 1 second left on the clock. It put him 9 yards short of the record for a grand total of
199 and a touchdown for the game. It seemed a long shot coming into the match up against the Packers
needing 208 yards to steal the record from Dickerson, but if anyone can give you hope, it’s Peterson.
The last play of the game ended in a field goal by Walsh to secure the win, but has left sportscasters
asking Frazier if he ever thought of letting Peterson go for just one more run. For me, this isn’t the only
question I want answered.
Throughout the season, I’ve witnessed Peterson forced to watch from the sideline on numerous third
and fourth down opportunities that went to backup, Toby Gerhart. Then there were Ponder’s
unsuccessful attempts at a passing play on first down when AP could have easily gotten beneficial
yardage for the team’s success and his own pursuit of the record. When the other team expects a
passing play on first down and your quarterback frankly isn’t that great, why would this be your play
call? So the question really isn’t the last play of the final game against the Packers, but multiple
occasions when the potential MVP watched from the sideline. Frazier either wasn’t too concerned with
the deserving running back getting the record or just way too concerned with proving Ponder’s potential
as a franchise quarterback to everyone who, rightfully so, has their doubts. Either way, there’s little
excuse for not keeping Peterson in for a few extra plays at the end of regular season games when the
Viking’s had possession and their victory was inevitable. A few extra runs against these weaker defenses
were the garbage yards he needed to secure the record.
Yes, some may say I’m suffering hindsight bias with these accusations, but even without the record at
stake, it’s hard to understand why an MVP status running back wouldn’t have the ball in his hands as
often as possible anyway. Too many times the Vikings saw the ball thrown away throughout the season
by their second year quarterback trying to find himself on the football field. I think it’s safe to say I put
the blame on Frazier for costing AP the record this season with some questionable play calls and
substitutions. Look at the stats: Dickerson averaged 5.6 yards per run compared to AP’s 6.03. Peterson
just didn’t have his hands on the ball as often as Dickerson; that’s something I’ll never understand.

2. There’s also no question in my mind that even if Peterson didn’t need nearly as many yards this last
game, his performance wouldn’t have been any less dominating, which could be argued to have affected
the team’s end result. Peterson’s 199 yards were unquestionably a huge factor to the team’s victory,
but he’s the type of player that knows his importance to his team and treats every opportunity with the
ball as the difference between a win and a loss, record involved or not. In his interview after the game,
you would have never guessed he didn’t break a record with the smile glued across his face from
excitement for his team’s win.
Preseason predictions questioned the running back’s return and had the Vikings lucky to win three
games this season. This same player’s come back after surgery merely a year ago proved itself epic with
over 2,000 rushing yards, favoritism for MVP and a team playoff spot.
There was no other player more deserving of that record or the title of MVP this season. AP, you’ve got
my vote.
(Let’s go, Vikes!)