Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson showed the Chicago Bears and the rest of the league why he was the first RB taken in this year’s draft, yet it was a 55-yard game-winning field goal on the last play of the game that allowed the Vikings (2-3) to squeak by the Chicago Bears (2-4) at Soldier Field Sunday, 34-31.
Peterson set a Vikings rushing record, rushing for a team-record 224 yards on only 20 carries; the old record was held by former Vikings RB Chuck Foreman back in 1976. Bears kick returner/wide receiver Devin Hester got the scoring started with an 89-yard punt return; the punt return for a TD was Hester’s 3rd kick-return TD of this season. The Bears then made the score 14-7 early in the second quarter when Bears quarterback Brian Griese connected with WR Bernard Berrian on a 39-yard TD pass. But it was all Adrian Peterson which made the end result possible.
Peterson ran for 3 TD’s; the Vikings finished the game with 311 rushing yards. Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson had an awful game, going 9-for-23 for 136 yards and a TD. WR Troy Williamson led all Vikings receivers with 69 yards on 2 catches and a TD. Bears QB Brian Griese went 26-for-45 for 381 yards with 3 TD’s and 2 INT’s in a losing effort. RB Cedric Benson had another abysmal performance, with 18 carries for 67 yards. WR Devin Hester led Bears receivers with 81 yards on only 1 reception, a TD; Bernard Berrian added 5 catches for 78 yards and a TD while the tight end tandem of Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark added 111 yards on 8 receptions. The Vikings next week visit the Dallas Cowboys while the last-place Bears go to Philadelphia to play the 2-3 Eagles.