Game Preview
Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
sunday, november 16, 2008 - 1:00 pm
*Peterson, Vikings set to collide with Buccaneers*
Minnesota (5-4) at Tampa Bay (6-3), 1:00 pm EST
TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Adrian Peterson has the Minnesota Vikings back in the playoff hunt.
The Vikings go for their third consecutive victory when they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
After starting the season with three losses in its first four games, Minnesota finally moved above the .500 mark for the first time with a 28-27 victory over the rival Green Bay Packers last weekend.
Once again, Peterson had a major hand in the victory. The second-year standout rushed for a season-high 192 yards and the winning touchdown, a 29-yard scoring run with 2:22 to play.
"I can't compare him to anyone," Vikings quarterback Gus Frerotte said of Peterson. "He's incredible. The guy is a great player and we sure put it on his back today."
It was the fourth consecutive 100-yard game for Peterson, who took over the league lead in rushing with 1,015 yards.
"When the game is on the line, I want the ball," said Peterson, who became the first player in Minnesota history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.
Peterson's effort helped Minnesota overcome a shaky performance by Frerotte, who threw a pair of touchdown passes and three interceptions, including one that was returned 59 yards for a touchdown.
Tampa Bay, which is coming off a bye, should provide a tough test for Peterson. The Buccaneers had not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season until their 30-27 overtime victory over Kansas City on November 2.
That game marked the largest comeback in team history. Tampa Bay had trailed by 21 points in the second quarter but rallied to tie the game on Jeff Garcia's 24-yard pass to Antonio Bryant with 19 seconds left in regulation.
Garcia threw for a season-high 339 yards to improve to 3-1 since reclaiming the starting job from Brian Griese.
The Bucs could see a shuffle in their backfield. Earnest Graham injured his knee against the Chiefs and Warrick Dunn has been plagued by a back injury.
However, there's a chance Carnell "Cadillac" Williams could return to action for the first time since tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee on September 30, 2007.
"It's almost like Christmas is here. Christmas is Wednesday, I hope," Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said. "We'll see how he feels and talk to the trainers, the medical people. If my eyes don't deceive me, I think he's got a chance to be a player this year for our team, and that would be exciting."