NFL training camps will begin opening up next week, meaning another NFL season is just around the corner. The Vikings will report to camp in Mankato on July 23, and their first preseason game is just a little over two weeks after that on August 8 against the Seattle Seahawks.
With the 2008 regular season almost here, what better way to garner excitement than to look back at the action from 2007 and re-live some of the more exciting moments?
Adrian Peterson, who earned rookie of the year honors, thrilled fans from start to finish. Now, he and the rest of the Vikings are poised to follow up a stellar 2007 campaign with an even better effort in 2008.
With on-field action still a few days away, vikings.com is going to take a week to re-live the five most memorable Adrian Peterson moments from the 2007 season. Each day a new moment will be re-lived, with a news story from each respective moment re-posted on vikings.com.
The fifth most memorable is revealed today, but check back here every day to see the next memorable moment from Peterson’s sensational rookie season.
#5 Peterson Shines, Earns MVP Honors in NFC Pro Bowl Victory
February 10, 2008 - Vikings running back Adrian Peterson put the finishing touches on a sensational rookie season by torching the AFC defense for 129 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries during Sunday’s 42-30 comeback Pro Bowl victory.
The effort earned Peterson the game’s MVP honors and it marks another incredible performance in an unforgettable season for Peterson.
Along the way to AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, Peterson established the new NFL single-game rushing mark with a 296-yard output versus the San Diego Chargers and he dazzled those who watched the Vikings 34-31 victory over the Chicago Bears in October with a 224-yard effort.
When the 2007 regular season concluded, Peterson led the NFC and was second in the league in rushing with 1,341 yards and he became only the second rookie running back in Vikings history and the eighth Vikings running back to be named to the Pro Bowl. No Vikings rusher reached 1,000 yards rushing faster than Peterson (eight games).
As he did for much of the regular season, Peterson ran all over the field during the Pro Bowl, despite the defense’s varied attempts to stop him. The AFC’s best defenders and even eight-man fronts were no match for Peterson on Sunday.
At one point, the AFC led 24-7. But touchdown runs by Peterson of 17 and six yards, both in the second half, along with an impressive showing by Terrell Owens (two touchdowns), ended up being enough for the NFC to come out ahead in the end.
Immediately following an AFC field goal that made the score 27-14 in the second quarter, Peterson ripped off a 39-yard run, his longest of the game, to open the NFC’s next series. That explosive play from the explosive rookie sparked a touchdown drive and eventually a 28-3 run by the NFC that resulted in a resounding 42-30 win.
With six teammates also on the NFC squad to help in the victory, Peterson likely felt right at home, even though he had just dazzled the entire league at the NFL’s all-star game. Backfield teammate Tony Richardson paved the way for Peterson, while both Steve Hutchinson and Matt Birk battled along the offensive line for their rookie rusher.
On defense, Kevin and Pat Williams started at defensive tackle while Darren Sharper was one of the NFC’s starting safeties.
Peterson’s MVP performance in the Pro Bowl was a fitting end to a phenomenal first season and it leads only to optimism for the young star and his rising team.
Single-game tickets and a two-game mini-pack for 2008 Minnesota Vikings home games are now on sale. Fans can purchase tickets online via Ticketmaster.com, in person at all Midwest Ticketmaster locations, or by phone through Ticketmaster at (651) 989-5151.
Single-game ticket prices range from $30 – $135. If available, tickets for the Vikings game versus the Green Bay Packers will only be sold in the following two-game mini-pack – Green Bay (Nov. 9) and Seattle (Aug. 8) -- ranging from $96 - $176 per package.
For more information on Vikings tickets, please click here.