Vikings running back Adrian Peterson earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in Minnesota’s 34-31 win at the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Peterson is the first Vikings rookie to earn NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors since Randy Moss won the award for his performance at Dallas (11/26/98). This is the second award that Peterson has earned on the season; he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for September.
Peterson currently leads the NFL in rushing yards with 607 and yards per carry at 6.3.
Peterson’s performance on Sunday against the Bears was also impressive enough to make him a nominee for the Fed Ex Air and Ground NFL Player of the Week. Click here to vote for him.
Peterson has also been nominated for Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week honors. Click here to vote for him.
Rewriting the record books
Adrian Peterson’s performance on Sunday was one for the ages, as the sensational rookie ran past the Bears defense for 224 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Every time Peterson touched the ball, it felt like something electric was about to happen.
Peterson’s three scores paced the Vikings offensive attack on the day, but his contribution on special teams was instrumental in the Vikings win as well. Willing to help the team out in any way, Peterson has answered the bell with resounding brilliance whenever he’s been asked to return kicks. On Sunday, Peterson returned four kicks for an average of 32 yards. It was his 53-yard return late in the game that allowed the Vikings offense to get into striking distance of Ryan Longwell.
Eventually, Longwell’s career-high 55-yard field goal capped an incredible day by Peterson. Here’s a look at the rewriting the Vikings will have to do in their history books following Peterson’s outstanding performance in just his fifth game as a pro.
Longest runs by Vikings rookies
Adrian Peterson 73t @ Chicago, 2007
Adrian Peterson 67t @ Chicago, 2007
Adrian Peterson 55 vs. Green Bay, 2007
Fran Tarkenton 52t @ LA Rams, 1961
Combined net yards in a game- NFL
Glyn Milburn 404 Denver vs. Seattle, 1995
Billy Cannon 373 Houston vs. NY Titans, 1961
Adrian Peterson 361 Minnesota at Chicago, 2007
Combined net yards in a game (rush/receive/return) - Vikings
Adrian Peterson 361 Minnesota at Chicago, 2007
Darrin Nelson 278 vs. Green Bay, 1983
Rookie rushing yards in a game- NFL
Mike Anderson 251 Denver vs. New Orleans, 2000
Corey Dillon 246 Cincinnati vs. Tennessee, 1997
Jim Brown 237 Cleveland vs. LA Rams, 1957
Clinton Portis 228 Denver vs. Arizona, 2002
Adrian Peterson 224 Minnesota at Chicago, 2007
Vikings rookie TDs
Randy Moss 17 (17 receiving) 1998
Sammy White 10 (10 receiving) 1976
D.J. Dozier 7 (5 rush, 2 rec.) 1987
Adrian Peterson 5 (4 rush, 1 rec.) 2007
Onterrio Smith 5 (5 rushing) 2003
Hal Bedsole 5 (5 receiving) 1964
Fran Tarkenton 5 (5 rushing) 1961
Vikings consecutive 100-yard rushing games
Robert Smith 5 2000
Michael Bennett 4 2002
Adrian Peterson 3 2007
Chuck Foreman 3 1975
- Peterson ties a Vikings record with three rushing touchdowns in a game, the tenth time it has happened in team history
- Peterson sets a Vikings record as the first player with two runs of 50+ yards in a game
- Ryan Longwell makes his career-long 55-yard FG and his first 50-yarder as a Viking
Sunday’s Vikings-Bears game to be re-aired on NFL Network
Exclusively on NFL Network, the Minnesota Vikings tug-of-war victory over the Chicago Bears will be re-aired on NFL Replay Tuesday, October 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
NFL Replay highlights the five most exciting games from the weekend, re-broadcasting them in a fast-paced 90-minute format on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. The contests air minus halftime and other elements not critical to the outcome, but enhanced with exclusive material including distinctive shots and camera angles from NFL Films and its own sideline and on-field sound captured during the game. Post-game press conference sound bites allow fans complete behind the scenes access.