As any fan would and there team is ailing in all aspects of the word you hope for the best, and by best I mean under 1 interception over 10 points and no injuries to your key players is a very good day! The Washington Redskins had been a vicious team in 2010-2011 giving way to gut wrenching blows and injuring key players such as in Week 2, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson suffered an ankle injury that still plagues him. In Week 3, Rams running back Steve Jackson strained his groin versus the Redskins. In Week 4, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick suffered torn rib cartilage, running back LeSean McCoy fractured a rib and cornerback Asante Samuel suffered a concussion. In Week 5, Packers tight end Jermichael Finley suffered a season-ending knee injury, linebacker Clay Matthews pulled his hamstring and quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion. In Week 6, Colts tight end Dallas Clark suffered a season-ending hand/wrist injury, wide receiver Austin Collie suffered a thumb injury that required surgery and running back Joseph Addai injured a shoulder that could sideline him for a couple of weeks.
Impressive list I know, is there any wonder why a Vikings fan would be apprehensive about this week 16 match-up? In what turned out to be a tooth and nail battle between two elite quarterbacks in Joe Webb and Rex Grossman both sides went back and forth in offensive glory. Until for what most true SKOL, die hard, bleed purple and yellow fans may have considered the end of all hope for Vikings glory that dreaded 3rd quarter.
It was the first offensive play of the second half and at the tail end of a measly 3 yard gain Redskins Dejon Gomes in one single blow brought a fan-base to its knees. (no pun intended) Adrian Petersons knee had been destroyed suffering from a torn ACL and MCL, life as I knew it was over....
What was to happen now? Who did we turn to? Would he ever be the same? Can we ever recover without Adrian Peterson, all question with few answers. Imagine the emptiness we felt, not knowing if things would ever be able to return as it once was. Adrian Peterson had been the single greatest thing to come to the Vikings organization since Hershel Walker! So now we are suppose to just sit here with the notion that he may never return as the same dominate rusher he once was? NO! I would't accept that how could we, we have been through to many dark times to just sit in our own self pity and give up on him like that. Peterson would return in a whirl wind of uncanny eruption,destruction and power. At least thats what I dreamt about nightly.
Truth is no one not once even considered the fact Adrian Peterson would return to form, let alone return to form and some. Peterson is rushing for 1,446 yards second highest total in his career coming off a major injury. Peterson is averaging 6.2 yards per carry the most in his 5 year career. Peterson has 8 touchdowns in 12 games with his longest run of the year coming at an 82 yard dash for a TD making it his career long.
What Peyton Manning has done is great and I'am sure he will win comeback player of the year, but my vote goes to Mr. Peterson for being the only weapon and fear opponents have when facing the Vikings, Manning has other weapons and the success of that team isn't solely on the shoulders of Manning. Adrian Peterson is unlike any athlete in the National Football League that we have seen, consider yourself blessed to have witnessed his work, I know I'am
oh p.s. that week 16 match-up Vikings 33 Redskins 26
-Steven Michelson @STEVEandUBshow