It was hard to even see this, to realize it was happening as the game was going on, but Adrian Peterson broke the NFL's all-time single-game rushing record yesterday when he ran for an insane 296 yards. That record was held for many years by Sweetness after he cracked 200 yards in a 10-6 win over the Vikings, so it's a nice record to have, and to have a rookie do it is unbelievable. The Chargers were supposed to have one of the NFL's best rush defenses and were coming off a 14-2 season and looking to be back in it with the Patriots and Colts, so many Vikings fans were expecting a blow-out. Nobody was expecting over 350 yards rushing by Peterson and Chester Taylor, or anything like the 28-3 second half spanking the Vikings gave the Chargers. When the Tardis left at halftime with a concussion, I figured the Vikings would run the ball a bit more in the second half, but 'zounds. Our rookie receivers who I've been hoping can help rebuild our passing game in the post-Moss era both came up with big plays, a touchdown for Sidney Rice and Aundrae Allison had a 62-yard kick-off return, which has me hoping to see more of him in that role.
There was pressure on Chargers QB Philip Rivers, and LaDainian Tomlinson was contained, in what was just an all-around beating... the only tarnish was the rather foolish decision to go for a 58-yard field goal at the close of the first half, which fell short, but only because it was returned an NFL record 109 yards by Antonio Cramartie to give the Chargers the lead going into the half. That was ugly, but perhaps not as ugly as the half-time mascots vs middle schoolers game... I came back to my seat just in time to see Crunch the Timberwolves mascot putting some 11 year old on his ass with a forearm shiver on his way to the end zone. Anyways, when the Chargers return in 2015, I hope they remember to bring the Swiss Navy.
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