adrian peterson

Torn Meniscus Muddles Future for Adrian Peterson

Injuries

by Austin Belisle - Sep 19, 2016

Torn Meniscus Muddles Future — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

In a game that felt more “playoff” than “regular season,” the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers battered and bruised one another. Despite winning 17-14 and moving to 2-0, the Vikings suffered a major loss at the top of the depth chart.

Head coach Mike Zimmer confirmed Adrian Peterson, who left the game in the third quarter, suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. KFAN’s Justin Gaard was the first to break the story, which was quickly retweeted by the team’s official account.

Coach Zimmer with the update on @AdrianPeterson. https://t.co/37MQ07e9Pz

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 19, 2016

At a Monday press conference, Zimmer told reporters the team is still “going through the evaluation process” and a “procedure” will be considered for the injury. Depending on he severity of the tear, Peterson could miss anywhere from two weeks to three months, though Zimmer didn’t rule out Peterson playing against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

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Play It Again, Sam: Vikings-Packers Recap [PODCAST]

Podcast

by Andy Carlson - Sep 19, 2016

sThe Minnesota Fightin’ Vikings opened the gates to historic US Bank Stadium Sunday night in rousing fashion defeating the Green Bay Packers 17-14. The Purple were led by a strong effort by the Zimmer Hellfire Defense, an other-worldly performance by Stefon Diggs, and a completely surprising/electric outing from newly acquired quarterback Sam Bradford. We recap the game that was and even do it without “sampling” other teams’ & sports’ traditions.

Today’s Border Battle Talkers Include:
• Sam Bradford Played Better Than Anyone Could Have Expected
• The Defense Owned Aaron Rodgers
• Stefon Diggs is Already Antonio Brown
• Why Adrian Peterson’s Injury Could Be a Positive
• The Ballad of Trae Waynes
• The Good and Bad Coaching Calls
• Matt Kalil is Back to Being Bad Kalil
• The Offensive Line Needs to be Fixed
• Loose Thoughts

All that and other “Shaun Hill Who?” chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An Andy Carlson Joint

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The Morning After: Bradford Is the Best Passer on Vikings’ Roster

by Sam Neumann - Sep 19, 2016

Five(ish) thoughts on Sunday night's win over the Packers

Bradford is the best passer — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

1. Sam Bradford is a better passer than Teddy Bridgewater.

I KNOW. I know it reads like a reactionary take, and there’s more to playing quarterback than prowess as a pure passer. I’m not trying to pick on a player who is unavailable due to injury, nor am I trying to throw out a splashy take based on one game. But I really don’t think this take is even hot; it was obvious in Bradford’s first start with the Vikings, he is a superior passer to Bridgewater at this point in their respective careers. This was an idea many astute observers floated before Bradford first took the field for Minnesota, and it was supported Sunday night. Sam Bradford is a natural passer—his arm strength is upper-echelon and his throws against Green Bay were extremely accurate. He had two beautifully placed touchdown passes, and he was decisive and poised against nearly constant pressure. And he’s been with the team for two weeks. You can see how he could be a good fit for a Norv Turner, vertical passing offense, and understand why Spielman targeted him via trade. That first round pick seems fully justified today.

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Vikings Fantasy Preview: Week 2 vs Packers

Fantasy

by Adam Patrick - Sep 17, 2016

temptitans-lesn-091216-1-076-nfl_mezz_1280_1024 — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

If someone had any player on the Minnesota Vikings offense starting on their fantasy team during last week’s games, they likely were not too happy with the results. However, the Vikings’ defense and Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh (at least in the second half) definitely made their fantasy owners happy with their performances against the Tennessee Titans last Sunday.

Despite the Titans 3-13 record a year ago, their defense is still one of the toughest in the league. So, the fact that the Vikings offense struggled against them (especially running the ball) was not too much of a surprise.

This week, Minnesota gets to face off against a slightly easier defense of the Green Bay Packers and it could lead to some better fantasy performances from some of the Vikings’ most talented players on offense.

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Packers will Stack the Box Against Adrian Peterson

Analysis

by Austin Belisle - Sep 16, 2016

Meet the run defense

Packers will stack the Box Against Adrian Peterson — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

For as long as Aaron Rodgers has been in Green Bay, he’s been an issue for the Minnesota Vikings. In 16 games, he’s thrown 34 touchdowns to five interceptions, winning 11 of the matchups while compiling a 113.2 passer rating. Calling Rodgers unstoppable, especially when facing the Vikings, wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Recent history, however, suggests the Vikings are learning how to slow Rodgers down. Most of that has to do with head coach Mike Zimmer, who is 3-3 against Rodgers in his coaching career, holding the Packers quarterback to comparably pedestrian numbers. In his last two meetings with the Vikings, Rodgers threw three touchdowns and one interception, completing 55.3 percent of his throws and finishing the stretch with a sub-84 quarterback rating. That, combined with the limitless talent up and down Zimmer’s defense, means Rodgers is in for a fight every time he straps up to play the Vikings.

Minnesota knows how to prepare for Rodgers, but he’s far from the only concern in Green Bay. Looming ahead of Sunday’s Week 2 clash is the Packers’ stout run defense, which held Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon to 48 yards on 26 carries last week, good for 1.8 yards per carry. If the Vikings plan to beat Green Bay, they’ll need more than a solid effort from the defense; they’ll need Adrian Peterson to regain his 2015 form against an underrated defensive front.

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