Week 10 Roundup

For all of Adrian Peterson’s accomplishments as a pro, Sunday might have been his best game in terms of will. Peterson willed Minnesota to a crucial divisional victory over archrival Green Bay in the Twin Cities, 28-27. The winning points came courtesy of All Day, who banged in from 29 yards out (surviving a replay challenge) with 2:30 remaining. Minny then sweated out a missed FG to capture the game.

Peterson wanted the ball down the stretch, and in a moment of unusual emotion begged the coaching staff to eschew a punt to go for it on 4th down. Adrian, sickeningly, fumbled on the play, allowing the Pack to build on its 24-21 lead with nine and a half minutes left in the contest. He came to the sideline looking despondent.

But that’s where winners are made. Instead of sulking, or beating himself up, AD went out and carried the mail. The Vikes winning TD drive was six plays long—Peterson carried the ball on five of them, including the score. In all, Peterson wound up with 192 yards on the ground, giving him 1,105 for the season, tops in the NFL through ten weeks. But it wasn’t the yards as much as the desire that stands out. Thanks to Peterson, the Mighty Purple are in a first place tie with Chicago, a game ahead of the green and gold from Green Bay.

Sunday’s most dramatic game took place in San Diego, where SD held off a gutsy two-point conversion try in the game’s final seconds to beat Kansas City, 20-19. LaDainian Tomlinson did his part, as always—117 yards from scrimmage, including 78 on 22 totes, and 39 from four receptions. LT continues to play through a painful toe injury, and given how many other big name players have been injured this season, it’s good to see Tomlinson toughing this one out.

In that same ballgame, DT Glenn Dorsey rang up his first sack of his rookie campaign, and added three tackles. Tackle isn’t a position where the stats add up, but Dorsey is doing what he was drafted to do—clog the middle, occupy blockers and space, and make it tougher to run on KC. They held San Diego to 92 yards rushing as a team, proof that Dorsey is becoming ever more of a presence inside.