Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson hadn’t played in a regular season game in just over one year heading into Monday night’s game against the 49ers, so it’s safe to say the 2012 MVP was excited to get back on the field.
Most analysts and fans alike assumed the Vikings would look to get Peterson involved early and often, except they didn’t. He carried the ball just four times for 14 yards in the first half, but one particular catch and run looked like shades of 2012 when he dragged multiple 49ers defenders and could not be stopped.
Peterson received a pass out of the backfield on 1st-and-15, and that’s when he made some magic happen.
After picking up a few yards, one defender took a poor angle and attempted to tackle him by the legs, and failed miserably. Linebacker Aaron Lynch then met him at the 45-yard line and managed to wrap his arms around Peterson, but could not bring him down. The Vikings running back’s legs kept churning for an extra 9 yards and he was finally brought down shortly after with some help from three other 49ers defenders—but not before he carried them and picked up 17 yards for a first down.
Peterson may still have some rust to shake off, but that catch and run showed he is still a powerful, downhill runner, and a force to be reckoned with every time he touches the ball.
