Adrian Peterson Returns: Too Little Too Late?
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
It was only 8 weeks ago that we were thinking "man, if the Vikings continue this pace, could you imagine in December Adrian Peterson returning? They could take the NFC with ease!" Bradford was playing like the quarterback many thought he would be when he was drafted by the Rams, the defense was rolling like nobody's business, and everything was clicking (save Blair Walsh). And then seemingly, it just stopped. The Vikings fell apart in Philadelphia and gave Bradford fits, Chicago took them to the shed, Detroit stunned them in OT, and it just fell apart on them, with only a struggling Arizona & crummy Jacksonville of wins to show for it (and even those games were fights). And now, the Vikings are holding on for dear life in the NFC.
So now Peterson returns to the Vikings for the final 3 games. So the question begs, now what? Is it really too late?
Maybe not.
Pretty much one loss does it for Minnesota. It does not matter where that loss happens largely because the Lions hold the tiebreak for the division and if the Vikes lose either in Green Bay or Chicago they'll finish with a 3-3 record in the division, which is what Detroit can only have at worst. But there is good news: the Vikings play an inconsistent Indianapolis team who doesn't know if they're coming or going (right now, going) and then the big game is next week in Lambeau. It's practically going to be a playoff elimination game for one of them. But which Packers team shows up? The one we've seen the last few weeks with Rodgers carrying the team on his back, or the team that has scuffled and struggled earlier in the season? And then a home game against Chicago.
So a schedule that looks to be a solid run for the Vikes if they take care of business. So is it enough? Let's look at Detroit's next 3 games:
@ New York Giants, @ Dallas, vs. Green Bay.
Yikes. Of course, today, the Lions and Giants play and are probably the two "hottest" teams in the NFL (definitely in the NFC), but one wonders what Detroit can do on the road against a tough team like the Giants. Detroit's big wins this year so far has been to the Vikings and Washington. Of course their schedule hasn't been the hardest around to this point as really the Redskins have really been their toughest opponent. And we know the documentation of Detroit's 4th quarters this season. That said, if you are trailing to the likes of the Jaguars, Rams, and Bears in the 4th quarter (all at home), you do have to wonder how great Detroit actually is. So the outcome today for the Lions will be big, not just for W/L but if they lose, how much by? And we know they get Dallas next week and then it is the Packers obviously at Ford Field. By then, if the Vikings win the next two games, the Packers might be playing for peanuts, so we will see.
But it isn't out of the realm Minnesota wins the next 3 and Detroit loses out the next 3. Or at the very worst, finding themselves playing in a game January 7th or 8th (pending on what happens with the Redskins or the 2nd place NFC South team does). So bringing Peterson back today is definitely not too little, too late.
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
