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Peterson's big day helps Vikings pick up first win

Oct 9, 2011 - 9:27 PM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Adrian Peterson had a huge day on the ground, rushing for 122 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 34-10 drubbing of the Arizona Cardinals.

Former Philadelphia Eagle Donovan McNabb completed 10 of his 21 pass attempts for 169 yards. He also ran for a touchdown for the Vikings (1-4), who avoided starting 0-5 for the first time since 1962.

Devin Aromashodu caught two passes for 81 yards, while Michael Jenkins hauled in four balls for 32 yards.

Kevin Kolb, another former Eagle, threw for 232 yards and two interceptions on 21-of-42 passing, while Beanie Wells rushed for 60 yards and one score on 20 carries for the Cardinals (1-4).

Early Doucet grabbed eight passes for 92 yards, while star receiver Larry Fitzgerald snagged four passes for 66 yards.

Minnesota got the offense rolling on its second possession of the game, thanks to some excellent field position following an Arizona punt. The Vikings began the drive from the Arizona 18-yard line and used four plays before Peterson plowed his way into the end zone on 2nd-and-4 to give Minnesota a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing Arizona drive, Kolb was picked off on the first play, turning the ball back over to Minnesota on the 24. Peterson took the handoff from McNabb on the first play of their drive and quickly got to the outside before galloping down the right sideline and into the end zone.

Minnesota's defense came up with another turnover on the Cardinals' next possession. This time, Jared Allen was able to slap the ball out of Kolb's hand and give his offense control from the Arizona 25.

From there, McNabb led his offense down to the four-yard line before the veteran signal-caller scrambled untouched into the end zone on third down for a four-yard touchdown.

"We found a way to play a complete game," Vikings defensive end Brian Robison said. "We really needed to get this win this week, it was a must-win game. It's going to be the same thing next week."

After a three-and-out by Arizona on the ensuing possession, the Vikings got the ball back on their own 27 with just over 4 1/2 minutes to go in the first quarter.

On the first play of the drive, McNabb went deep down the middle of the field for Jenkins and got some help as rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson was flagged for pass interference, moving the ball down to the Cardinals 37.

From there, the offense needed three plays before Adrian Peterson ran up the gut for a 14-yard touchdown.

"This is something I've never been a part of, in the first quarter especially and it's hard to come back from games like that," Kolb said of being down four touchdowns after one quarter. "We were playing catch up all day. Maybe that's what we need, maybe all of us will look ourselves in the eye and realize that we need to get better."

Arizona finally got on the board early in the second quarter when Jay Feely connected on a 51-yard field goal.

With just over eight minutes left in the third quarter, Arizona found its way into the end zone when Kolb led a nine-play, 59-yard drive before Wells capped the march by sneaking across the goal line for a two-yard touchdown run, pulling the Cardinals to within 28-10.

The Vikings widened their lead to 34-10 on a pair of Ryan Longwell field goals.

Game Notes

The Cardinals haven't won in Minnesota since a 27-7 decision at Metropolitan Stadium in 1977, when the victors were still located in St. Louis,..Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian was inactive for Sunday's game, although he was not injured...Cardinals tight end Todd Heap was inactive because of a hamstring injury...Allen has at least one sack in seven consecutive games, one shy of the Vikings franchise record.