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With Peterson back, Vikings rout Lions

Dec 2, 2007 - 11:06 PM By Mike Weimerskirch PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Adrian Peterson's mere presence seemed to inspire the Minnesota Vikings.

After missing two games with a knee injury, Peterson rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries as the Vikings coasted to a 42-10 victory over the fading Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Sidelined since suffering a torn lateral collateral ligament at Green Bay on November 11, the rookie still leads the NFL in rushing despite sitting out the two contests.

"I was able to test out catching the ball in space, the power zone, inside and outside, everything felt pretty good," Peterson said. "After the first couple of plays, I was back into my groove."

Sunday marked the sixth time in 10 games that Peterson has gone over the century mark. That includes an NFL-record 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers on November 4.

Chester Taylor, who started in Peterson's absence the last two weeks, chipped in with 70 yards and a score on 14 carries.

"Clearly, we have two different styles," Peterson said. "But it's good to have two backs in there that can get the job done. It's tough for a defense to defend that."

Tarvaris Jackson tossed a pair of touchdown passes for the Vikings, who kept the Lions reeling with a 35-point first half.

"Last year, when things weren't open, I'd take off and run, but now I'm giving my guys another chance to come open downfield," Jackson said.

Minnesota pulled even with the Lions in the NFC North at 6-6 but the teams are heading in opposite directions.

The Vikings have won three straight and four of five, while the Lions have dropped four in a row following a 6-2 start.

"We talked about building habits," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "Psychologists tell us ... 21 days it takes to build a habit, whether it's biting your nails or winning."

The Lions have fallen into a bad habit of losing as their once comfortable playoff position is starting to slip away.

"Anytime you get beat that bad, that's just not NFL football," Lions quarterback Jon Kitna said. "We are not heading in the same direction right now."

Kitna completed 27-of-36 for 260 yards, but threw a pass that Kenechi Udeze intercepted and returned 37 yards just before halftime, setting up the Vikings' fifth touchdown.

Detroit closed to 14-10 on Kitna's 1-yard TD pass to Casey Fitzsimmons with 9:41 remaining in the first half.

But any hopes of the Lions staying in the game quickly ended as Aundrae Allison returned the ensuing kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown.

"They lined up awkward," Allison said. "I saw they loaded the left side and we had called a bounce to the right, so I knew it could be a big play."

The electrifying run was part of a 28-point second quarter, as Jackson threw TD passes of 6 yards to Bobby Wade and 15 yards to Sidney Rice in the final 2:22 of the period.

Peterson added a 15-yard TD run just under five minutes into the second half to make it 42-10.