Adrian Peterson plowed over the Detroit Lions' defense as the Vikings moved to 1-1 on the season in a 26-16 home win. Here is what you need to know:
1) Norv Turner's game plan was clear from the start, handing the ball to Adrian Peterson three straight times to open the game, after the running back compiled just 31 rushing yards in Week 1. Peterson displayed his vintage bulldozing style as the bruising back dominated Minnesota's offensive play calling. In the first half, A.P. compiled 119 of the Vikings 201 total yards -- including 49 yards on a flip pass from Teddy Bridgewater. Peterson finished with 134 yards rushing on 29 carries. He added two receptions for 58 yards, which led the team. Peterson also fumbled twice in the red zone (one negated by a penalty) and still hasn't scored since November 2013. This was the offense we expected entering the season.
2) Minnesota's defensive line destroyed Lions blockers all game long, battering Matthew Stafford. Mike Zimmer's crew controlled the contest and discombobulated the Lions' offense, even if it only compiled one official sack. Brian Robison clown-suited human turnstile Cornelius Lucas on the right side all game long. Stafford was battered early, ended up with a bloody left elbow and limped off the field several times. If Detroit's line remains this putrid, no amount of skill weapons will matter.
3) With Peterson controlling the offense, Teddy Bridgewater displayed the poise and playmaking we expected entering the season. Teddy expertly got through his progression and used his feet intelligently to scramble, frustrate Detroit defenders. TB finished 14-of-18 passing for 153 yards and a touchdown pass to go with six carries for 21 yards and a score. It's the type of game-managing performance from the signal-caller that led prognosticators to label Minnesota a postseason team in 2015.
4) Poor blocking up front for Detroit also hurt a nonexistent running game. Rookie sensation Ameer Abdullah couldn't get loose from a swarming Vikes' D (a meager nine yards on six carries). Detroit's play-callers inexplicably insist on handing the ball to Joique Bell outside the red zone. The veteran back displays neither speed nor can he create a hole, just flopping forward on most carries -- reminiscent of Maurice Jones-Drew in Oakland last season. The stat that epitomizes the pathetic Lions rushing effort: a clearly injured Stafford led the team with 20 rushing yards.
5) The lack of targets to Calvin Johnson narrative can cease. Megatron was Stafford's go-to receiver, earning 10 catches on 18 targets for 83 yards and a beautiful toe drag for his first touchdown of the season.
6) Discussing the fall off of the Lions' defense sans Ndamukong Suh is superfluous. More germane to the 2015 season is Detroit's best defender, DeAndre Levy, remaining out with an injury. It's not a very good or creative unit without the sideline-to-sideline tackling machine to clean up the messes. Sunday his absence was glaring against Peterson.
7) Detroit is in danger of starting a debilitating 0-5 with three difficult contests on the docket: vs. Denver Broncos, at Seattle Seahawks and home vs. Arizona Cardinals.
