The Minnesota Vikings were dominated by the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and running back Adrian Peterson was frustrated following the performance by the team in Week 13. Peterson was frustrated with his use in the game and Teddy Bridgewater struggled overall, while the Vikings only could muster a touchdown from Cordarrelle Patterson on a return in the 38-7 loss.
The Vikings remain in playoff contention this season, but the loss was a tough one with the Packers already having won on Thursday night. The Vikings could not get anything going on offense and Peterson said after the game that the team was "out of sync" and that the Vikings were "outplayed" by Seattle. Peterson had just eight carries for 18 yards in the game and according to Ben Goessling at ESPN, the running back said that he needs more touches.
ESPN reports that sources said that Peterson has been pushing to get more work and that he met with head coach Mike Zimmer after he had 13 carries in a loss to the Packers in November. Peterson was coming into the game this week after putting up 158 yards against the Falcons on 29 carries, but on Sunday he had just five carries in the first half of the game. Peterson has had a strong season after playing in just one game last year, as he has rushed for 1182 yards and eight touchdowns for Minnesota and is one of the leading rushers in the league.
Teddy Bridgewater struggled on Sunday, going 17-of-28 for 118 yards and an interception in the loss and now the Vikings will be matching up with the Cardinals next week. The team has to keep winning to stay in playoff contention and Bridgewater will have to do more, as he has just eight touchdowns this season to go along with eight interceptions. Patterson made an impact on special teams, but that was the only TD the team could score. Linval Joseph was out for the game for the Vikings with an injury and the team is hoping that he can return next week.
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It's almost ridiculous looking back now at the offseason and the reports about Peterson wanting to leave Minnesota and the potential trade for the team, as the running back has had a great season despite the tough game on Sunday. At the time his agent Ben Dogra wanted a "commitment" from the team and a holdout of training camp was a possibility. Peterson's future was up in the air heading into the season, but obviously the sides worked everything out and Minnesota is now in playoff contention.
Earlier in the offseason, Peterson's agent Dogra went public that his client was unhappy and that it might be better for him to be elsewhere in 2015. Some in the NFL and the media speculated this was all posturing to get more money, but there was real interest from other teams in deals. NFL.com reported that the Vikings wouldn't trade Peterson unless they were "blown away" by a deal and clearly that never happened and he ended up staying.
