MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Adrian Peterson spent more time watching from the sideline in his return to Minnesota than romping around the field, an introductory performance for New Orleans that became an afterthought once the Saints fell behind.
With Dalvin Cook patiently waiting for space and bursting around the edge, the Vikings formally turned the page in the backfield with promising results.
Sam Bradford started his second year with Minnesota in style, passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-19 victory on Monday night by the Vikings that spoiled Peterson’s first game with the Saints.
“I really didn’t know what to expect coming in,” said Peterson, who spent 10 seasons with the Vikings while winning a league MVP award and becoming their all-time leading rusher by nearly 5,000 yards. “We talked about running the ball a little more and for whatever reason got away from it. That’s how the game played out.”
Booed by the crowd upon his first couple of mentions by the public address announcer, Peterson was limited to six carries and 18 yards in equal time with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. The other members of the committee are more valuable in the passing game, though, so Peterson was hardly used after halftime. He was seen on camera at one point yelling at coach Sean Payton, a confrontation Peterson played down afterward.