Vikings fall to Seahawks despite big day from Adrian Peterson

A huge reason for their success was the play of QB Russell Wilson. The rookie signal caller tossed three first-half touchdowns, allowing the Seahawks to hold a 20-17 halftime lead even with the Vikings compiling a mind-blowing 197 rushing yards in the first 30 minutes of play.

Danny Kelly of SB Nation’s Seahawks site, Field Gulls, called Wilson’s first half performance (10-14, 106 yards, three TDs) “nearly flawless,” pointing out that his four incompletions came on three drops and a throwaway. Kelly went on to share that Wilson went 4-for-6 in the redzone and has now gone 7-for-9 in that area over the past two games.

Defensively, a once-stingy rushing defense has allowed 100-yard performances on the ground in four consecutive weeks. Against Seattle, Minnesota also only managed one sack and failed to force a turnover.

Both teams are now 5-4 this season.

Fantasy studs and duds

However, in the second half, the Vikings have inexplicably decided against using Peterson like one would think they should. With seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Peterson has only racked up 38 second-half yards, a far cry short of 144. A lot of this has to do with the fact that the 11 men on the field for the Seahawks have likely been told that Peterson is priority one and he must be stopped and it also may have to do with the fact that he has only carried the ball five times so far in the second half.

Seattle currently leads the Vikings by a score of 27-20 and while the Vikings are still in the game, you have to wonder why they wouldn’t feed the rock to the “hot hand” and ride the Peterson train to victory. It has worked so far. Maybe they’re worried about how his knee will hold up if every single Seahawks defender is focused on stopping him and they want to limit his carries or maybe they have the Seahawks defense cheating up so far in the box to stop Peterson that they think they can burn them deep with the pass. Either way, if they want to win this game, it would likely be best to give the ball to the guy who has kept the game close in the first place.

Perhaps his most impressive play came in the 3rd quarter, where he had a crucial 23-yard run down to Minnesota’s 9-yard line. That run set up his fourth TD of the season, where he punched it in from three yards out.

The receiver had just re-entered the game after nursing a hamstring injury that saw Harvin remain on the sideline for a spell. Upon returning the ball was pitched to Harvin, who took a shot to his lower leg, and limped gingerly off the field, following some time where he sat on the field, being attended to by trainers. The Vikings have listed his return as ‘questionable’

Earlier in the game Harvin was seen having words on the sideline with head coach Leslie Frazier, in what appeared to be the wide receiver being upset with his under-utilization, with just two receptions for ten yards, and another 24 yards rushing.

The ball wasn’t knocked out until after Tate had crossed the goal-line, and the Seahawks lead 20-17.

Pete Carroll is known for being an excitable guy, so you can’t blame him for being excited to see Tate score his second touchdown of the game and for surviving his Rod Tidwell moment.

There’s just one problem -- it’s still the second quarter.

Most of Peterson’s yards came on the Vikings’ first drive -- an impressive 74-yard run to the 1-yard line. He would punch it in one play later. His second score came in the second quarter, when he pushed the pile four yards.

He has two tackles this season.

In his two years with Seattle, Rice is now completing 100% of his passes (2 for 2) for 80 yards. You aren’t going to find better production than that. Luckily for Wilson, Rice has also caught a touchdown today and could be irreplaceable as a receiver. If only there was an athletic player listed at the wrong position that might not be the right size to play there.

Wait a minute ...

Well, when it comes to the battle of the backs, Adrian Peterson was the first to strike. In the Vikings’ first possession of the game, Peterson ran the ball 80 yards and scored a touchdown. Starting at their own 20, Peterson carried on first down for five yards and then on second down for 74 yards all the way down to the Seahawks one-yard line. And of course, who else would the Vikings give the ball to when they’re on the one other than Peterson, who scored on the next play.

The Vikings lead the Seahawks, whose 12th man has been slightly silenced, in Seattle on Sunday afternoon thanks to Peterson.

Sunday, Nov. 4; 4:05 p.m. ET

CenturyLink Field-- Seattle

Minnesota Vikings

Seattle Seahawks

At 4-4, the Seahawks have a worse regular season record than the 5-3 Vikings, but Seattle is playing at home where they are 3-0 this season. With the home factor likely playing a big role, NFL experts are nearly unanimous in picking Seattle this week.

Picking the game straight up, CBS Sports NFL analysts are also almost unanimously in favor of Seattle. Seven of the eight CBS experts picked the Seahawks with only Mike Freeman picking Minnesota. That changes slightly when the experts pick against the spread as four of the eight picked Minnesota as the 5-1/2-point underdog.