Sharing the Credit: O-Line Helping Peterson Rewrite the Record Book

Adrian Peterson is already the league's best running back and he's single-handedly making what would be a very boring Vikings season interesting. But after rewatching Sunday's game (thanks DirecTV shortcuts) it's also very apparent that the Vikings offensive line should also be talked about among the game's elite.

Considering the money the Vikings have spent on the line, there is some argument that the Vikings better have an outstanding line. But against a still very solid Chargers defense, the Vikings were getting good return on their dollar.

Even more than the blocks that helped spring Adrian Peterson's long runs, it was most impressive to watch the surge on goal line plays. On the play that set up Peterson's first touchdown all five Vikings offensive linemen drove their man back at least three yards. When you consider that the Chargers were in a goal line formation, it was an amazing performance by the Vikings line.

If you're looking for standouts, it's no surprise that Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson led the way on Sunday. Hutchinson was nearly flawless at carrying out his assignments, whether it was blowing a defensive end off the ball or flying out to pick up a linebacker. McKinnie was less consistent--he had several plays where he blew his assignment which led to a busted play and a tackle for loss or no gain, but he also showed the ability to consistently lock up his man and control him for long enough to give Peterson and Chester Taylor time to find a seam and bust through it.

What surprised me was how well Anthony Herrera played. He was called a holding penalty at one point, but overal he was spectacular showing good mobility to pull out and blow up linebackers while also enough strength to drive back defensive linemen. Bobby Wade and Robert Ferguson were also a pair of unsung heroes on several of Peterson's long runs, as they held up their men to give Peterson time to turn a 10-yard gain into a 40+yard touchdown.

For all the talk from Brad Childress early in the season about Peterson's need to learn blitz pick-up responsibilities, he did a good job on Sunday. I counted three plays where Peterson was asked to pick up a blitzer on a passing play. He did a very good job twice, submarining linebackers to give the quarterback time to throw. On the third and final blitz pick-up he had more trouble as the Chargers figured out Peterson's tendency to try to take out their legs. The linebacker simply jumped over Peterson to get pressure on Brooks Bollinger.

The Vikings quarterbacks weren't sacked on Sunday, but more than that Tarvaris Jackson and Bollinger weren't even pressured. Peterson gave up one hurry while Herrera gave up one and there were two hurries created by the Chargers sending more rushers than the Vikings had men to block them, but that was it.

Overall it was an outstanding performance by the Vikings line, as you would expect on a day where Peterson set the NFL single-game rushing record.