The NFL began week 10 with a matchup that featured two of the league’s premier players as second year quarterback, Robert Griffin III led the Washington Redskins into Mall of America Field to take on last year’s rushing leader, Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings.
The Redskins came into the Thursday night matchup in third place in a tight NFC East, sitting behind the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles and looking to keep the race between the three NFC East teams. Although, the Vikings were sitting at 1-7, a win would keep their playoff hopes mathematically alive. With post-season action still a possibility for both teams, RG3 and A.P., were both looking to have statement performances during the game. The Redskins struck first as Griffin marched the Redskins into Vikings territory to which led to a 20 yard field goal from the Redskins kicker, Forbath to give them a 3-0 lead at the eight minute mark of the first quarter. Peterson and the Vikings wasted no time answering the Redskins as they scored three minutes later on a 18 yard run from Peterson to give the Vikings a 7-3 lead.
RG3, not to be outdone again, led the Redskins deep into the Vikings side of the turf to give the Redskins 10-3 lead as RG3 connected with wide receiver Pierre Garcon on a eight yard touchdown pass. As the second quarter began, the Vikings went back on top 14-10 only two minutes into the quarter. Griffin, continued to look spectacular throwing for two more touchdowns in the quarter as the Redskins went into half leading the Vikings 24-14. With just over nine minutes left in the third, the Redskins tacked on three more points to go up 27-14 and looking to put away the Vikings but Minnesota had different plans as they scored twice in the third quarter, including a one yard touchdown run from Peterson with just under a minute left in the third quarter giving them a 28-27 lead.
Tacking on six more points in the fourth off two field goals from kicker Blair Walsh, the Vikings went up 34-27 which was the final score. Peterson finished the game with 75 yards off 20 carries for 2 touchdowns, while RG3 was 24-37 passing for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns. Other notable performances from the game include 136 rushing yards from Redskins running back Alfred Morris and Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon caught for 119 yards and a touchdown against his old team.
-Daminon Lewis
