Resurgent Vikings roll on
SAN FRANCISCO -- After the 49ers schemed all week against Adrian Peterson, their plan to stop the NFL's leading rusher worked splendidly -- and that was the extent of San Francisco's successes in another big win for the resurgent Minnesota Vikings.
Though, to be fair, nobody could have planned for a game that began with a 311-pound man returning an interception for a touchdown on the very first play.
Defensive tackle Kevin Williams rumbled into the end zone just 14 seconds in, and Chester Taylor had an 84-yard scoring run in Minnesota's fourth straight victory, 27-7 over hapless San Francisco on Sunday.
Though Peterson managed just 3 yards on 14 carries, the Vikings (7-6) still jumped to a 27-0 halftime lead while getting back above .500 for the first time since the season's opening week. Minnesota is in the sixth spot in the NFC playoff picture, controlling its own destiny in a season that nearly went out of control.
"I think if you told our guys a month ago that they were going to be the hunted instead of going hunting, they probably would have asked you, 'Well, how's that going to happen?' " said Minnesota coach Brad Childress.
With patient offense and another strong game from a resurgent defense, that's how -- and even without help from Peterson.
Robert Ferguson caught a 19-yard TD pass from Tarvaris Jackson, who passed for 163 yards. Minnesota's only dynamic offensive play was Taylor's TD run, the third-longest in franchise history and the bulk of his 101 yards rushing.
Yet nothing fancy is necessary to beat the 49ers (3-10) these days.
"We weren't trying to force anything," Peterson said. "Chester is capable of coming out and having big games, too. You can't just focus on one guy on our team."
The Vikings' defense turned in its third straight solid performance, limiting the 49ers' league-worst offense to 79 yards in the first half.
Niners QB Trent Dilfer, who left with a concussion late in the first half, had it rough from the get-go. Williams, the Vikings' two-time Pro Bowl defensive end, was able to hang on to his own deflected pass and had the presence of mind to run with it.
Williams eluded Dilfer for the fourth touchdown of his career. It was even his second of the season, following a 54-yard return on Atlanta's first possession in the Vikings' season opener.
"It's rare to get one of those in a career, and he's had two in a season," Childress said. "I'm just glad he didn't have to run as far on this one so we didn't have to get him some oxygen."