Adrian Peterson is back this afternoon, and he put the Minnesota Vikings on the doorstep on Minnesota's most recent drive, but it was his replacement that got the ball into the end zone.
After the Saints attempted an onside kick and failed, the Vikings set up shop from their own 39-yard line. Facing a 3rd-and-1 from the 48, Peterson took a handoff from Christian Ponder and blasted through the line, getting dragged down after a 39-yard gain and setting the Vikings up inside the Saints' red zone.
Following a couple of unusual play calls that saw Joe Webb line up at quarterback with Ponder in a running back spot, the Vikings faced 3rd-and-7, and Ponder flipped a shovel pass to Toby Gerhart, who plowed his way into the end zone for a Minnesota touchdown from ten yards out. Ryan Longwell hit the extra point, and the Vikings once again find themselves trailing by a single point at 14-13.
Peterson now has six carries for 52 yards for Minnesota on the afternoon, and Gerhart now has receiving touchdowns in consecutive games.
With seven minutes left in the first half of play at the Metrodome, the Minnesota Vikings trail the New Orleans Saints by a score of 14-13.