Adrian Peterson Powers Vikings To 1st Win

The Vikings are well on their way to a 12-4 record this season, right?

Adrian Peterson rammed his way into the end zone to make Minnesota's early lead even larger, lowering his shoulder to finish the run as if to pour four weeks of frustration out on his unsuccessful tackler.

The Minnesota Vikings finally ended their troubling habit of stumbling down the stretch.

Peterson powered in for three first-quarter touchdowns to build a cushion so big even Minnesota couldn't lose it, and the Vikings earned their first victory Sunday by beating the bumbling Arizona Cardinals 34-10.

"It felt good just to get a 'W' first and foremost and get out of this slump. It was a good test for us, and we did what we've been preaching," said Peterson, who rushed 29 times for 122 yards.

Donovan McNabb jogged in for a score, too, and the Vikings (1-4) went ahead 28-0 less than 12 1/2 minutes into the game. Kevin Kolb had three turnovers for the Cardinals (1-4) and finished 21 for 42 for 232 yards and one touchdown pass, a performance so shaky the Vikings were able to confidently run down the clock after some ugly offense of their own during the second and third quarters.

"There isn't a magic wand that we can wave, and all of a sudden it will get better. But we are going to keep plugging at it, and we will get better," Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin said.

From McNabb's bounced passes to Kolb's errant throws, neither former Philadelphia quarterback played well. McNabb's final numbers against what had been a leaky Arizona secondary were 10 completions, 21 attempts, 169 yards and a bunch of boos.

"I don't worry about it all, because at the end of the day you look up and you see a win," McNabb said. "We're excited about it."

via Peterson powers Vikings to 1st win, 34-10 over Cardinals after building 28-point early lead | StarTribune.com.