Adrian Peterson Calls His Shot

Last September, on the very first play of the Minnesota Vikings' first offensive possession of the 2013 season, Adrian Peterson took a handoff from Christian Ponder, broke through one tackle, and ran 78 yards for a touchdown. It was a great play that we as Viking fans had hoped would set the tone for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, it did not.

Now, as the team prepares for their first game of 2014 against the St. Louis Rams, the NFL's best running back thinks that he can do it again.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is calling it again: Touchdown. On his first carry of the season.

Just like he said he predicted last year.

"Yeah, I might as well speak it: Touchdown, first run," Peterson said Thursday.

Apparently he did make the same prediction prior to last year's opener in Detroit, but it happened during the running backs meeting where nobody in the media could hear it.

It would be a crazy prediction for most other running backs, but not for Adrian Peterson. Do I think he will do it? Probably not. But he should be well-rested enough. . .and if he does find an opening, I doubt anybody's going to catch him.

Despite the improvements in the wide receiver corps and the new system of offensive coordinator Norv Turner, the Vikings' offense will still likely revolve around Adrian Peterson. Maybe he's trying to get into the Rams' heads and get them thinking run on the first play. . .maybe the Vikings will actually run on the first play.

Thankfully, it won't be that much longer until we find out.

(Thanks to our friends at Turf Show Times for tipping us off to this story.)

EDIT: Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press makes a good point.

A note of context: if you ask Adrian Peterson if he could break the sound barrier while running for a TD on his 1st carry, he'll say yes

— Jon Krawczynski (@APkrawczynski) September 4, 2014