Peterson bounces back with 120 yards
LANDOVER, Md. — A week removed from what he called “an embarrassment,” Adrian Peterson turned in his first 100-yard game in more than 10 months.
Peterson ran for 120 yards and two two-yard scores, Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes and the Redskins held on Sunday for a 31-17 victory against a gimpy Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, who again had complaints about a roughing-the-passer penalty on Clay Matthews.
On a rainy afternoon, the Redskins (2-1) went up 14-0 and were ahead 28-10 at halftime, thanks to putting together touchdown drives of 74, 75, 79 and 98 yards.
Smith connected for touchdowns of 46 yards to Paul Richardson on the game’s fourth play and of nine yards to Jamison Crowder in the second quarter, and Peterson’s two short trips to the end zone also came in the first half. After gaining only 20 yards on 11 carries in a 21-9 loss to the Colts in Week 2, Peterson ran 19 times and raised his career total to 102 rushing touchdowns.
That broke a tie at 100 with Marshall Faulk and Shaun Alexander and moved him alone into seventh place in NFL history behind Emmitt Smith’s record of 164. Next up at No. 6 is former Redskins star John Riggins, at 104.
“It felt good to get into ‘The 100 Club.’ I have a little time off now. Maybe I can look and see who I’m approaching,” said Peterson, 33, referring to Washington’s Week 4 bye. “Riggins, he’s a guy that I do remember seeing up there on the list and thinking, ‘God willing, I’ll be able to pass him eventually.’ ”
Rodgers, who completed 27 of 44 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns, was sacked four times, and his receivers had problems with drops.
“I got a little banged up but finished the game, and I expect to start next week,” Rodgers said. “It can be painful at times moving around, especially lateral movement. But I’m going to be out there if I’m up to it and try to get this thing turned back in the right direction with a win next week.”