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Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams

Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri

Sunday, December 16, 2012 1:00 PM

Minnesota Vikings 36
St. Louis Rams 22
39.5
-3
F

Vikings Rams Game Recap


Vikings 36, Rams 22: Adrian Peterson ran for 212 yards and a touchdown - his eighth consecutive 100-yard game - and visiting Minnesota snapped St. Louis' three-game winning streak.

Peterson tied his season high with an 82-yard scoring run to ignite a run of 23 consecutive points in the second quarter as the Vikings (8-6) halted a four-game road losing streak and pulled into a tie with Chicago for second place in the NFC North.

Everson Griffen returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown and rookie Blair Walsh kicked five field goals, including three of at least 50 yards, as Minnesota all but snuffed out the playoff hopes of the Rams (6-7-1).

Sam Bradford threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns for St. Louis, but his fumble of a botched snap and interception by Griffen led to 17 points in a span of 3:56 for the Vikings en route to a 30-7 halftime lead.

Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder threw for only 131 yards and ran for a 5-yard score but again left the heavy lifting to Peterson, who has amassed a career-high 1,812 yards to put him within 294 yards of tying Eric Dickerson's single-season NFL record.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Griffen had entered the game as a replacement for fellow DE Brian Robison, who suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter and did not return. ... Rams RB Steven Jackson finished with 73 yards on 13 carries to become the 27th player to rush for 10,000 yards for his career. ... Minnesota had its highest first-half point total since scoring 31 against the New York Giants in a 44-7 win on Jan. 3, 2010. It also marked the largest halftime deficit this season for St. Louis, which trailed 28-7 at the break in a loss to New England.

Preview: Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams

The Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Rams are each fighting uphill climbs to snag a postseason slot, and Sunday's matchup in St. Louis will have a playoff feel in what pretty much amount to an elimination game. Both teams sit in third place in their respective divisions so their best avenue to the postseason is via the wild card. The Rams and Vikings have six losses apiece, so the loser will face the unlikely challenge of having to hurdle at least four other teams in the final two weeks. St. Louis has vaulted into contention with its first three-game losing streak in six years while Minnesota has more than doubled last season's win total behind the magnificent play of running back Adrian Peterson.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Vikings -2.5, O/U 38.5

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (7-6): Minnesota has made no secret about its game plan, particularly since the season-ending injury to star wideout Percy Harvin: ride Peterson as far as he can go. The league's leading rusher with 1,600 yards, Peterson is on track to become the seventh player in league history to surpass 2,000 yards - a particularly remarkable feat given that he entered the season less than nine months removed from major surgery to repair multiple knee ligaments. Peterson rumbled for 154 yards and two touchdowns - his seventh straight 100-yard effort - in last week's 21-14 win over NFC North rival Chicago. He has scored eight times and amassed 1,101 yards in that stretch to help make up for the shortcomings of Christian Ponder, who has thrown for only 962 yards in the same span.

ABOUT THE RAMS (6-6-1): Defense has carried St. Louis to its first three-game winning streak since the 2006 season. The Rams, once known as the Greatest Show on Turf for their dazzling offensive exploits, have surrendered only 42 points during the winning streak. They have been particularly solid against the run in that time. The only player to surpass more than 65 yards rushing against St. Louis in the last four games has been San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick. The Rams also have a fierce pass rush that has produced an NFC-high 39 sacks. Like Minnesota, St. Louis has struggled offensively and been held under 20 points eight times in the last 11 games. QB Sam Bradford is averaging only 222.3 yards passing and is hoping for the return of top target Danny Amendola (heel).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Peterson needs to average 134 yards over his final three games to reach the 2,000-yard mark.

2. Rams rookie K Greg Zuerlein has booted seven field goals of at least 50 yards, one shy of tying the single-season league record.

3. Minnesota is 1-5 away from home and that victory came indoors at Detroit.

PREDICTION: Rams 19, Vikings 17
Away Spread Consensus 55% Vikings (3.0) Home Spread Consensus 45% Rams (-3.0)
Total Over Consensus 45% Over (39.5) Total Under Consensus 55% Under (39.5)
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Wagering Trends

  • Rams are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a home underdog of 10.5 or greater.
  • Rams are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite.
  • Rams are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. win.
  • Rams are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
  • Rams are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
  • Rams are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.
  • Rams are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0.
  • Vikings are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite of 0.5-3.0.
  • Vikings are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
  • Vikings are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games on turf.
  • Favorite is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
  • Under is 5-0 in Rams last 5 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
  • Under is 4-0 in Rams last 4 games in December.
  • Under is 7-0-1 in Rams last 8 games as a home underdog of 0.5-3.0.
  • Under is 3-0-1 in Rams last 4 games in Week 15.
  • Under is 6-0 in Vikings last 6 games as a favorite of 10.5 or greater.
  • Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in St. Louis.

Minnesota Vikings

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St. Louis Rams

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