As I've said so many times, Adrian Peterson has yet to prove he can consistently win games on his own. I do not understand why so many defensive coordinators seem so afraid of him. Some of them seem so afraid of public ridicule that they'd rather lose as slowly as possible than actually win the game.
"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:
Can we please admit that we're just giving APete more shit than we would if he were a Packer or at least not a member of a division rival? How much more effective would an Adrian Peterson be if he were surrounded by an offense that could handle third and long situations, like say the Packers (especially last year)? Suddenly those 1 and 2 yard gains aren't so bad, when you have a very high chance of converting on third and 7 or so?
What RB, or any other single player has proven that they can consistently win games on their own? It's a damn team game, it doesn't matter if you have a magic RB that gets a TD every run if your defense gives up a TD every play and your opponent has one more possession than you.
Truth be told, the best RB in the league is going to be average at best without a line to block him or any threat of a passing attack to prevent loading up the line of scrimmage. Just like an elite QB is going to be worthless with a line that can't protect him and WRs to catch the ball, elite WRs that don't have a QB that could hit the broad side of the barn, elite kickers without competent holders/long snappers/blockers, etc etc etc. An elite player without any kind of supporting cast is like Batman without money. Just a middle-aged man in a suit that sleeps with orphans.