Two of the NFL's brightest stars will meet under the lights on Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium. Adrian Peterson and the Vikings will host Eli Manning and the NY Giants on Sunday Night Football to cap what is sure to be an exciting slate of games in Week 15. These two NFL superstars leading their offenses while chasing a playoff berth is the subject of this week's Ticketmaster Hot Matchup.
There have been few at each of their positions who've been better than Peterson and Manning. Since Peterson entered the NFL in 2007, he ranks first in rushing attempts (2,433), rushing yards (11,871) and TDs (100). He was the 2012 NFL MVP and has been named a First-Team All-Pro three times and a Pro Bowler seven times. Since Manning entered the NFL in 2004, he ranks fifth in wins (105), and fourth in passing attempts (6,512), completions (3,875), passing yards (46,171) and passing TDs (308). He is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl winner and Super Bowl MVP.
Yet with all of those gaudy statistics and impressive accolades, Peterson and Manning have had a harder time producing against the other's team. Peterson averages 97.5 rushing yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry for his career, but in four games against the Giants those numbers have fallen to 52.8 rushing yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry with only 2 TDs. Manning is just 2-4 as a starter against the Vikings and with a 4-11 TD-INT ratio and a completion percentage over 5 points below his career average.
Don't be surprised, though, if Sunday night's game offers a different fortune for either or both stars. Peterson enters the game as the NFL's rushing leader with 1,314 rushing yards and he'll face a Giants defense that ranks 21st in the NFL and allows 114.6 yards per game. Manning, meanwhile, enters the game coming off consecutive 4-TD performances and has thrown for fewer than 245 yards just once since Week 8.
Will these two stars shake free of the stronghold the opposing franchise's defenses have had on them? We'll find out on Sunday night under the bright lights, and you can be there to see it in person. To purchase Vikings single-game tickets, visit the official NFL Ticket Exchange.
