Following the disappointing loss to Indianapolis yesterday, "Around the NFL" writer Chris Wesseling made three observations about the contest, including a recap of Adrian Peterson's **first day back after undergoing surgery** to repair a torn meniscus. Wesseling wrote:

Adrian Peterson's long-awaited return was anticlimactic. […] Although Peterson functioned as the primary early-down back until the game was out of hand, he never had a chance to reach second gear behind Minnesota's anemic offensive line. Vikings fans hoping for a savior in problematic short-yardage situations didn't get a chance to see Peterson in that role.

Wesseling added about the pair of teams who both stand at 7-7 after yesterday's matchup:

This was essentially a "loser goes home" clash between a pair of disappointing teams with fatal flaws. […] Traveling to Oakland before hosting Jacksonville to close out the season, the Colts remain one game behind the Titans and Texans after the two AFC South rivals pulled off stirring comebacks on Sunday. The Vikings fall to third place in their division and to the periphery of the NFC wild-card race.

Despite loss, one Vikings fan has something to smile about

The 34-6 loss to the Colts didn't feature many highlights for the Vikings. For one fan, however, the day proved unforgettable for a much more positive reason.

ESPN's Darren Rovell **shared the story of a proposal** that took place – despite the bitter cold – through one of the hundreds of Legacy Bricks. Rovell wrote about Colts fan Nick Running and Vikings fan Jane Momany, who met at a game in Minnesota two years ago.

Three months after that meeting, Running saw that the Vikings were selling bricks to fans surrounding U.S. Bank Stadium, which would open in 2016.

Despite only knowing Momany for a short time, he was ready to make the purchase.

On the brick was inscribed: "Jane, will you marry me? Love, Nick."

The two football fans now live in Denver but flew to Minnesota for the game and visited U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday. Rovell explained that a friend had prepped the area ahead of time, "pulling back the snow in the shape of a heart."

Momany looked down, and Running had the ring ready. She said yes.

"It was the best $170 I ever spent," Running told Rovell.

Vikings tailgaters highlighted by Sports Illustrated

Sunday's painfully cold temperatures didn't deter Vikings fans from pre-game festivities, much to the awe of outsiders around the country.

Dan Gartland of Sports Illustrated **highlighted a number of social media posts** from Vikings tailgaters and wrote the following:

*The Vikings put a roof on their new stadium specifically for days like this. A few hours before the Vikes kicked off against the Colts, it was -20 in Minneapolis. The parking lots around the stadium do not have a roof, though, but Vikings fans were not about to let a little life-threatening cold keep them from tailgating. *