WATCH: Patrick Peterson's first interception of season goes for pick six
Minnesota cornerback Patrick Peterson waited a long time for his first interception of the season. Sunday against Chicago, it finally came.
With the Bears facing fourth-and-one, quarterback Andy Dalton dropped back to pass but quickly found himself under pressure. He let the ball fly and it dropped right into the hands of Peterson, who took it 65 yards the other way for a touchdown.
The score put Minnesota up 31-17 on Chicago late in the fourth quarter. The Vikings also came up with an interception on the very next drive, as Blake Lynch picked off Dalton. The Vikings would hold on to win, ending the year with an 8-9 record.
An 11-year NFL veteran, Peterson just completed his first season in Minnesota. He previously spent 10 years with the Arizona Cardinals, who drafted him fifth overall in the 2011 draft. He has enjoyed a decorated career that includes eight appearances in the Pro Bowl.
Thanks to the play against Chicago, he has now recorded at least interception every year he has been in the league. He now has 29 interceptions to go with 95 passes defended in his career.
As he ages, the veteran cornerback has battled through injuries in recent years. He played in only 10 games in the 2019 season with Arizona and missed three this year with a hamstring injury. Although he may not have the same spring in his step, Patrick Peterson proved with his interception Sunday that he is still one of the league’s best.
The Vikings will miss the playoffs for the second straight season. Minnesota’s most recent postseason appearance came in 2019, when it lost to San Francisco in the divisional round. Chicago will finish 6-10 and also miss out on the playoffs.
Despite the disappointment of the season ending, fans can take solace in this special moment for Patrick Peterson.