By Steve Ginsburg
Peterson and Toby Gerhart each scored touchdowns on the ground and Brett Favre completed 15 of 23 passes for 172 yards to lead the Vikings to their first road victory of the year.
"It feels like a new season," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said in the jubilant Vikings locker room. "Right now, we're 1-0. We got to go 6-0 or 7-0. A lot of football left to go.
"There are a lot of smiles of people's faces around here."
Minnesota (4-7) opened the second half by driving 74 yards in nine plays, taking a 14-7 lead when Gerhart, a rookie in for Peterson, bowled over several Redskins on a five-yard run.
Ryan Longwell added a 31-yard field goal late in the period to hike the Vikings' lead to 17-7 and the Redskins could manage only two Graham Gano field goals the rest of the way.
The loss dropped Washington to 5-6 and dimmed their chances of making the postseason. Washington never found a rhythm on offense, gaining only 29 yards on the ground.
Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb completed 21 of 35 passes for 211 yards with a touchdown and an interception on a sunny but brisk day in suburban Washington.
Peterson, a three-time Pro Bowler who entered the game as the NFL's second-leading rusher this season, injured his right ankle late in the second quarter and did not return. He finished with 36 yards on six carries.
Minnesota originally said Peterson was probable to return but downgraded him to questionable in the second half. The dynamic running back did manage, however, to top 1,000 yards for the fourth time in his four-year career.
PETERSON AILING
Frazier said Peterson's status was unclear.
"We'll know a little bit more about Adrian tomorrow after they do whatever examinations they have to," he said.
"We came in at halftime and we had an idea that Adrian might not be able to go back the second half and we really wanted to emphasize it wouldn't change our game plan."
Gerhart does not have the breakaway prowess of Peterson but did manage to gain 76 yards on 22 carries.
The Vikings outgained Washington 299-216 but it was their ability to hang on to the ball that enabled them to win for the first time in six road games.
Minnesota entered the game with the worst turnover ratio in the NFL but did not lose the ball once against Washington.
"This was a great win by our ball club," said Frazier. "Hopefully a sign of things to come."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
