Ponder, Vikings pound Bills
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Christian Ponder completed 10-of-13 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown, as the Minnesota Vikings beat the Buffalo Bills, 36-14, in preseason action.
Ponder, who played the first three series, led the Vikings to a pair of scoring drives. He threw a one-yard TD pass to fullback Jerome Felton, but the 8-play, 80-yard march was highlighted by a leap from wide receiver Jerome Simpson over the body of free safety Jarius Byrd on a 33-yard play.
Later in the opening quarter, Blair Walsh connected on a 22-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, recovering from a devastating knee injury late last season, didn't participate in Friday's contest despite being activated from the physically unable to perform list last weekend. He took part in his first padded practice on Tuesday and is on track to be ready for the Sept. 9 regular-season opener.
Joe Webb connected on 7-of-15 throws for 73 yards and Sage Rosenfels completed half of his eight passes for 63 yards for Minnesota.
Ryan Fitzpatrick played the first four series for the Bills and finished 8- of-11 for 58 yards, including a 31-yard scoring strike to Donald Jones.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Vince Young completed 8-of-14 passes for 123 yards.
Walsh kicked five field goals overall.