Jacksonville, FL -- (Sports Network) - Adrian Peterson rushed for a touchdown and Ryan Longwell kicked three field goals, as the Minnesota Vikings caged the Jaguars, 30-12, at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

A battered and bruised Gus Frerotte completed 12-of-20 passes for 120 yards and one interception for the Vikings (6-5), who have won three of their last four games. The veteran signal-caller was on the receiving end of several big hits but managed to stay in the game.

Peterson gained 80 yards on the ground for Minnesota, which is tied with Chicago atop the NFC North standings. The Bears rolled over St. Louis, 27-3, on Sunday.

David Garrard completed 27-of-45 passes for 317 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the disappointing Jaguars (4-7), who have dropped four of their last five games. Maurice Jones-Drew collected 113 yards on nine receptions, while Fred Taylor was limited to just 20 yards on six carries.

"It's not acceptable in any way, shape or form," said Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio of the latest setback. "I will take a very close look at everything, evaluate everything and everyone, including myself, to make sure we don't have any Sundays looking like that going forward."

It was an amazing start for the Vikings and a complete nightmare for Jacksonville, which fumbled on the first offensive snap of the contest, resulting in a 27-yard touchdown return by Napoleon Harris.

Brian Witherspoon then failed to protect the football and had it stripped from behind by Minnesota's Cedric Griffin on the ensuing kickoff. Dontarrious Thomas recovered the fumble for the Vikings at the Jacksonville 28-yard line, and Chester Taylor's three-yard TD run gave the visitors a 14-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.

"In your wildest dreams you don't think it would be like that," Vikings head coach Brad Childress said of the quick start. "The big thing is that you press on. An NFL football game is a long, long, long time."

The Jaguars finally began to show some signs of life, cashing in on a terrific punt return by Witherspoon. Looking to atone for his earlier miscue, Witherspoon amassed 38 yards before he was pushed out of bounds at the Minnesota 27, setting up Reggie Williams' eight-yard TD catch four plays later.

Ryan Longwell's 54-yard field goal gave Minnesota a 10-point edge with 6:00 minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

Jacksonville trimmed the deficit to seven early in the second frame on Josh Scobee's 21-yarder and trailed by the same margin at halftime after Scobee missed from 46 and 38 yards late in the quarter.

Following the break, Minnesota continued to take advantage of Jacksonville's inability to secure the pigskin. Matt Jones coughed the ball up on the Jaguars' opening drive of the third quarter and Minnesota eventually settled for a Longwell 32-yard field goal to make it 20-10.

The Vikings padded their lead in the fourth quarter on Longwell's 22-yard field goal and Peterson's 16-yard TD.

Jacksonville recorded a safety when Minnesota punter Chris Kluwe ran out of the end zone with 3:01 remaining in regulation.

Game Notes:

Minnesota held Jacksonville to just 35 yards on the ground...Longwell is a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals of more than 50 yards this season...The Jaguars committed five turnovers...Minnesota improved to 2-4 on the road, while Jacksonville fell to 1-5 as the host.