Vikings’ Peterson dazzles, sets single-game rushing mark

By Krupka  |   Monday, November 05, 2007  |  Comments( 3 )

Minnesota Vikings
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
Before the 2007 NFL season began, Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson said his goal was to rush for 1,800 yards. After a record-setting Sunday in which he racked up 296 ground yards -- a single-game best in league history -- in a 35-17 win over the San Diego Chargers, 1,800 is well within sight for Peterson.

The previous single game rushing record was 295 yards set by Jamal Lewis against the Cleveland Browns on September 14, 2003. The scary thing for the rest of the league is, it was Peterson's second 200-yard performance in just eight career games.

It's conceivable that Peterson could also break Eric Dickerson's rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards and at least challenge Dickerson's single-season mark of 2,105 yards. Peterson is on pace for 2,072 yards and is currently averaging a super-human 6.6 yards per carry.

On Sunday, the Chargers came into the Metrodome with the seventh-best run defense in the NFL, allowing just 88.9 yards per game. Everyone in the stadium knew Peterson was going to get the ball -- even the Chargers, who had no answer. The Minnesota offensive line was outstanding at opening up huge lanes for Peterson and Chester Taylor to run through. Thanks largely to Peterson's phenomenal day, the Vikings racked up a franchise-record 378 yards rushing.

At halftime, Peterson had only 43 yards on 13 carries. His next 17 attempts would net 253 yards, good for an astounding 14.88 yards per carry. He scored on runs of 1, 64 and 46 yards, respectively.

When Minnesota drafted the ex-Oklahoma Sooner with the seventh overall pick last April, the team knew it was getting the home-run hitting back it sorely needed. However, nobody could have expected what Peterson has provided so early in his career for the 3-5 Vikings.

The 22-year-old is arguably the most dangerous threat in the league already, and few backs -- if any -- are more explosive or get to the corner faster.

If Peterson even comes close to maintaining this torrid pace over the next eight weeks, the "AP for MVP" sentiments will no doubt intensify across the NFL. They should.

Eric Krupka is a senior writer for RealFootball365.com. He can be reached at

Get more Vikings insights at RealFootball365.com
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (3)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 3  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Viking Mike		11:40 AM
11/05/2007
YES !!! Another victory, and a game for the ages for AP. This is why we drafted him. Add a decent QB, and this team should be...
No.2
John Conley		01:05 PM
11/05/2007
One of our Tulsa World writers quipped before the Chargers game that someone needed to call Coach Childress and remind him that...
No.3
Alexm		03:15 PM
11/05/2007
That victory owed alot to the West Coast Offense finally being run correctly. The Vikings outsmarted the Chargers on every play...
Team News  |  View All Vikings Content
Trade Heard Round the (Sport...
It’s inevitable that the Randy Moss to Minnesota trade executed by th...
1 year, 4 months ago   |   Trade Heard Round the (Sports) World ( 0 )
What’s Right is Wrong
When the NFL first rose above baseball as the most popular sport in Am...
1 year, 5 months ago   |   What’s Right is Wrong ( 0 )
Focused and Determined
A trip to Mankato State last week to watch the Vikings practice in she...
1 year, 6 months ago   |   Focused and Determined ( 1 )
The Return of the Attention...
Brett Favre will be back to play this year. Just thought I’d put that...
1 year, 6 months ago   |   The Return of the Attention 4 ( 6 )
Ray Edwards Passes His Unhap...
Ray Edwards, the other Minnesota Vikings’ defensive end, railed agains...
1 year, 11 months ago   |   Ray Edwards Passes His Unhappiness on to Others ( 0 )