Sports Opinion: Peterson, Vikings will set new marks this year

By: Nolan Nickerson

Adrian Peterson returned to the NFL this season after a 15-game suspension that left him out of the league for almost all of last year, and he’s running like a man with something to prove. With his return Peterson is showing all of his critics wrong who said a running back can’t produce at 30.

Peterson isn’t just producing, he’s leading the NFL in rushing with 372 yards on 75 carries and scoring three touchdowns through the first four weeks of the season even after a lackluster 33-yard performance week one against the San Francisco 49ers. Peterson’s highlights of the young season include a 48-yard sideline to sideline touchdown week three against the Chargers and a 49-yard touchdown against the Broncos, but Peterson isn’t just getting it done from the backfield this year. With the emergence of Teddy Bridgewater and the addition of Mike Wallace, Peterson has been a productive receiver in the play action, grabbing nine passes for a total of 92 yards through four games.

Even better things are to come for Peterson down the road if quarterback Teddy Bridgewater continues to shine in the passing game like he did against Denver, going 27 for 41 with 269 passing yards and a touchdown pass, because defenses will then have to respect the passing game, which will open up the running game for Peterson who said during the preseason that his goal for this season is to rush for 3,000 yards, a high number that if accomplished would destroy the current NFL single season rushing record of 2,105 yards held by Eric Dickerson, a record Peterson came 9 yards away from breaking during his MVP 2012 season.

Peterson had many interesting things to say this offseason, leaving some to believe he was going to retire or get traded. He even hinted at one point of getting back into track and field, but he and the Vikings are now chasing the team’s first Super Bowl win in the team’s 60-plus year history, and while the team sits comfortable with a 2-2 record heading into its bye week, Peterson has only one goal on his mind, winning a championship.