Only Eric Dickerson, Edgerrin James and Earl Campbell ran for more yards in their first two seasons than Peterson's 3,101, including the league-best 1,760 this season. Like that trio, Peterson can change a game with a single blast up the middle.
"You think you've got the perfect defense, and all of a sudden one guy slips and falls down or gets out of a gap. He's got that great explosion to hit it," said defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. "It can turn into a big thing. Our objective is to keep those big runs down. He's going to get some yards. You just hope he doesn't break the long run. That's where he kills teams, when he gets those 60-, 70-yard runs."
Peterson has 20 runs of at least 20 yards.
As a team, the Eagles have 11.
Johnson said he wants to limit any Peterson run to 10 yards or less. That's how the Eagles slowed him last season in their 23-16 road win.
In that game, Peterson gained 70 yards on 20 rushes. He gained 2 yards or less 13 times. He gained 1 yard or less 10 times.
But when he busted one for 16 yards, the Vikings went on to score a touchdown. His 17-yard run set up a field goal.
Can the Birds do it again?
"It's the same offense," Johnson said. "The same running back."
But a different offensive personality.
Last year, the Eagles knocked quarterback Kelly Holcombe out of the game. They found replacement Brooks Bollinger even less challenging.
This season, veteran backup Gus Frerotte resurrected the Vikings. Now, after sitting 3 1/2 games with a back injury, Frerotte finds himself toiling behind Tarvaris Jackson, who has reclaimed the starting spot with some hot passing. Jackson has eight touchdowns and one interception in December, when the Vikings went 3-1 after Jackson replaced Frerotte in the second half Dec. 7 in Detroit.
