Adrian Peterson has the season rushing record in his sights
This week’s Monday edition of our NFL Google+ hangout -- “NFL Slam with Mark and Sam,” starring Times NFL columnist Sam Farmer and Mark Thompson of “Mark and Brian” radio fame -- covered many topics, one being Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Peterson has a chance at breaking Eric Dickerson’s record for most rushing yards in a season. Dickerson rushed for 2,105 yards for the L.A. Rams in 1984. Peterson has 1,812 yards with two games remaining, against the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers.
You can watch Thompson and Farmer discuss whether Peterson can break the record in the video above.
As Farmer wrote earlier this week,
“Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson came into Sunday with a league-leading 1,600 yards rushing, and with not just 2,000 yards but Eric Dickerson‘s record of 2,105 in his sights.
“If there were an appropriate franchise to slow his pursuit, it would be the Rams — Dickerson’s old club (now in St. Louis and not Los Angeles, of course) — considering they hadn’t allowed an opposing runner more than 65 yards in their previous four games.
“And the Rams stonewalled Peterson a few times early in Sunday’s game too, so it was looking good for them. But soon he broke free, finishing with 212 yards in 24 carries, including his second 82-yard touchdown run in three weeks.
“Since Week 6, Peterson has rushed for 1,313 yards, an NFL record for an eight-game stretch in a single season. With two games to go — at Houston, home against Green Bay — he needs 294 yards to break Dickerson’s mark, set in 1984.
“ ‘Yeah, it’s been in my sights,’ Peterson said. ‘I’m not focusing on it. It’s in the back of my head that, hey, I definitely want to accomplish that.
“I look at today’s game and I could have had 300.”
“It’s almost an afterthought now — a stunning one — that Peterson is playing on a reconstructed knee, having suffered two torn ligaments last Christmas Eve.”
“NFL Slam with Mark and Sam” is usually held every Monday and Friday at 11:30 a.m. You can watch it on this blog post. If you have questions for Mark and Sam, email them to sportshangout@latimes.com and we will try to get them answered live during the chat.
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