Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson joined the 2,000-yard club on Sunday, but fell 9 yards short of breaking Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson's record.
In the third quarter of the Vikings' 37-34 victory over the Green Bay Packers, Peterson had a 20-yard carry that pushed his tally to 2,009 yards. He finished the game with 199 yards and a touchdown.
It made Peterson the seventh running back in NFL history to run for 2,000 or more yards in a single season.
"Ultimately we got the 'W,'" Peterson said after carrying the ball a career-high 34 times. "We said during the week, if it happens, it happens. Don't focus on it."
Dickerson holds the record with 2,105 yards, set in 1984. He was honest about not wanting Peterson to break his record. He got his wish, as Peterson racked up 2,097 yards altogether.
The Vikings running back entered the game against the rival Green Bay Packers needing 102 yards to join O.J. Simpson, Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Jamal Lewis and Chris Johnson in the 2,000-yard club.
"I definitely want to keep the running backs highlighted," Peterson said this week. "It's started to turn into more of a spread, quarterback-friendly NFL. But just keep letting them know that there are going to be running backs that can do this."
Peterson is the only one to do it after having reconstructive knee surgery.
It was only last December when Peterson crumpled to the turf in Washington, with two ligaments torn in his left knee. But a combination of uncommon genetics, unshakable determination and a smart rehabilitation plan from Vikings athletic trainer Eric Sugarman had Peterson back in the starting lineup on opening day.
"During the bad times where I fought back and forth between negative and positive energies, I stayed focused on going with the positive," Peterson said of his fight back to the field.
Peterson has said he'd take the first postseason berth in three years over 2,000 yards any day. Next week he and the Vikings will return to Lambeau Field for a playoff rematch.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
