Bears See Adrian Peterson As Same Explosive Running Back
By Chris Emma—
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) – Oct. 14, 2007 marks the last time a Minnesota Vikings team left Soldier Field with a win.
In the 34-31 win against the Bears, the Vikings received a remarkable performance from their rookie running back, Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns, including scores of 67, 73 and 35 yards. He ran all over the Chicago defense.
Eight years later, the Bears (2-4) see the same talents from Peterson, now 30, as his Vikings (4-2) visit Soldier Field on Sunday for a noon contest.
"You turn on the film, you'll see AP," Bears linebacker Sam Acho said of Peterson. "He's a really, really, really good back."
Peterson has rushed for 530 yards and three touchdowns in six games this season. He went for only 31 yards in the season-opening loss to San Francisco but followed that up with performances of 134 and 126 yards in the following two games.
What makes Peterson such a dynamic talent is his combination of speed and power. He's an explosive runner who's able to change a game with big plays.
"That's his capability," Bears coach John Fox said. "He's a great player."
Added linebacker Willie Young: "We got to be ready to police him at all costs."
In 2014, Peterson was suspended without pay for the entire season due to an incident of abusive discipline toward his 4-year-old son. He was reinstated to the league in April and rejoined the Vikings during training camp.
Even at the age of 30 – when running backs often lose their productivity – with a history of serious injuries and after missing a year of football, Peterson is still a force.
"It's going to take 11 guys playing good run defense to get this guy stopped," Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "He can be going along fine at times, and then all of a sudden, he breaks a 40-, 50-yarder, or more. We've got to be on point with him all the time."
The Vikings are starting to find offensive productivity around Peterson. Second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater continues to improve, and rookie receiver Stefon Diggs has 19 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns in the past three games.
Fox pointed to the Vikings' talent in all three phases, specifically how the offense functions around Peterson. The Bears know that beating the Vikings at Soldier Field for an eighth straight season stems from not allowing the explosive Peterson to break out.
"He's obviously a really dynamic back," Acho said. "He's big, he's fast, he's physical, he's patient – he's a really patient runner. If you watch a lot of film on him, you'll see he likes to find the gaps. If a guy gets out of his gap, he's going to find it and make a big play. A lot of backs won't make you pay. He'll make you pay."
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.