Five Vikings stats stand out heading into Packers showdown

Each Wednesday, we highlight five Vikings stats that really mean something.

64 — rushing yards by which Adrian Peterson leads Doug Martin

With one game left in the season, Peterson is on the verge of winning his third rushing title. The running back has 1,418 rushing yards, 64 more than Martin, the Buccaneers back who ranks second in the league in rushing. Martin, who plays the Panthers on Sunday, is the only player with a realistic chance of catching Peterson. If Peterson holds off Martin, he will become the second-oldest player since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to win a rushing title behind only Hall-of-Famer Curtis Martin, who did it when he was 31. By the way, if Peterson rushes for 104 yards, he will occupy the top three spots in Vikings history when it comes to single-season rushing totals.

169 — rushing yards before contact for the Vikings last Sunday

More than half of Peterson's yards have come after contact this season. But in the blowout win over the Giants, specifically in the second half, there were several occasions when Peterson and backup Jerick McKinnon got to the second or even third level before being touched, if any Giants defender got a hand on them at all. According to ESPN Stats and Information, 169 of the team's 218 rushing yards came before initial contact. That was the most for the Vikings in a game since a win over the Lions in November of 2012.

102.7 — Teddy Bridgewater's career passer rating in December

For the second straight year, Bridgewater has saved his best ball for the end of the season. Over the past three games, the second-year quarterback completed 70.3 percent of his passes with six touchdowns, no interceptions and a 123.2 passer rating. Now in eight December games over two seasons, Bridgewater has completed 70.1 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns, six picks and a 102.7 passer rating that is about 20 points higher than in the other months. Call him Mr. December. But what will he do in January?

Last season, Barr was among the league's worst 4-3 outside linebackers in coverage. Often just a step behind his man, Barr allowed a reception every 5.9 snaps in coverage, dead last among 4-3 OLBs, according to Pro Football Focus. Opposing quarterbacks completed 54 of 59 attempts in his coverage area. This season, though, Barr has been among the best in coverage at his position. He has allowed a reception every 10.2 snaps in coverage, tied for sixth among qualifying 4-3 OLBs. In his past four games (well, three and change), Barr has surrendered just six receptions for a total of 50 yards.

155 — passes for Aaron Rodgers without a Vikings interception