What's up with Peterson's fumbles vs. Detroit?

There was time for one more question for Adrian Peterson during today's press conference at Winter Park. We all know AD is the best running back in the league. He's earned the respect of everyone past and present who is involved with the NFL. But I couldn't resist speaking up and asking, basically, "Yo Adrian, wWhat's up with all the fumbles against the Lions?"

Peterson has played 38 regular season games. He has 15 fumbles and nine lost fumbles. One-third of Peterson's fumbles (five) and lost fumbles (three) have come in his last three games against a Lions team that was in the process of losing 19 consecutive games. 

"I don't know," he said. "I really didn't think about it. Thanks."

We laughed and then I asked him if it's a coincidence or maybe something the Lions are doing differently (although no Lion was within five yards of him when he fumbled away a handoff exchange in this year's first meeting in Detroit).

"I really don't feel like it's what those guys do, it's what I do," he said. "When I go back and look at my fumbles, it moreso when I'm reaching for yards or I got guys wrapping me up and I'm just scratching. It's my mentality. What causes some of the fumbles, it's all on me to be more careful with the ball. It's not really me getting hit and the ball is popping out. With that being said, it's about me making sure I'm careful with the ball and not being careless with it."

Peterson gets that chance Sunday at noon when the Lions visit the Metrodome. The last time these two teams met at the Metrodome, Peterson lost two fumbles in the red zone as the Vikings had to rally late to win 12-10. That's the game when fans chanted for Brad Childress to be fired. But it would have been Peterson who would have had to shoulder most of the blame had the Vikings lost that game.