Sunday superlatives

Some numbers produced during what might have been the best football game I've seen in the Metrodome:

Adrian Peterson...

-Finished with 199 yards and the second-best rushing total in NFL history, 2,097 yards. Eric Dickerson retains the record of 2,105. Peterson was nine yards shy. ``I know Eric Dickerson is stoked," Peterson said with a smile.

-Set an NFL record for most rushing yards in December, with 861. Clinton Page of Devner had 672 in 2002.

-Set an NFL record for most rushing yards in any month. Chris Johnson of Tennessee had 800 in 2009. (Month not provided.)

-Tied an NFL record for most 150-plus yard rushing games in a season, with 7. He's tied with Earl Campbell, who did it in 1980.

-Set a team record for most rushing attempts in a game, with 34.

-Matt Kalil tied a record for most starts by a rookie tackle, at 16, with Todd Steussie.

-Blair Walsh tied an NFL record for most field goals made in a season by a rookie, with 35. Ali Haji-Sheikh of the Giants did it in 1983.

-Walsh finished the regular season with 141 points, most ever by a Vikings rookie and second among Vikings kickers all-time to Gary Anderson's 164 points in 1998.

-Walsh tied a team record for most field goals made in a season, with 35. Anderson had 35 in '98.

-Walsh set an NFL record for highest field-goal percentage in a season by a rookie, with 92.1. Richie Cunningham of Dallas had a 91.9 percent in 1997.

-Christian Ponder became only the sixth Vikings quarterback to start 16 games in a season. The others: Brett Favre, Daunte Culpepper (3 times), Warren Moon, Tommy Kramer, Fran Tarkenton.

Tale of two teams:

The Packers finished the season with 4,049 net yards passing. The Vikings had 2,751.

The Packers finished the season with 1,702 net yards passing. The Vikings had 2,634.

They wound up one game apart in the standings.

Yes, I do think Frazier is the coach of the year. The Colts tanked on purpose last year, and were rewarded with one of the most advanced rookie quarterbacks of all time. The Vikings won three games on merit, while winning just enough to lose a chance to draft Luck or Griffin, and improved by seven games.

I also think Peterson is the MVP. As much as I revere Peyton Manning, he took over a team that won a playoff game last year. He improved the offense dramatically but stepped into a great situation. Peterson was the dojminant figure on an offense with few alternatives, and he performed even better once Percy Harvin went out.

As frequent readers know, I don't champion locals unless I think they're deserving. I think Frazier and Peterson are deserving.

---------------------------------