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Access Vikings morning walkthrough: Vikings comfortable with identity, Peterson's pace impressive

The Vikings have embraced their identity as a run-oriented force after another successful week behind star running back Adrian Peterson.

By Jason Gonzalez

December 1, 2015 at 2:29PM

Every weekday, we walk you through what's going on with the Vikings.

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

— The Vikings have embraced their identity as a run-oriented force after another successful week behind star running back Adrian Peterson.

— Cornerback Antone Exum Jr. picked up the slack for the Vikings in his first NFL start.

— Peterson isn't far behind his record-breaking pace from 2012, but will need to finish the last five weeks even stronger than he did three seasons ago.

— Vikings beat writer Matt Vensel's three takeaways from Week 12 include a look at why linebacker Anthony Barr is so special.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

— It would make sense that the loss of tight end Jimmy Graham to a knee injury hurts the Seattle Seahawks, but could it actually help the team find its identity late in the season.

— The Seahawks' pass attack was efficient and explosive in 39-30 win over Pittsburgh last Sunday. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw for a career-high 345 yards and five touchdowns.

— Wilson will be asked to do more during the final stretch of the season. After a career-best performance, here are five numbers that matter for Seattle's quarterback.

TODAY'S VIKINGS SCHEDULE

Players have the day off and will be back in the building at Winter Park Wednesday.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph had another strong performance for the Vikings last Sunday in Atlanta. A week after compiling a career-best 106 reception yards against Green Bay, he was once again Teddy Bridgewater's favorite target and made seven catches for a 53 yards. "The best [catch] to me was the one he ran on our sideline, the outside-breaking route," Zimmer said. "We'd been running that route and he was kind of iffy about it. He went out there and beat the guy to the outside and Teddy made a nice throw and [Rudolph] double-tapped the sideline. Those are the things where he's progressing and even in the passing game he's progressing with a lot of things of continuing to run through the route as opposed to look, things that we're trying to teach him to do."