Running back Adrian Peterson already had established himself as something special early in his rookie season when the Vikings visited Soldier Field. But it was against the Bears that the rookie from Oklahoma served notice about just how explosive he could be on an NFL field.
Peterson rushed for a then-franchise record 224 yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns, including a 73-yarder, caught one pass for 12 yards and returned four kickoffs for 128 yards. This included a 53-yard return that set up Ryan Longwell's 55-yard field goal with four seconds left that gave the Vikings a 34-31 victory.
That was not the end of Peterson's success playing near Lake Michigan.
In three career games at Soldier Field, Peterson has rushed for 439 yards on 66 carries with seven touchdowns. "I look forward to playing every team, but I love playing at Soldier Field," Peterson said this week. "I don't know what it is about it. Maybe because Sweetness [Walter Payton] played there and the tradition of the stadium."
Peterson rushed for 121 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns in a 2008 loss in Chicago and then went for 94 yards on 24 carries with two more TDs last season in an overtime defeat. That game also marked Peterson's last fumble in the regular-season as he was stripped of the ball by linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer in overtime after a 16-yard reception.
The Bears recovered at the Vikings 39 yard line and on the next play quarterback Jay Cutler hit wide receiver Devin Aromashodu for a touchdown.
Peterson has taken the philosophy of carrying the ball high-and-tight this season in order to overcome his issues with fumbling and so far it has worked. The Bears will present a challenge in this area. They are second in the NFL with 20 take-aways, including nine fumble recoveries.
"They are kind of like New Orleans," Peterson said. "They'd rather try and strip the ball then tackle first. That can hurt you in the long run. But that's what those guys do. I've seen it on tape. I just have to continue doing what I've been doing. Keep the ball high and tight and taking advantage of those guys stripping the ball instead of going for the tackle."
