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Packers look to slow down Vikings' RB Peterson

Nov 11, 2007 - 11:51 AM Minnesota (3-5) at Green Bay (7-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Fresh off a two-game road sweep of AFC West teams, the Green Bay Packers now turn their attention to Minnesota Vikings' rookie phenom Adrian Peterson.

After beating the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, the Packers reached the midpoint of the season tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the best record in the NFC at 7-1.

The Packers return home Sunday to host the Vikings and their challenge will be trying to slow down Peterson, who rushed for an NFL-record 296 yards and three touchdowns in last week's 35-17 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

Peterson set the record in just his eighth career start and surged into the rushing lead with 1,036 yards. He also has gone over 200 yards twice this season and is on pace to surpass 2,000 yards.

The last rookie to lead the NFL in rushing was Edgerrin James in 1999. Eric Dickerson set the rookie rushing mark for a season with 1,808 yards in 1983.

"He's (Peterson) a special player," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "He's clearly one of the better players I've seen come into this league in my 15 years in the NFL."

The Packers faced Peterson earlier in the season as he rushed for 112 yards in a 23-16 loss in Minnesota on September 30.

"To me, he has it all," McCarthy said. "He's big, he's strong, he's fast, he's tough. He has a chance to take the ball the distance every time he touches it."

The Vikings' weak passing game had moderate success against the Chargers as Brooks Bollinger and Tarvaris Jackson combined to complete 13-of-22 passes for 158 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

But Peterson has become the focal point of the Vikings' offense and ripped off two long runs in the earlier meeting with the Packers, who rank eighth against the rush.

"This will be a great challenge for our run defense," McCarthy said. "We've been good on run defense. He got out on us twice up there in Minnesota, so we'll definitely be focused on him this week."

The Packers enter Sunday's game with a one-game lead over the equally surprising Detroit Lions in the NFC North.

Brett Favre continues to be the story for the Packers, playing like the Favre of 10 years ago. Green Bay keeps finding ways to win, trailing at some point in six of its seven victories.

Favre did it again last week, rallying the Packers to a 33-22 victory over the Chargers. With the win, he joined Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks to beat all 31 teams.

While the Vikings rely heavily on Peterson, the Packers are just the opposite.

Green Bay continues to rank last in rushing, averaging just 72 yards per game on the ground. Favre passed for 360 yards last week - his fifth 300-yard game of the season.