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Adrian Peterson falls 9 yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's record

Adrian Peterson fell nine yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record of 2,105 yards. He did, however, manage to rush for 199 yards and carry his team into the postseason.

USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Peterson rushed for 199 yards on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers to finish nine yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record.

With time running out in the fourth quarter and the Vikings on the fringe of kicker Blair Walsh's range, Peterson took the handoff and rushed 26 yards down the left sideline on his final carry of the game. The run set the Vikings up for an easy field goal, which Walsh converted to send Minnesota to the postseason. But unfortunately, the run was not enough to set the single-season rushing record.

Peterson finished his outstanding season -- a season in which he returned from ACL surgery -- with 2,097 yards, just short of Dickerson's 2,105. But between a postseason berth and a rushing record, Peterson made it clear in his postgame interview with FOX Sports' Pam Oliver that he would take the playoffs everytime. In fact, as the game finished, Peterson was not even aware how close he actually came to the record, asking, "nine what?" That video can be seen here.

Photographs by Micah Taylor, clairity, and Fibonacci Blue used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.