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Adrian Peterson's rushing record will take backseat for Vikings in Week 17

Playoff position a priority for Minnesota this Sunday against Green Bay.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier told reporters Wednesday that his team is keeping its priorities in order headed into this week's regular season finale against Green Bay. The Vikings are one win away from a berth in the NFL playoffs. Furthermore, halfback Adrian Peterson is just 208 yards from matching the NFL single-season rushing record, set by Eric Dickerson nearly 30 years ago. As ESPN Radio 1500 reports, Frazier says that, despite the possibility of a record-setting day, the focus will be on winning:

"I think the biggest consideration has to be winning this game," Frazier said. "Finding a way to get a win. If the record comes along with the win, that would be great, but not at the expense of winning the game. We've got to approach this, whatever it takes to get a win. Adrian wants it that way, too. He'd love to have the record, but he's the ultimate team guy. He wants to get a win. I hope he gets the record but even more so I want us to win this game."

At 9-6, Minnesota can wrap up the NFC's second wild card position with a win over Green Bay. A loss could knock the Vikings out in favor of Washington, New York, Dallas or NFC North rival Chicago. The rushing record would be a hollow consolation prize if the Vikings left the Metrodome without a playoff spot.

Peterson's performance and a Vikings win are far from mutually exclusive: Minnesota's passing offense is rated last in the league, but Peterson's running has allowed the Vikings offense to generate 161.1 rushing yards per game and 22.8 points per contest.

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