Peterson reaches milestone

Adrian Peterson grew up a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, but the running back has yet to have a big day in three career games against them.

Nonetheless, Peterson's 73 rushing yards in the Vikings' 24-21 victory Sunday put the running back in elite company. Peterson became only the fourth Vikings player to reach 5,000 rushing yards and he did it in 51 games, the fewest needed for any player in franchise history to reach that mark.

That ranks tied for sixth all-time in the NFL for the fewest games needed to reach 5,000 yards.

"That's good to know because I actually didn't know, but it feels good," Peterson said of reaching that figure. "First, give prayers to God, because without him I wouldn't be able to do the thing that I do. Our offensive line is doing a great job. Jon Cooper stepping up against guys twice as big as him. Pro Bowl guys. He really did a great job up there. So I would have to give the credit to them too." (Cooper started at center in place of the injured John Sullivan.)

Peterson rushed for 63 yards in each of his first two career games against the Cowboys, averaging 5.3 yards and 2.4 yards in the first two meetings. He averaged 3 yards per carry on Sunday.

Here's the fewest games needed by a Vikings running back to reach 5,000 yards: 51 -- Peterson, 2007-10; 68 -- Chuck Foreman, 1973-78; 79 -- Robert Smith, 1993-99; 119 -- Bill Brown, 1962-70.

All-time list of running backs who reached 5,000 yards the quickest: 45 -- Eric Dickerson, 1983-85; 46 -- Earl Campbell, 1978-80; 48 -- Jim Brown, 1957-60; 50 -- Curtis Martin, 1995-98; 50 -- Terrell Davis, 1995-98; 51 -- Peterson, 2007-10; 51 -- Jamal Lewis, 2000-04.

Etc.