EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Atlanta Falcons run defense undeniably presents a challenge to Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Having given up just 874 yards in 10 games this season, the group has been the NFL's stingiest against the run and is ranked third in the league in average yards allowed per carry (3.6).
But to draw the conclusion Peterson can't have a productive day in the Georgia Dome on Sunday would be oversimplifying things a bit. The Falcons haven't exactly stopped a rogue's gallery of great running backs so far this season. They jumped out to a big lead on the Philadelphia Eagles, who gave DeMarco Murray the ball only eight times. They did the same thing against Houston, on a day where Arian Foster ran eight times for 10 yards. They held Doug Martin to 71 yards on 23 carries, but have faced only one other running back in the league's top 10.
Peterson posted 203 yards against an Oakland Raiders defense that was ranked ninth in the league against the run at the time. And while the Falcons' tackle tandem of Paul Soliai and University of Minnesota product Ra'Shede Hageman certainly has the Vikings' attention.
"They're fast getting to the ball," Peterson said. "They have talent on the defensive line, at all levels. They play physical, as well. But I would say the biggest thing is the way they corral to the ball. Even on pass plays, when the ball is thrown over their head, they don't turn around and stop, trying to find the ball. They turn around running. They're just kind of naturally going to the flow of the ball. When you have that same pursuit in the run game, it can make it difficult to run the ball."
Peterson, though, might represent the biggest challenge the Falcons' run defense has seen this season. And considering Atlanta hasn't been able to build the kinds of leads that force teams to abandon their run game lately, the Vikings could have opportunities to attack the Falcons with Peterson.
"We're just going to try to do our job, execute, establish the run game and come out with a 'W,'" Peterson said.