Adrian Peterson sets career high in attempts as Cardinals beat 49ers
Nov 5, 2017, 6:27 PM | Updated: 8:41 pm
Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson (23) runs against San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leger Douzable during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson had himself a day in Santa Clara Sunday.
The future Hall of Famer’s nickname “All Day” was only fitting as he carried the rock a total of 37 times for 159 yards — averaging 4.3 a carry — as the Cardinals took home the win over the winless San Francisco 49ers.
“I knew we were going to pound the rock, I kind of felt like we were getting up there in the 30 range,” Peterson told Paul Calvisi of 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. “I felt good, the guys did a great job up front, out wide. It was one of those games you just got to grind out.”
In just three games with the Cardinals, Peterson has eclipsed the 100-yard mark twice. Before joining the team, he only had two games over 100 yards in his last 14 outings.
Excluding Sunday and Monday Night Football, Peterson led all runners in Week 9. The closest to him? Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott at 93.
With 2:23 left to play, Peterson also set a new career-high in carries with 36 on a big 25-yard run.
“He’s an amazing athlete to carry it 37 times,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians told Calvisi. “It ain’t heavy, but that’s a lot of pounding.”
It's why they call him All Day.@AdrianPeterson breaks loose on his 36th carry of the day.
New career-high in carries for him. pic.twitter.com/fsS3A5gBWl
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 6, 2017
He would add one more for a total of 37 carries on the day, his most since 2013 when he had 35 against the Chicago Bears.
“I want those guys to know that ‘hey, you can trust me.’ If you want to give it to me 40 times a game, I’m going to be ready,” Peterson said. “I’m ready to tote the load no matter the cost.
“No matter what it is, I’m ready to get it done.”
Eight more carries and he would have tied the NFL record for most carries in a game with 45, a mark set by Jamie Morris in 1988.
For the franchise, it’s the most carries by a running back since 1988.
In addition, AD also passed Thurman Thomas (12,074) for 15th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. He also became the fourth-fastest player to reach 12,000 yards in NFL history. Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson and Barry Sanders are the only ones to do it sooner.
And although Peterson had a solid game, he felt he was a few big runs away from really pouring it on.
“There was about 150 that was left out there,” Peterson said. “In that first half, second half, when I say there was 150 yards left out there, there was a 150 that was left.”
Add 150 to Sunday’s total and the statline looks reminiscent of AD’s 296-yard performance on Nov. 7, 2007, which was 10 years ago to the day Saturday.
.@AdrianPeterson.
296 rushing yards.
IN A SINGLE GAME? 😱😱😱It happened exactly 10 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/gQjXl5pe4m
— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2017
