Jordan’s Serial: Minnesota’s Magic Milestones
The Wembley-bound Minnesota Vikings have some marquee names on their roster, but two of the biggest have just made some bold claims.
Defensive end, Jared Allen, and fully rehabilitated running back, Adrian Peterson, are no strangers to big numbers in their respective statistical categories of QB sacks and yards gained respectively, but it seems they are aiming higher in their individual goals and, in turn, helping the Vikings get back into the playoffs.
Allen has come out publicly to say that Michael Strahan’s single season sack record of 22 ½ is “absolutely achievable”. The man nicknamed ‘The Rhinestone Cowboy’ had 22 sacks in 2011 so yes, achievable it very much is, and the 31-year-old does not in any way feel too old to obtain his goal.
“I feel like I’m back there. I feel that’s where I’m at mentally, physically and I feel like we have a team that can even make it better.” Allen has the single-minded attitude to achieve his ambition, but at the same time knows his role in the grand scheme of things.
The real headline act of the Vikings right now is Peterson.
He was so close to beating Eric Dickerson’s time old single season rushing yards record that he will be eager to get out there this time and completely shatter it, in fact he’s already stated that he aims for a 2,500 yard 2013; he also has bigger things on his mind.
Emmitt Smith’s NFL rushing record.
When you are as good as AP is, and make no doubt he is that good, why not aim high? The record stands at 18,355 which Smith gained over an illustrious 15-year career. Bear in mind that during that time, his best season was a 1,773 year, something that Peterson has already surpassed with his magnificent 2,097 last term. Over his career, Smith averaged 61.2 yards per game, Peterson is averaging a staggering 99.4YPG.
The math says that he’ll top Emmitt’s mark in week 4 of 2019. Not long to wait then, but AP wants to get there quicker.
“I’m already right around [9,000]. Calculate it out…let’s think. Maybe get a couple 2,000-yard seasons…I’ve got…hmmm…2017?”
The other thing to consider in this is that for the peak of Smith’s time he was behind a huge dominant line that helped the Dallas Cowboys win three Super Bowls in four years. So far Peterson hasn’t had that luxury, which also presents the side that he’s arguably had to work harder to gain his yards.
Time will only tell if these two big characters will reach their goals, and when they reach Wembley in late September they should both be well on their way to these targets. We could be in for a treat if they produce some magic numbers to help them in their quest.
