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NFL

Peterson faces tough test against Arizona's stingy run defense

By FoxSports
Published | Updated
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Sep 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) rushes with the ball in the second half against the Detroit Lions at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson always wants more touches, so he should be ready to explode after recording a season-low eight carries in Week 13.

However, Thursday night may mark a second consecutive pedestrian outing for Peterson, since his Vikings are going on the road to face the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona's defense ranks fourth in the NFL against the run with an average of 89.0 rushing yards allowed per game.

Peterson is the league's leading rusher with 1,182 yards, but he faces his toughest test of the season on Thursday. The Cardinals have aggressive run-stoppers at every level of their defense, from Calais Campbell on the line to Kevin Minter at linebacker to Tyrann Mathieu in the secondary. All Day has eight runs longer than 20 yards this season, but he'll be hard-pressed to break one that long on Thursday night.

Arizona has only allowed one running back to eclipse 100 rushing yards in a game this season (St. Louis' Todd Gurley had 146 yards on 19 carries in Week 4). It will take a steady and committed approach for Peterson to become the second back to crack the century mark against the Cardinals.