Peterson 'a joy to watch'

Remember Sunday's game, Bears fans.

As much as you want to erase it from your minds, feel good about this fact: You witnessed first-hand the coming-out party of the NFL's next great running back.

Make no mistake about it, Adrian Peterson is special.

The rookie running back out of Oklahoma made Soldier Field his personal playground by racking up a Vikings-record 224 rushing yards on just 20 carries in a 34-31 Minnesota victory.

Of those yards, 175 came on TD runs of 67, 73 and 35 yards.

"He ran the ball unbelievably today," said center Matt Birk, "and it'll be a joy to watch him on film tomorrow."

Not for the Bears, it won't.

Peterson's rare blend of speed and power, combined with his ability to see the field as it opens up before him, is what will likely make him one of the all-time greats before his career is finished. Think it's too premature to make that statement five games into his NFL career?

As long as Peterson stays healthy, don't bet against it. He rolled up 4,045 yards in 31 collegiate games, including 1,925 as a sophomore. Injuries held him back as a junior and senior, but we're talking about the consensus national player of the year here when he was a senior in high school.

"He has that burst of raw speed," said Vikings coach Brad Childress. "You may think you have a good angle, but he has that explosion to get to the corner."

Let's run down the carnage, shall we?

• With the Bears leading 14-7 in the second quarter, Peterson took a handoff from his own 33-yard line and found a gaping hole to his left. What he did afterward is what makes Peterson so lethal. Seeing space to his backside, Peterson reversed field and as he put it, "it was off to the races."

• Late in the third quarter, the Vikings had first-and-10 at their own 27. With Bears cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. blitzing, Peterson took the handoff and sliced through the line. With no corner around, only safety Danieal Manning had a chance to stop Peterson. Manning swung and missed.

"They have a fast-flowing defense," Peterson said. "So those cutbacks and those little creases, you've got to be able to jam up in there. And you might just be able to miss a guy by a hair."

Or a country mile.

• Finally, Peterson appeared to put the game away with his 35-yard TD run that gave Minnesota a 31-17 lead with just 4:10 left. Danieal Manning -- again -- had a chance to stop the Vikings' boy wonder, but attempting a strip instead of a tackle, Manning blew it again.

"The last one, he gave the guy a little stutter-step and he didn't have a chance" said Vikings quarterback Tavaris Jackson.

Peterson, who already has 607 rushing yards and is averaging 6.3 yards per carry, is sharing carries with six-year pro Chester Taylor. The 1-2 punch racked up 307 yards on 42 carries.

Veteran guard Steve Hutchinson, who blocked for Seattle's Shaun Alexander, says he feels privileged to have blocked for such amazing tailbacks.

"They both have the ability to make the most out of the smallest lanes we give them, the smallest crease," he said. "They have a natural knack of making a big play out of it."

Perhaps the biggest indictment on the Bears' defense came when a reporter asked Peterson if he was surprised at how easy the yards came.

After chuckling for a few seconds, Peterson said, "Maybe a little bit. But I knew it was possible, with the guys we have up front, how we prepared this week and how we knew were going to come in and establish the run game. I knew anything was possible."

Ditto for Peterson's career.