Minnesota Vikings @ Houston Texans. Noon. 12/23. **Official GameDay Thread**

[ThaShark316]

Last home game until January

While Adrian Peterson continues his pursuit of a long-standing NFL record, he's also helped run the Minnesota Vikings into position for a playoff spot.

The road to achieve both gets tougher for Peterson and the visiting Vikings when they try for a third straight victory Sunday against the Houston Texans, who need one win to clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Less than a year after suffering a torn ACL and MCL, Peterson continues to amaze while leading the NFL with a career-best 1,812 rushing yards on 289 carries. He's the only player averaging more than 100 yards per game (129.4) and is third in the league at 6.3 per carry - more than teammate Christian Ponder is averaging per pass attempt (5.95).

Peterson, who ran for a season-high 212 yards on 24 carries in a 36-22 win at St. Louis last Sunday, has averaged 164.1 yards during a stretch of eight consecutive games with at least 100.

"Nobody probably has ever done it better than he's doing it in this stretch," Houston coach Gary Kubiak said.

That remarkable run has left Peterson needing 294 yards in two games to break Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105, set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams.

"It's something that I'm not focusing on, it's in the back of my mind, but I want to accomplish that," said Peterson, whose previous career high was 1,760 yards in 2008. "I want to let the chips fall where they may."

As much as Peterson would like the record, his first priority is helping Minnesota (8-6) reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2009 season. The Vikings currently hold the final wild-card spot in the NFC, although various tiebreaking scenarios make their grip on that position tenuous.

"The record would be great," coach Leslie Frazier said. "But the most important thing is to get a win in Houston. And the fact that he feels that way, that will permeate through the rest of our team. He wants to really concentrate on winning this game, more so than the record."

Looking to match a season high with their third consecutive victory, the Vikings face a stiff test this weekend. In addition to owning the AFC's best record, Houston (12-2) has the fifth-ranked run defense in the NFL, allowing 93.2 yards per game and a league-low three rushing touchdowns.

The Texans clinched their second straight AFC South title with last Sunday's 29-17 win over Indianapolis, and they can secure the conference's top seed with one more win or one more loss by both New England and Denver.

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What I want to see:

Bottle up AD

This man is an absolute stud. Nothing else needs to be said. The job for the Texans is the following: FINISH tackles and don't let him get outside. Peterson has over 900 yards after contact, so finishing tackles is key.

Jump on Minny early

Another great way to keep Peterson down? Make the Vikings start throwing. If our boys can get a hefty sized lead and turn Minnesota into a passing team, they might just abandon the run and lose patience. Getting off to a great start is important.

They came in talking about AD, left talking about Foster

We have a pretty damned good back, too. Pound the rock on these boys, and make them have to worry about every little thing about our offense. In the 2nd half, run Arian til the wheels fall off with a lead.

Ruin Ponder's confidence when he drops back to pass

Any and every time Christian Ponder drops back, make him wish he didn't. JJ, Ninja, Barwin, Merci and the newly returning Reed...let's get to this man often. WELCOME BACK, Brooks Reed!!!

Well, fam...it's like the subtitle of the thread says: Last home game until January. Let's make this one COUNT! There's one goal at hand here, as usual: 1-0. Been like that every week, ain't nothing about to change now. Let's shut down Peterson, let's win this one for the fans and get that HOME FIELD and make the road to the Super Bowl come through Houston. LET'S MUTHA****IN' GO, TEXANS!!!!

[76Texan]

Bring on the Vikings.

Let's clobber them, Texans!

[ATXtexanfan]

Can't wait for this one. AP is on a mission and so are the texans

[SAMURAITEXAN]

Let's go Texans!!! Lock AFC #1 seed today!!!

[kiwitexansfan]

I want to see ADP hit early and often.

Keep discipline, keep working and just pound him into submission.

Then we'll get to enjoy the Christian Ponder show.

[Malloy]

I say let Watt test those new wheels of AP

[Thorn]

13-2 and home field advantage after today.

Thor and Odin will not help you today vikings, Da Watt is more powerful and also happens to be real. Viking gurls going down today.


GO TEXANS

[Joe Texan]

Reliant is quiet except me Jamming ACDC in the fiesta right now

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Joe Texan

Reliant is quiet except me Jamming ACDC in the fiesta right now

Go rock it, big fella!

[FirstTexansFan]

Well, last minute show here, got a coworker to cover for me today.... paid way too much for the tickets and hotel room last night, but hey, I gotta make at least one game a year

Ok, questions, when can we get in the gate? What time does the Texans Store open? (can't buy Texans gear in the middle of LastAzz Sowboy country!) And will the roof be open today?

Thanks in Advance for your answers... FTF!

[steelbtexan]

Today is the day that the road to the SB goes thru Houston.

GO TEXANS

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by FirstTexansFan

Well, last minute show here, got a coworker to cover for me today.... paid way too much for the tickets and hotel room last night, but hey, I gotta make at least one game a year

Ok, questions, when can we get in the gate? What time does the Texans Store open? (can't buy Texans gear in the middle of LastAzz Sowboy country!) And will the roof be open today?

Thanks in Advance for your answers... FTF!

Reliant Stadium gates open 90 minutes before kick-off.

Tailgate area open 4 hours before KO, with the exception of the Platinum Lot, which opens an hour earlier.

Texans store opens at 10 thru the Budweisee Plaza, Blue Lot, gate 9 at Kirby and Westridge.

Don't know about the roof, it depends on the rain forecast.

[Heath Shuler]

Originally Posted by FirstTexansFan

And will the roof be open today?

I have not seen a preliminary roof report from the Texans this week. The official report will be posted at 10

[Heath Shuler]

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter

Stat of am: Adrian Peterson has 909 rushing yards after contact this season. Steven Jackson has rushed for 909 total yards this season.

Basics. Must wrap up. Gang tackle.

[darrinlane]

Originally Posted by Heath Shuler

I have not seen a preliminary roof report from the Texans this week. The official report will be posted at 10

Has the roof been open this year even once?

[Heath Shuler]

Originally Posted by darrinlane

Has the roof been open this year even once?

I dont think so.

[ItsMyFault]

Stay healthy and get the W. Clinch that #1 seed. Go Texans!

[Nawzer]

Crap it's a Fox broadcast!

[Rockville]

Originally Posted by ItsMyFault

Stay healthy and get the W. Clinch that #1 seed. Go Texans!

Please keep Jared Allen away from Matt Schaub's knee. Please.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by darrinlane

Has the roof been open this year even once?

No. This is perfect football weather, but because of Kubiak's over-the-top belief that the roof closed is the ultimate 12th man home field advantage, expect to see the rafters, not the sun (maybe with some clouds) today........especially now, the last home regular season game, where the element of superstition not to "rock the boat" likely also factors strongly into the decision.