Still, Peterson is puzzled by the general malaise about his play.

"It's strange when you already have 1,100 yards," he said, "and people are like, 'Oh, he's not having a great year.' "

The defending NFL rushing champion ranks third in the NFL this season, with 1,103 yards. But he is 406 yards behind Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans, and he's coming off the second-lowest output -- 19 yards on 13 carries -- of his career.

In addition, the Vikings have stopped centering their offensive success on Peterson's feet and shifted more to Brett Favre's 40-year-old arm, which backfired last Sunday in a 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Now, as they prepare for the 9-3 Cincinnati Bengals, the line of questioning related to the Vikings has flipped to the unthinkable: What's wrong with Peterson, who already has reached a career high in lost fumbles (five), whose productivity is off his 2008 pace and who nearly doubled a posted speed limit to beat a mandatory check-in time?

On Thursday, Peterson downplayed all of the hoopla, channeling his energies on team goals and not personal ones, even though the competitor in him would welcome more carries, more catches and more accolades.

"I was over 1,300 (yards rushing) my first year and led the league last year," Peterson said. "But we really didn't make a run in the playoffs. Now we got an offense that is more dynamic, and we got so many guys making plays. We're so much more potent on offense, so, with that, it's not all about going for 200 yards.

"You can balance it out with the run and the pass, and we can get that shot for a ring and not just me with an individual goal."

For the season, Peterson is averaging a respectable 4.5 yards per rush, but he is tied for the league lead with 29 stuffed runs (zero or negative yards). The Vikings overall have been stuffed on 25 percent of their carries, the league's highest percentage, according to Football Outsiders.

Peterson remains the focal point of defenses, despite the additions of Favre and receiver Percy Harvin, and the emergence of receiver Sidney Rice.

"Teams say, 'We're not going to let Adrian Peterson beat us,' " said ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth, a two-time Pro Bowl and three-time Super Bowl-champion guard. " 'We're going to make the old man beat us.' Well, the old man is beating people.

"They're 10-2. It's hard to sit there and say there's a problem."

Peterson insisted he's not frustrated, saying such feelings would be selfish.

Those closest to Peterson at Winter Park haven't sensed anything amiss with their superstar.

"We got a very unselfish team," Vikings guard Anthony Herrera said. "He's a down-home, Southern guy. He is not about, 'me, me, me.' "

IDENTITY CHANGE

For about a month, Vikings offensive coaches have scrutinized their feast-or-famine running game. Peterson is fourth in the NFL in big-play runs (defined as 10 or more yards) and tied for second in rushing touchdowns (12).

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said he would like his rushing attack to be more productive on earlier downs, mustering 3 or 4 yards.

"It makes it easier to call them when you are getting positive yards each and every time," Bevell said.

Numerous factors contribute to the disappointing numbers, ranging from coaches dialing up the wrong calls, to offensive linemen missing blocks, to Peterson missing holes, to opposing defenders making excellent plays.

No one could pinpoint one cause, although the effects of an overhauled offensive line are obvious. Perennial Pro Bowl center Matt Birk was replaced by John Sullivan, a 2008 sixth-round draft pick, and rookie Phil Loadholt immediately started at right tackle.

Meanwhile, the team's three carryover starters have battled through injuries, most notably six-time Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson, who has had back and shoulder injuries.

"Our numbers are low on the offensive line, so there's no time to sit around and wait for someone else to fill in," said left tackle Bryant McKinnie, who played with an ankle injury against the Cardinals. "You have to do what you have to do to get back in the game and keep competing."

The bottom line, though, are inconsistent results that have pushed the team to throw more.

In 2007, Peterson's rookie season, the Vikings ran on 55 percent of their offensive plays. In 2008, they ran on 52 percent.

This season, the balance is 45.6 percent run, 54.4 percent pass. In the past two games, the Vikings have attempted 93 passes -- nine more than they had in the three previous games -- and Peterson has carried the ball just 38 times.

Through 12 games, Peterson has only 23 fewer touches (carries and catches) than last season. But the Vikings have attempted 66 more passes, surprising considering all the games when they largely abandoned the pass to protect sizable fourth-quarter leads.

Passing had been the Vikings' Achilles' heel since coach Brad Childress took over in 2006. But the passing offense ranks ninth in the league this season, and Favre and Tarvaris Jackson have almost doubled the team's passing touchdowns at the same juncture last year (27 compared with 14 in 2008).

But as they enter the final quarter of this season, the Vikings recognize the urgency of getting their run offense back on track.

"We have to get it going because if we truly want to be a championship team, this is December Football, and you've got to start running the Football and more efficiently," running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said.

Even two beneficiaries of the Vikings' ramped-up passing offense said they need to balance out their attack -- starting today against the Cincinnati Bengals' second-ranked run defense.

"We're going to establish our running game," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said. "That's a key emphasis on this game. ... I don't care what it takes."

Rice said Peterson is the type of running back who gets stronger as the game progresses.

Statistics support Rice's claim; Peterson averages 5.8 yards per carry on runs 21 through 30, and the Vikings are undefeated since 2007 when he runs 30 or more times. That, however, has happened only twice, and Peterson has exceeded 21 carries in only half of the games this season.

"We have the best back in Football," Rice said, "and he needs to get his touches. But it's basically about whatever works."

Schlereth said Peterson hasn't lost anything, other than opportunities. Given his explosive speed, he said, Peterson needs just a few more carries to increase his chances of popping a big one.

"When you're facing eight- or nine-man boxes that are designed to stop you, they're going to stop you the majority of time," Schlereth said. "But the one time that one guy doesn't have gap integrity, he's going to get a 70-yard run."

GROWING UP

One of the league's most popular players, Peterson had avoided any off-field embarrassments until the night before the Vikings' Nov. 29 game against the Chicago Bears. He was running late to the team's mandated check-in at its downtown Minneapolis hotel, and he was ticketed for driving 109 mph in a 55-mph zone.

"It wasn't rough at all," Peterson said of the fallout from the incident, which included a television interview from his front lawn. "It is what it is.

"It's ridiculous. I'm sure people get speeding tickets all the time. But when you're in the spotlight, that's how it is."

His teammates, though, didn't hold back.

"That's Adrian," Rice playfully said. "He knows nothing but full speed."

Defensive end Jared Allen jokingly asked Peterson if the tires on his decked-out BMW were rated to handle such a high speed.

"I'm sure they got some speeding tickets, too," Peterson grudgingly said.

Bieniemy defended Peterson, indicating that he's usually punctual and that "he's a good kid." Bieniemy is especially pleased with his prot?g?'s development. Bieniemy said he's seeing a more patient runner, a more consistent blocker and a better route runner on passing downs. That growth has helped Peterson get more snaps on third downs, which were usually reserved for veteran backup Chester Taylor. He already has established a career high with 33 receptions, and he needs only seven more in the final four games to tie his combined total in his first two seasons.

"There's some things that a lot of people aren't seeing," Bieniemy said. "His (rushing) numbers ain't there. But he is growing professionally."

Fumbles continue to plague him, but he is making more sound decisions and playing with more awareness, Schlereth said.

Asked to compare Johnson and Peterson, Schlereth said the two have home-run speed and can run the ball inside.

"Johnson is putting up better statistics; there's no question about that," Schlereth said. "But I wouldn't classify him as the better player. Adrian is a bigger, more physical guy. He has the ability to just beat you down a little bit more. His physical presence makes him more feared than anybody else."

And Peterson is ready to take the lead role in the offense again, if defenses ever decide to shift their attention to Favre.

"(Opposing defenses) choose their poison, and for some reason they keep choosing just to stop the run game," Peterson said. "In a way, it's like, 'OK, it's some type of respect.' But with the guys up front, we're still able to run the ball."

But there is one major positive, Peterson said.

Although he has missed some practices -- mostly because of a minor ankle injury -- Peterson said he's healthier now than at this point last year.

"I do feel pretty good," he said. "The wear and tear on my body is not the same as last year. I can say that."