Adrian Peterson has a chance to be the NFL's best running back ever

Peterson and the Vikings have two games left, Sunday in Houston and next Sunday against Green Bay.

Peterson's mindset? Why wait? Get the whole 294 against his homestate Texans.

“That's how I'm looking at it,” a smiling Peterson told Minnesota media a few days ago. “Get it done. Get it out of the way. We'll see.”

Doubt the former Sooner star at your own risk. Come back from a catastrophic knee injury in less than a year to challenge Dickerson's record? Take aim at Emmitt Smith's career record of 18,355 yards? Be the greatest running back in NFL history?

Peterson has declared them all goals. He sets his sights high. And he might just get there.

Peterson has a chance to supplant Jim Brown as the greatest tailback of all time.

“If you ask me today, I think Brown is better,” said Gil Brandt, a 30-year scout for the Dallas Cowboys and now a scout/historian/contributor for nfl.com. “If Peterson does somewhat next year what he's done this year, I'm very possible to change my mind.”

Better than Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith. Better than Walter Payton or O.J. Simpson. Better than LaDainian Tomlinson or Marshall Faulk.

With a Viking offense lacking a legitimate quarterback — Peterson is averaging 6.3 yards a carry; quarterback Christian Ponder is averaging 5.9 yards per pass — Peterson's season is even more sensational.

“There's no threat,” Brandt said. “When they had (now-injured flanker) Percy Harvin, they at least had a threat to keep them from stopping the guy.”

Peterson long ago convinced those around him to never sell him short.

“I have determined, after talking to him and talking to people around him, that he is going to be better next year than he was this year,” Sports Illustrated's Peter King, the nation's foremost NFL writer, said on the Dan Patrick Show a few days ago. “He's going to find something that he can do better next year.

“That's what great players, great athletes do. It's why LeBron James is shooting baskets for an hour after they have a bad home loss. They are driven to find the next thing to be great at.”