EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The record many thought would never be broken is right there in front of him, and Adrian Peterson can smell it. His powerful legs have been chewing up the yards at a staggering pace over these last two months, chasing down Eric Dickersons single-season rushing mark with the relentlessness that helped him come back from a devastating knee injury in less than nine months. As Peterson continues that pursuit, Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is comfortable in knowing that while the record is important to his star running back, making the playoffs trumps everything. Actually, the two may go hand in hand. Heading into the final two games of the season, Peterson is 294 yards away from eclipsing Dickersons record 2,105 yards set in 1984 and the Vikings (8-6) almost surely need wins over Houston and Green Bay to get into the playoffs. With all that in mind, Frazier had a chat with Peterson on Monday just to make sure that the focus remains where it needs to be. "The record would be great," Frazier said the day after the Vikings won in St. Louis to stay alive in the playoff race. "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." Peterson was unavailable for comment on Monday after racking up 212 yards and a touchdown in the 36-24 victory over the Rams, but he said after the game that he knows how to prioritize the two pursuits. "Its something that Im not focusing on, its in the back of my mind, but I want to accomplish that," Peterson said of the record. "I want to let the chips fall where they may. I look at todays game, I could have had 300 (yards), but it wasnt meant to happen. We got the W, we got closer. Lets move on." To say that Peterson is "only" 294 yards away from Dickersons record with two games to go is remarkable in its own right. The game has evolved from Dickersons day to a quarterback-centric universe, one where running backs are lucky to get a dozen carries in a game just to keep the defence off balance. Perhaps thats why Dickerson felt relatively comfortable that his mark would stand. In five of Dickersons first six seasons, he had at least 379 carries for the Los Angeles Rams and Indianapolis Colts. Petersons career high for carries is 363 in 2008, and he enters the game against the Texans with just 289 on the season. "Hes a phenomenal player and seems like a good dude," Dickerson told CBSsports.com last week. "If a player was to break it, Id probably want it to be Adrian, but I like having the record. I dont think its going to be broken." The Vikings are a throwback to the days when running backs ruled. They rely on Peterson as their first, second and third option to move the ball down the field, and he has delivered even with opposing defences crowding the line of scrimmage in an all-out effort to stop him. Hes topped 200 yards twice in the last three weeks, is averaging more than 164 yards per game over the last eight and is averaging more yards per carry (6.3) than Christian Ponder is per pass attempt (5.95). "Nobody probably has ever done it better than hes doing it in this stretch," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. Even when an opposing defence appears to have him bottled up, Peterson has found a way to break out. He had minus-3 yards on his first five carries against the Rams, but ripped off an 82-yard touchdown run and a 52-yard burst in the fourth quarter to put the game on ice. Through it all, hes turned what had been a career-derailing injury for a running back -- a torn ACL in his left knee suffered last December -- into nothing more than a speed bump. "Its mental. My mindset, my willpower, my determination," Peterson said. "And thats something people dont see, is how hard I work during the off-season. I grind hard. When you want to be great -- and in my mind, I want to be the greatest that ever played -- you cant talk about it, you have to go out and work." Hes carried this offence on his broad shoulders all season long, and his teammates are hoping to return the favour by helping him get the record. "We obviously want him to get it, and hes chugging along," Ponder said. "Hes getting yards and I dont think its something were thinking about and trying to take advantage of. We do want to make the playoffs and thats our number one goal and (to) keep winning. The way hes playing, we hope he gets it. Hes getting close." NOTES: Frazier said that WR Percy Harvin, who is on injured reserve because of a sprained left ankle, had an appendectomy last week. ... DE Brian Robison has a sprained shoulder. Frazier said hes the only player who will be questionable for the Texans game this week. ...CB Chris Cook is eligible to come off injured reserve this week. He hasnt played since he broke his arm against Tampa Bay on Oct. 25. Frazier said they would see how he responds in practice this week and hope to play him on Sunday. cheap jerseys . Hamels, coming off a five-hitter against Atlanta last Tuesday, scattered seven hits and struck out five in his sixth career shutout and 12th complete game. cheap nfl jerseys china . QPRs first win in the topflight at Stamford Bridge since March 1979 was secured by Shaun Wright-Phillips scoring against his former club. The end of Chelseas four-game winning run in one of the biggest shocks so far this season left Benitezs side fourth in the standings, 14 points behind leader Manchester United. http://www.comcheapjerseys.com/ . Ranford skated in slowly as the first Kamloops shooter and ripped a shot blocker side on Laurent Brossoit. 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His DeRo United Youth Tour that was formed in 2007 to build, inspire and educate the next generation had a date in a Montreal suburb with hundreds of players, the coaches and parents from Lakeshore Soccer Club. De Rosarios perfect cure for a Saputo Stadium afternoon before. "Its always nice to give back to kids. Its funny because regardless of what type of game you have - kids have that power and energy to put a smile on your face and make you kind of forget about it," De Rosario explained to TSN.ca. "The De Ro United Youth soccer tours is always focused on inspiring the young kids, the future stars of tomorrow to help them feel they have the power to be anything they want to be and to follow their dreams. We also focus heavily on nutrition and give them guidelines on how to take better care of their body to build a better foundation for themselves from an early age." "If we do have future Canadian or soccer stars coming out of the soccer tour even better but again were trying to mould better citizens to mould our community. First and foremost." Staying with the community theme on Tuesday afternoon De Rosario got word of a considerable honor - the 2012 DC Sportsperson of the Year Award. Handed out annually by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance past recipients include the likes of Alexander Ovechkin. "Im definitely grateful for that award, that acknowledgement. Its one thing that when you play, put all your energy into this sport and the development of this sport but when you get recognized by the community its even sometimes a bigger honor." "For the people of DC and the surrounding areas Virginia and Maryland to recognize me as the Sportsperson of the Year its really a great feeling. I cant lie its definitely one that Im very proud to be acknowledged as and very grateful at the same time." To be held on Sept. 11 at the prestigious National Museum Building that has previously staged Presidential Inaugural Balls, it is a black tie event with a difference. Sneakers are the required footwear, something close to De Rosarios heart. He wasnt sure what pair hell wear. "I dont know yet," he said. "Hopefully if I do get opportunity to get up on stage and wear sneakers Puma can send me some nice sneakers for the event." Theyll likely send him a closet load in recognition of the footballing milestone he achieved at RFK Wednesday night when he joined the 100 Club. In doing so joined a list with the names of only six other MLS players to have bagged the back of the net on a hundred occasions. "It feels good to accomplish such a milestone in your career," he said. "My first objective was always try to become a professional soccer player and as an attacking player score and create goals." If theres a hallmark to the personality type of De Rosario it is the sheer speed he displays in genuinely recognizing others who have contributed to his success. "Ive been very blessed, fortunate to have quality players around me to help me out to reach such an accomplishment," he said. "I definitely couldnt have done it without the supporting staff around me." "The players, and obviously the fans who have continuously supported me throughout my career - from San Jose to Houston, Toronto, New York and now to DC. Its been a long road coming and it feels good to get the 100th off my shoulders and hopefully I can create some more special moments." Even though in a playoff battle with Montreal, De Rosario is able to look at the bigger Canadian picture. Having won a thing or two he knows full well what success can nourish and nurture. "Well you know Montreal has always had a great team, a good following, a great fan base a very knowledgeable soccer community so it doesnt really surprise me," he said. "Theyve had great stints in the A League, other leagues as well prior to MLS. "Youre only now seeing them doing well at the highest level. Im happy to see them doing well its a Canadian team. There are Canadian players, national team players on their team and when theyre doing well it helps the grass roots level and it further builds soccer in the area. Were both in the Eastern Conference battling for a playoff spot but hopefully we can clinch that spot." He did spare a thought for Canadas original MLS club. "On the Torronto side its obviously disappointing to see my hometown club continue to struggle.dddddddddddd" Having started his professional career with the Toronto Lynx back in 1997 and receiving his first senior cap a little over a year later with many humps and hurdles over this 15-year time frame De Rosario is of no doubt and even with little silverware to show for it Canadian soccer has made immense strides in his time. "Just to see soccer continue to grow in terms of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto FC you know having a professional atmosphere and a professional environment now where in MLS you know of course this helps this sport continue to grow," he said. "Hopefully we can continue to develop the womens game because it would be nice to see Toronto FC, Montreal and Vancouver all have a womens program. So if we can continue to develop that because we have some great young female talent and obviously we see that at the national level. We need to continue to invest in that aspect." "I think from where I started to now Ive seen a drastic improvement in terms of the development of soccer, the facilities and all these sorts of things in Canada." Nothing though would compare with Canada repeating what it has only been achieved once previously. 1986 for Canadian soccer reads 1966 for English football. Wonderfully colorful memories and recollections as Canadian football industrialism elevated us to our only invitation to a World Cup Finals. Were in the digital age now and the football equivalent of the promise land beckons once more. Stephen Hart has made his choices our World Cup destiny lays now with 21 men of various backgrounds and football pedigrees - each one with the common goal. "Were trying to push to make the World Cup and hopefully we can accomplish that this time around. That would be a dream come true for me, thats something Ive always wanted to accomplish and would be an unbelievable opportunity if I can help my country qualify for a World Cup." With Panama, undoubtedly the class of the group as Stephen Hart had firmly suggested well before a ball had been kicked in this current phase of qualification are now appearing rather brightly on Canadas World Cup qualifying horizon. Securing the required returns in this pair of matches on September 7 in Toronto and then in Panama City a mere four days later will open up a much clearer path to Canadas equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle, the Hex. "Definitely," he said. "These two games against Panama home and away are the most important games so far in our lead up to the World Cup in Brazil." For someone who has done so much throughout his entire career to help place Canada on football terra firma De Rosario appealed to our burgeoning base to hit the BMO Field hustings next Friday night. Come one, come all and absolutely bring your football banter was his unequivocal message. "I really, really encourage all the fans to come out wear your red and white and show your support," he said. "I got a video sent to me from the fans. We love that, we appreciate that and we really need all the fans support to come out to make BMO Field a loud and proud atmosphere. "As players we thrive off that, we enjoy it and we love seeing that. These games are huge coming up I cant stress enough how big they are. Again, we really, really would like to see everyone come out and show their support." What making a World Cup Finals would mean bought out the young boy in De Rosario - the one that likely convinced him that his dream to become a professional footballer could be fulfilled. "Oh man, if I make a World Cup Finals geez thatd be, thatd be, thatd be it for me," he said. "I mean that would be my dream right there. That would be my dream come true. I could stop playing and Id be quite comfortable with my career after that. Obviously thats how big it is for me." "Ive watched it in 86 when I was a kid. Ive been around the national team programs since the Lenarduzzi days right up to now. Fighting hard with every ounce of sweat that I have and sometimes with the mouth that I have to help the program to get over that hump and to continue fighting. "So it would be the ultimate dream come true to accomplish that. I dont even know what words can describe that moment." Many of the kids who showed up at the De Ro United Youth event in Montreal last Sunday have parents who were mere aspiring football kids themselves back in 1986. They say seven days is a long time in politics. In the next week, these two upcoming matches will play a defining role in De Rosarios ultimate football dream. Will you? ' ' '