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Remarkable Peterson can carry Vikings to a cover

Somewhat secluded in a small market and starring for a mediocre team, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is not getting the praise he deserves. He's running with amazing grace on a left knee that was wrecked less than a year ago.

Peyton Manning is not the only NFL player writing a great comeback story this season. Peterson leads the league in rushing with 1,446 yards, an impressive total that becomes incredible when considering he tore the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his knee on Dec. 24 and had surgery six days later.

I suffered the same injury several years ago and still feel the knee pop when I run to the refrigerator to grab a beer. Peterson returned well ahead of schedule, is taking punishing hits, plowing through linebackers and last week ripped off an 82-yard touchdown run against the Green Bay Packers.

But the Vikings lost to the Packers, despite Peterson's 210 yards on the ground, and dropped to 6-6. So, Peterson is not receiving the same publicity as Manning.

Two weeks ago, Peterson carried 18 times for 108 yards, but Minnesota lost again, 28-10 to the Chicago Bears. The Vikings' 4-1 start has proven fraudulent, but by no fault of Peterson, whose main handicap is his quarterback.

Christian Ponder went 38 minutes without completing a pass against the Packers and threw two third-quarter interceptions. (As a side note, he did rebound this week by getting engaged to ESPN college football sideline reporter Samantha Steele.)

Minnesota is a 3-point home underdog to Chicago on Sunday, but now it's the Bears who are limping in injured, with linebacker Brian Urlacher the latest casualty.

The Vikings' injury report is more promising. Although wide receiver Percy Harvin has been ruled out for the season, defensive end Jared Allen (back, shoulder), linebacker Jasper Brinkley (shoulder), cornerback Antoine Winfield (knee) and tight end Kyle Rudolph (shoulder) are expected to play.

William Hill sports books just posted a proposition wager on Peterson reaching 2,000 yards rushing. Betting "Yes" pays off plus-175, and "No" is minus-200.

With four games remaining - St. Louis, Houston and Green Bay are Minnesota's final three opponents - Peterson needs 554 yards, an average of 138.5 per game.

I won't recommend betting against Peterson on that prop, not after what he has overcome to get this far, and I will take the points and bank on him carrying the Vikings to a cover against the Bears.

Four more plays for Week 14 (home team in CAPS):

■ PANTHERS (+3½) over Falcons: Injuries are decimating the Carolina defense, and that could spell trouble against Matt Ryan. But Cam Newton has been the better quarterback lately, accounting for 12 touchdowns and only two turnovers in the past five games. The Panthers should have won the first meeting on Sept. 30 but blew it late in a 30-28 loss. They might blow this one, too, but it should be a close one.

■ Rams (+3) over BILLS: Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller have Buffalo's offense running at high speed despite injuries on the line. St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher has built a top-15 defense that is stopping the run and pressuring the passer, however, and Fisher has been strong as an underdog.

■ Cowboys (+3) over BENGALS: Dallas is dead money at home. But on the road, the Cowboys are 3-3 with losses at Atlanta and Baltimore that went to the wire. Tony Romo has been a far more effective passer away from home, and he should get help from running back DeMarco Murray, who is back for the second week after missing six games with a foot injury.

■ 49ERS (-10) over Dolphins: On the rare occasions when San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh loses, he bounces back. According to RJ Bell of Pregame.com, following a loss under Harbaugh, the 49ers have allowed 3.4 points per game. Harbaugh is under scrutiny for starting Colin Kaepernick at quarterback, and he'll try to prove his point. This is the first double-digit favorite I've played this season, and it might be the last.

Last week: 4-1 against the spread

Season: 42-22-1

Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts "The Las Vegas Sportsline" weekdays at 2 p.m. on ESPN Radio (1100 AM, 98.9 FM). Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.

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