"Adrian Peterson has had plenty of career rushing performances, but Sunday included a different superlative.

Peterson's 76 receiving yards were a career high as the Vikings deployed their explosive running back in more innovative ways during their 24-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

He caught five passes, including a 19-yard touchdown from Christian Ponder, as Peterson gashed Carolina for 162 combined yards and a pair of scores.

"They kept dropping deep and leaving him open, and we kept taking it," Ponder said. "I will take that all day." "