"The Vikings face a dilemma once running back Adrian Peterson returns from a high ankle sprain, a healing process that could take at least a few weeks.

At 2-8, should the Vikings limit Peterson's carries - or even shut him down altogether - in an effort to protect a long-term asset with a seven-year, $100 million contract?

Or do the Vikings have too much to prove, from the roster to the coaching staff, to sideline the game's best running back if he's available?

Those questions will surface this week as the Vikings prepare for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome.

Peterson, who has 1,384 carries since entering the league in 2007, will be 32 by the end of his new deal. And the Vikings hope he will spend the coming years playing in meaningful games as the team rebounds from a nightmarish season. "