American Football: Domination

After reaching the milestone of another 1,000-yard season, Peterson once again stood under the glare of the media's spotlight. After two dreadful years, no one had expected him to return—let alone perform at an elite, league-defining level.

On the brink of being forgotten, the best running back of the past decade had suddenly stepped back into the public eye.

From Bell's holdout to Peterson's comeback, running backs' ups and downs had dominated headlines all season.

But no one expected that when surrounded by waves of reporters, Peterson's very first words would be:

"Thanks to Lance."

Buzz. Murmurs. Shock everywhere.

But not from Peterson.

"Lance is my role model, my inspiration."

"Believe me, I know what I'm saying. You should look at his play—people should stop dismissing his greatness just because he's a running back."

"He's consistent. He steps up whenever the team needs a breakthrough. He's always learning, always improving, always battling. Watching him is a joy. He's a smart kid. The way he reads the game and applies tactics shows us new possibilities for running backs."

"If I remember right, Lance had an outstanding Wonderlic score, and now he's applying that intelligence on the field. That's a skill other backs simply don't have, one they should admire and learn from."

Gurley, Elliott, Barkley: offended.

"I have to admit, watching him inspires me. All I can feel is admiration."

"So stop your bias and appreciate what running backs bring—the variety and brilliance they add to the game."

Lance was already the league's hottest rising star, but no one expected Peterson to heap such praise on him.

And Peterson touched on something crucial:

The Wonderlic.

For decades, no one cared about running backs' Wonderlic scores. Stereotypes painted them as battering rams, built only for power and collisions. Agility, awareness, intelligence—none of it mattered.

The numbers backed it up: for thirty years, RBs averaged among the lowest Wonderlic scores of any position.

But things had changed since the 2000s. Tomlinson set the blueprint—backs evolved. Not just brute force anymore. Speed, agility, cuts, pass-catching all grew in importance.

Naturally, that meant running backs needed more than raw strength. They had to study the playbook, coordinate with teammates, and read defenses.

People hadn't noticed, but Lance's perfect Wonderlic score had long been forgotten—like an elephant in the room. Now, thanks to Peterson, the memory came rushing back. Reporters quickly scoured RB scores.

Wait a second—

Leonard Fournette.

One of the "Big Three" NCAA RBs in 2016, drafted 4th overall by Jacksonville in 2017, constantly compared to Lance and McCaffrey. He had a solid rookie year, but in last season's AFC Championship, Kansas City shut him down.

This season, Lance and McCaffrey shined, while Fournette stagnated. After eight games, another injury ended his season—his third in two years. Even before that, he looked stuck, with stiff, predictable runs.

High EQ take: old-school.

Low EQ take: dumb.

Was it because he couldn't process the playbook, forced into one-dimensional rushing?

Look at his Wonderlic score:

Ouch.

RB average: 17. McCaffrey? 21—quarterback-level. The contrast was damning.

So maybe this really was the answer.

Fournette, rehabbing, suddenly caught strays: "Thanks, Peterson. Thanks a lot."

If so, then Lance's perfect score wasn't just trivia—it was proof.

And the numbers confirmed it.

Despite RBs as a whole exploding this season, showcasing versatility and brilliance, Lance still stood above them all.

Dominating.

Yes, his rushing yards dropped slightly from last year's 1,888 to 1,667—but still enough to lead the league again. Back-to-back rushing titles.

Back-to-back!

The league gasped. Not since Tomlinson in 2006–07 had a back repeated as rushing champ. Legends came and went, but none replicated it—until now.

And that wasn't all.

Lance also scored 16 rushing touchdowns, leading the league again. Back-to-back rushing TD king. Copying Tomlinson's glory from eleven years earlier, becoming the undisputed No. 1 back for two straight years.

And the craziest part?

This was only his first two seasons.

Normally, you peak early then fade. But Lance started at the peak—and stayed there.

Even more absurd, he played just 15 games each season. One less than everyone else. And still crushed them.

More insane than Tomlinson.

Naturally, people recalled the words of Chiefs RB coach, former Alabama coach Burns:

"He's a genius."

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Powerstones?

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