MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings kept pace in the NFC playoff race with a win in Jacksonville on Sunday, and Adrian Peterson?could be closer to returning to action.Appearing on Dash Radio with Minneapolis native DJ Skee, Peterson said hes hoping to practice this week for the first time since he tore the meniscus in his right knee Sept. 18. He hopes to return for the Vikings game against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 24, but didnt rule out the possibility of playing against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, saying hed have a better idea of his readiness once he practices.League sources had told ESPN last month that Peterson could return for the Colts or Packers game after an MRI showed his knee was nearly healed, and Peterson was seen running light sprints at Vikings practice on Nov. 29. Coach Mike Zimmer said that day it wasnt the first time Peterson had run, adding the running back was probably ahead of schedule.Peterson said last week he would only return this season if the Vikings were in the playoff race, adding it would be pointless to play if the Vikings werent in contention and indicating he was looking toward returning for the Packers game -- which would fall on the five-year anniversary of when he tore his left ACL against the Washington Redskins.Peterson returned from that operation in 2012, a season in which he ran for 2,097 yards and won the league MVP, establishing his reputation as a quick healer. A comeback from meniscus surgery this season would only add to it.DJ Skee, a Vikings fan who performs on the sideline before the teams home games at U.S. Bank Stadium, closed the interview by telling Peterson he hoped hed finish his career in Minnesota.The 31-year-old running backs 2017 contract is a team option, with a $6 million roster bonus and $18 million cap hit, but when asked about the possibility of his return next year, Peterson pointed out recent reports that the leagues salary cap is expected to climb again next season, adding, Its up to those guys to make it happen and saying he was only focused on what he could control.I know Gods plan for my life is going to turn out great, he said. Stitched Football Jerseys Throwback .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Cheap Football Jerseys Throwback China . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.cheapfootballthrowback.com/ . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Football Jerseys Throwback Outlet . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Clearance Football Jerseys Throwback . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. MARSEILLE, France -- Defending champion Evgenia Medvedeva began the defense of her Grand Prix Final title in emphatic style, thrilling the crowd with a world record score in the short program on Friday.The 17-year-old world champion landed all of her jumps cleanly and was given a deserved ovation at the Palais Omnisport de Marseille as she recorded 79.21 points, beating three-time world champion and four-time Grand Prix Final winner Mao Asadas 78.66 at the 2014 worlds.Im happy with the world record, but the world record isnt my goal, Medvedeva said. I came close to beating it in Paris (with 78.52 at the Trophee de France last month). Its one step further and it gives me confidence.Although Medvedeva skated with pure elegance to River Flows in You by Lorenzo de Luca, she was still picky about her performance.I can do better in the interpretation of my programs and my spins. Id like to spin faster, she said. Everything has plusses and minuses and I always strive for perfection. I cannot stop because when you stop doing that you stop improving.She leads from Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada (75.54) and Satoko Miyahara of Japan (74.64).Its really rewarding to get a seasons best and a personal best for me, Osmond said. I feel like I connect with the confident character Im projecting in my program.Earlier, Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov earned their season-best score in the free skate to win the pairs event for the first time.The Russians scored 135.25 to win with a total of 213.85.Tarasova and Morozov had placed second at the Trophee de France last month and third at Skate America in October, when they also led after the short program.This time they held firm, nailing all of their jumps on both days.We have a lot of emotion inside of us, Morozov said. Were just having fun, dancing and sswing with music and we really like it.ddddddddddddMusic was my first love.The positions stayed the same from Thursdays short program, with Yu Xiaoyu and Zhang Hao of China second, and former champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada third.Duhamel again made a couple of errors, having also done so on Thursday. She put her hand down on the throw quad salchow and had to check her balance to stop from falling after another difficult landing.Were disappointed with our performance. We wanted to come here with two great programs, unfortunately we couldnt do one, Duhamel said. We cant continue like this. We have to do a U-turn.The Canadians won in Barcelona two years ago and finished runner-up there last year. Duhamels frustration was compounded by the fact she was confident before the event.We were very comfortable coming here, she said. We liked the ice and we were well rested.Former Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada lead in the ice dance with a commanding 80.50 in the short.Personally this title would mean a lot as we have never won it before, Virtue said. We want to accomplish so much in our comeback and there is still so much room to grow technically and artistically.World silver medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani, who are brother and sister, are in second spot with 77.97, and French duo Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron narrowly behind in third on 77.86.It was definitely our strongest performance of the season, Alex Shibutani said. Were excited about this program because the ceiling is so high for it. There is a lot more we can do.The Final ends Saturday with the mens and womens free and the conclusion of ice dance. ' ' '