49ers’ Gore ready for showdown with Vikings’ Peterson

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Frank Gore got so much attention from his two long touchdown runs last week that even he grew sick of it.

Now he knows how Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson must feel on Sundays and every day in between. Peterson even does commercials. His people call him “Purple Jesus” or “AD,” short for all day.

Gore watched the highlights of his TD runs of 79 and 80 yards enough times that San Francisco’s running back finally turned the channel.

“I kinda got tired of watching the same thing over and over,” he said.

Gore went untouched all the way to the end zone on long runs twice in a win against Seattle, setting a new career-high with the 79-yard run then later topping it to help the 49ers to a 2-0 start. The performance earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Gore called the recognition a “blessing,” largely crediting his offensive line.

He didn’t need to show off his improved strength by barreling through the defense. Did anybody even get a finger on him?

“None of ’em,” Gore said with a grin.

For Peterson, it doesn’t seem to matter how many would-be tacklers touch him, he still plows through with a vengeance.

Come Sunday, the two will be on the same field for a showdown of sorts to see who can pile up the most yards, game-breaking plays, touchdowns and, most of all, keep his team unbeaten.

“I know he’s a great back but I really don’t try to focus on that,” Gore said. “I’m trying my best to go out there and be the best guy on the field, whatever it takes to get my team a win.”

Same goes for Peterson, who says he’s admired Gore since his college days at Miami but doesn’t want to make this into a competition between the two.

“It’s early, Week 3 we’re going into. It’s more than that to me,” Peterson said Wednesday. “Frank Gore, he’s dominating. I recognize talent and I recognize guys who run the ball hard. Frank Gore, that’s what he does.”

Gore’s outstanding game in Week 2 and this upcoming trip to face the Vikings and Peterson — arguably the NFL’s most dangerous and explosive running back — is generating all kinds of hype this week from Northern California to the Twin Cities.

A hot topic for so many reasons. They’re Nos. 1 and 2 in the NFC in rushing: Peterson with 272 yards on 40 carries and Gore at 237 yards on 38 rushes after his sensational day against the Seahawks. He wound up with 207 yards on 16 carries. Peterson has four touchdowns, Gore three.

Gore bounced back from a poor season debut Sept. 13 at Arizona in which he had 30 yards on 22 carries and the 49ers finished with only 21 rushing yards, a franchise-worst in a win.

On Sunday, he sprained his right ankle and didn’t even play most of the fourth quarter, needing only 5 yards to match the career best of 212 he set during his 2006 Pro Bowl season.

That’s the year Gore is trying to duplicate, having spent a rigorous offseason back in familiar territory at the University of Miami under the direction of Hurricanes strength coach Andreu Swasey.

Gore called this the best training camp yet of his five-year NFL career. His intensity rubs off on others.

“I’m proud of him,” tight end Vernon Davis said. “I really appreciate having him on the field.”

The Vikings have been No. 1 in the NFL for rushing defense three years running, but have had their challenges the first two weeks.

“He’s a top, elite back in the league and we’re going to really have to be on our P’s and Q’s and watch a lot of film and make sure that we can get a lot of guys on him at all times,” Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said.