EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -Chester Taylor talks about spending four years on the sidelines, biding his time and watching Jamal Lewis run in Baltimore.

``Someday,'' he thought. ``Someday that's going to be me.''

In his first season as a starter for the Minnesota Vikings, Taylor is certainly making up for lost time. He is second in the NFL with 248 carries, heading into Sunday's game at Chicago just one yard shy of the 1,000-yard milestone.

``I'm not thinking about that right now,'' the soft-spoken Taylor said. ``My goal was to help us win games. If me getting 1,000 yards helps us win, so be it.''

Actually, Taylor is about the only reason the Vikings (5-6) are even thinking about the playoffs at this point.

While Vikings fans are used to watching a high-flying offense reliant on the deep pass, new coach Brad Childress' philosophy seems to be, ``Chester Taylor to the left. Chester Taylor to the right.''

Last week he rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown in a 31-26 victory over Arizona, churning out tough yards in the first half that ultimately loosened up the Cardinals' secondary for quarterback Brad Johnson in the second half.

``He just runs so dang hard,'' right tackle Mike Rosenthal said. ``He's never going to get stopped. He's going to squirm, he's going to spin. He's always diving forward. I don't think I've ever seen a back run harder than he does. He's always scratching and clawing.''

Taylor has carried the ball 20 times or more in nine games this season, a franchise record, and is tied for second on the team with 37 catches.

If anyone is built for the workload, it's Taylor. He's listed generously at 5-foot-11, but appears to be just as thick. The former Toledo Rocket has a barrel for a chest and arms straight out of a muscle magazine.

So far, that physique has helped him absorb the punishment that comes with being a feature back. He's been listed on the injury report the last few weeks with what Childress calls ``overall body soreness,'' but so far has shown no signs of slowing down.

Childress said Taylor's physical ability hasn't surprised him. After all, that's why they signed him in the offseason, even though he'd never carried the ball more than 160 times in a season in his career.

But the coach said he was unaware of Taylor's intensity, calling the back a ``lock-your-jaw and grit-your-teeth'' competitor. ``He'll fight you,'' he said.

That competitiveness has endeared him to the people most important to him - his offensive line.

``Chester's great,'' right guard Jason Whittle said. ``It's fun to block for Chester. He makes you look good. He runs through people and the guys appreciate it. It makes you want to block that much more from him.''

His only hiccup this season has been a rash of fumbles in recent weeks. Taylor fumbled twice against Miami in a 24-20 loss two weeks ago and put one on the ground on the goal line last week that Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson scooped up and returned 99 yards for a touchdown.

Then there was the first game against the Bears in Week 3.

The Vikings had the ball and a 16-12 lead with a little over 3 minutes to play and looked to have the game in hand with the reliable Taylor in the backfield.

But Bears tackle Tommie Harris burst through the line and hit Taylor as he was about to take a handoff from Johnson, causing a fumble that the Bears recovered.

Rex Grossman hit Rashied Davis for a 24-yard touchdown soon after to lift Chicago to a 19-16 victory.

``I just have to move forward,'' Taylor said.

That plain, humble demeanor belies his position. Starting running backs are often outspoken court jesters who have been coddled since they were in high school.

Not Taylor.

``It's not like he's some big star running back that's been over-appreciated all these years,'' Whittle said. ``He's a blue-collar guy that's going in there and working.''

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