New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings: Complete Week 2 Preview for Vikings
Not a lot of people would have been surprised to hear that heading toward their Week 2 matchup, one of the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings would be coming off of a disheartening loss and the other off of a convincing victory, but most would have gotten the teams wrong.
The Vikings head into their home opener on Sunday against the Patriots coming after a resounding 34-6 drubbing of the St. Louis Rams, while the Patriots are licking their wounds after a shocking second-half collapse in a 33-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The Vikings will be looking to win their first two games for the first time since 2009, when Brett Favre led them to six straight wins to start the season.
While there's legitimate excitement over the Vikings' big Week 1 win, it can be tempered a bit when gauging the level of the competition. The Rams are clearly not a very good football team, and their quarterback play is questionable at best, with neither veteran Shaun Hill nor newbie Austin Davis making anyone in St. Louis think of Kurt Warner.
Having said that, a win is a win, and Minnesota did what good teams are supposed to do by thumping an inferior ballclub.
Things will get plenty tougher this week with the Patriots coming to town. New England suffered a humbling defeat in Miami last week and look to avoid going 0-2 for the first time since 2001.
Do you know how the Patriots stopped their two-game skid to start the 2001 season? They inserted second-year quarterback Tom Brady into the starting lineup. They've gone an absurd 148-43 since then, won three Super Bowls and played in five.
Brady, on anybody's list of the best quarterbacks of all time, leads a Patriots team that is taking a long look in the mirror after getting outscored 23-0 in the second half against the Dolphins. The last time New England had been beaten that bad in the second half was in 2008, 94 games ago.
It's obviously too early to say this might be the end of an era for the Patriots, but Brady is 37 years old and this is the weakest supporting cast he's had in years.
For the Vikings, a second straight win would be absolutely huge and could serve as a stepping stone to a successful season.
Vikings Week 1 Recap
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There was an awful lot to like in the Vikings' season-opening 34-6 dismantling of the Rams.
First and foremost was the revamped defense. Mike Zimmer was hired because he was the best possible candidate, but it's no secret that the Vikings loved his defensive pedigree. One of the most highly respected defensive coordinators in the league, Zimmer's first task as the new head coach was to reset a unit that ranked 31st in the NFL in 2013.
So far, so good.
Again, we'll start with the caveat that it was, shall we say, a sluggish Rams offense.
Still, the Vikings defense showed everything you'd want to see out of a group trying to get better. They pressured the quarterback from a variety of different schemes and angles. Their front seven were quick to the point of attack and smothered the St. Louis running attack.
Minnesota registered five sacks and two interceptions in limiting the Rams to just two measly field goals. How was the red-zone defense? Well, we don't know, because St. Louis never got that far.
On offense, the Vikings were far from spectacular, save for Cordarrelle Patterson, who became the first wide receiver since 1970 to score on running plays of at least 35 yards in three straight games.
Quarterback Matt Cassel was efficient if not brilliant. He spread out his 17 completions to seven different receivers and threw two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Adrian Peterson had just 75 yards on 21 carries, but that included six carries for minus-14 yards. So what could have been a nice 15-carry, 89-yard performance got uglier with so many negative plays. If we talk about how bad the Rams offense is, we have to mention that the Rams front four might be the best the Vikings face all season, and they were clearly primed to stop Peterson.
In the end, it's just one victory, but it feels like more than that for this Vikings team. They continued the momentum that a perfect preseason had started, and the players are obviously buying in to the new culture being established by Zimmer.
You have to believe you're a good football team before you can become one. After one week, the Vikings have no reason not to believe.
News and Notes
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Patterson is Setting Records
If you had no rooting interest in the Vikings' win over the Rams on Sunday, you might have been a little bored with the action. At one point in the first half, things were so bogged down that Star Tribune sports columnist Jim Souhan tweeted out the following:
"After watching this game, thinking the NFL might want to start practicing before the first game. You could call it "training camp."
— Jim Souhan (@SouhanStrib) September 7, 2014 "
The obvious exception to this on Sunday was Cordarrelle Patterson, the Vikings' otherworldly second-year receiver, returner, running back, video-game player come to life.
Patterson became the first Vikings receiver to rush for 100 yards in a game, and he did it on only three carries. His 67-yard touchdown run made him the first wideout to ever rush for touchdowns of at least 35 yards in three consecutive games, and he became the first receiver to have touchdown runs of 50 yards or longer in back-to-back games since Buffalo's Elbert Dubenion in 1961, according to Elias Sports Bureau, via this tweet from ESPN Stats and Info:
"Cordarrelle Patterson is 1st WR with 50+ yard TD runs in consecutive games since Elbert Dubenion for the (AFL) Bills in 1961 (via ELIAS)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 7, 2014"
Things are getting a little silly for Patterson, who's beginning to make the NFL his personal playground for video-game highlights.
Since last December, Patterson has pulled off the following: a 33-yard touchdown run against the Bears, a 79-yard touchdown reception against the Ravens that was just a quick-hitter at the line, a 35-yard touchdown run against the Bengals, a 50-yard touchdown run against the Lions and last Sunday's 67-yard scamper.
Did we mention that he also had touchdowns on kickoff returns of 105 and a league-record 109 yards last year as well?
Patterson is fast becoming one of the most exciting players in the NFL and is already the best wide receiver in the game once the ball is in his hands.
Other Milestones Within Reach
According to Mike Wobschall of Vikings.com, Adrian Peterson needs 78 net yards to break Cris Carter's Vikings record for career net yards (12,410). Peterson also needs three touchdowns to pass Randy Moss for second all-time on the Vikings list with 94. Carter holds the franchise record with 110.
Vikings receiver Greg Jennings' next catch will give him 500 on his career.
On the Patriots sideline, Tom Brady is tied with John Elway for third-most career regular-season wins as a starting quarterback with 148. He's won 11 straight games against the NFC North since division realignment in 2002.
Bill Belichick is looking for his 200th regular-season win, which would make him the fourth-fastest to reach that number.
Is the Patriots Era Coming to an End?
On August 26, the Patriots did what they always do when it comes to veterans who they feel are no longer worth what they're making. They moved on.
This time New England traded their best offensive lineman, Logan Mankins, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for backup tight end Tim Wright and a fourth-round pick.
That's always the way the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick have done things, and it's always worked for them.
The truth, however, is that the two constants in New England during their remarkable run have been quarterback Tom Brady and a very good offensive line. Brady is now 37 years old and might be playing behind the worst offensive line of his career.
Tony Manfred of Business Insider writes that the loss of Mankins was clearly an issue in the surprising loss to the Dolphins.
The numbers show that it was a disastrous week for Brady. He threw 56 passes, the second most in the league, and his completion percentage (51.8) and yards per attempt (4.45) were the worst in the league.
Now, having said all of that, there's always this:
"Patriots' record, since beginning of 2003, coming off a loss: 32-4. That is amazing.
— Brian Hall (@MNBrianHall) September 10, 2014"
That truly is an amazing record, and a deep dive into New England's recent past shows that between 2010-2012 they were just 5-4 during their first three games. They finished a combined 39-9 in those years. So a slow start is nothing new for the Patriots.
Only time will tell if the empire is fading, but a look at the Patriots roster certainly shows less star power than ever before. Beyond Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski, the offense is middling at best.
Now might be as good of a time as any for the Vikings to host a Patriots team that might finally be having a crisis of confidence.
Overhauling the Defense
As we've said many times, Zimmer's first job as the new Vikings coach was to fix a defense that ranked 31st in the league in 2013.
Major personnel moves were made in the offseason, adding key free agents in defensive tackle Linval Joseph and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn. They also used their first-round pick and ninth overall on linebacker Anthony Barr.
Overall the Vikings have seven new starters on the defensive side of the ball, and against the Rams, none of their top eight tacklers were starters in 2013. Robert Blanton, a bench player last season, has worked his way into the starting lineup at safety and led the team with seven tackles on Sunday.
Zimmer's defensive schemes are vastly more complicated than the Tampa 2, employed by the Vikings under Leslie Frazier. Minnesota varied their looks on nearly every play against the Rams and clearly had the St. Louis offense rattled.
Vikings Begin Life at TCF Bank Stadium
Sunday's game against the Patriots will be the first of a two-year stretch for the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota while they wait for their new stadium to be built in downtown Minneapolis.
It's back to the outdoors for a franchise that was known as a dominant cold-weather team for much of its hey day in the 1970s, but has played indoors since 1982.
Minnesota had a forgettable night at their temporary home, losing to the Chicago Bears 40-14 in December 2010 after snow had collapsed the roof of the dome.
Things were much better this preseason, when the Vikings won both of their home games. Weather won't be a factor on Sunday, as perfect football weather is expected with party cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 60s.
While the Vikings had a huge home-field advantage at their stadium over the years, it remains to be seen what sort of effect the crowd will have during a meaningful regular-season game.
The Vikings, according to the Star Tribune's Kent Youngblood, spent $6.6 million in upgrades to put a hydronic heating system under the field and a new FieldTurf surface that makes the field safer when freezing weather hits.
Though it's just another outdoor game this week, the weather will more than likely be an issue when the Vikings play four home games from November 23-December 28.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Sharrif Floyd | DT | Probable |
| Mike Harris | OT | Probable |
| Charlie Johnson | G | Probable |
| Zach Line | FB | Probable |
| Michael Mauti | LB | Probable |
| Jabari Price | CB | Probable |
| Xavier Rhodes | CB | Probable |
| Brandon Watts | LB | Doubtful |
All injury updates are courtesy of Mike Wobschall at Vikings.com.
"""Both Floyd and Rhodes have a "good chance" of playing Sunday, Zimmer said. #Vikings will know more tomorrow and Saturday.
— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingESPN) September 11, 2014"
Floyd and Rhodes, two defensive starters, are the biggest concerns on the Vikings injury list, but as Ben Goessling of ESPN tweeted above, both are expected to play on Sunday against the Patriots.
Floyd injured his shoulder against the Rams and was down on the field for a while, but it's not as bad as initially thought. He hasn't practiced yet this week but should be ready by Sunday.
Rhodes is having tightness in his groin. He was on the field on Thursday but was limited in what he was doing.
Rookie linebacker Brandon Watts will probably miss his second straight game with a knee issue, and Michael Mauti may also sit out again as he heals a foot injury.
Guard Charlie Johnson is nursing a hurt ankle and has been limited in practice all week but is expected to be ready to go. Rookie cornerback Jabari Price, who's had a tight hamstring, practiced both Wednesday and Thursday and will play on Sunday.
Tackle Mike Harris, who's recovering from a shoulder injury, and fullback Zach Line, battling a balky ankle, have both been limited in practice and may not be active for Sunday's game.
For the most part, Minnesota heads into their Week 2 matchup with New England pretty healthy. Only a late setback to Floyd or Rhodes will keep them out of the lineup.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Brian Robison vs. Sebastian Vollmer
With the exit of Logan Mankins, Vollmer becomes the best lineman on the Patriots, but he had a long day last Sunday against Cameron Wake of the Miami Dolphins. Wake had seven quarterback disruptions and two strip sacks, completely dominating Vollmer.
Pro Football Focus ranked Wake's performance as the best in the NFL last week.
While no one is going to compare Brian Robison to Cameron Wake, it would certainly be beneficial to Minnesota if Robison had a better game against Vollmer than he did last Sunday, recording just one tackle against the Rams.
The Dolphins registered four sacks and six quarterback hits against Tom Brady, along with three tackles for loss. All of that led to Brady throwing for just 249 yards on 56 attempts. It's no secret that most of Brady's poor games (the few that he's had) have come when he faces a lot of pressure.
Brady, according to Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune, is wary of any Mike Zimmer defense:
"It’s taken on a little bit different style, as it always does when you have different players. So he’s going to play to their strengths as players. That’s what makes him such a great coach. He’s got a great scheme. The guys really seemed to have learned it. I mean, they haven’t lost a game, including the preseason, all year.
"
For years, the Vikings pass rush has been primarily Jared Allen coming from the left side. Under Zimmer, players are not only rotating in and out, but also lining up in different spots at different times. The first third down of the game against the Rams saw Robison line up at right tackle, with Anthony Barr at left end.
The Patriots' long string of success has had two constants: Brady and an exceptional offensive line. How good this version of that offensive line is is under scrutiny after getting badly outplayed against the Dolphins.
The Vikings are excited about their new front four, and Robison having a big game against the Patriots would go a long way toward getting a victory.
Adrian Peterson vs. Jerod Mayo
Nobody will ever confuse Knowshon Moreno with Adrian Peterson. Moreno is a decent back who's rushed for just over 3,500 yards in his five seasons in the league. Peterson is an all-time great.
The good news for Peterson is that Moreno gouged the Patriots defense for 134 yards rushing on 24 carries in the Dolphins win on Sunday.
Peterson had an uneven game against the Rams, gaining 75 yards on 21 carries. Peterson had six carries that resulted in minus-14 yards, so that's an area he and his offensive line will have to improve on. The Rams have one of the best front sevens in the league, and Peterson should have much more running room this week.
Peterson seemed close to breaking several long runs early on, but he finished the game with just three runs over 10 yards.
According to the Boston Globe, Belichick is certainly wary of facing Peterson:
"Adrian is a really explosive player; excellent vision, very strong, good speed. He can run up inside, he can off-tackle, he can run outside. He can go the distance, he breaks a lot of tackles and he has good run vision. He’s really an excellent player.
"
One of the players tasked with slowing down the Vikings' star back will be Patriots middle linebacker Jerod Mayo, a two-time Pro Bowl player who anchors the New England defense. Mayo led the Pats with 12 tackles against the Dolphins and had a sack to boot.
With the Patriots secondary having to focus on Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings and Kyle Rudolph, Peterson could have plenty of daylight if he can break through the Patriots front seven.
Mayo is one of the few linebackers in the league who might be athletic enough to handle Peterson one-on-one, but he'll have a long afternoon if he isn't given plenty of help in dogging Peterson.
Expect Peterson to bounce back from a subpar opening game and have a big week against the Patriots.
Harrison Smith vs. Aaron Dobson
The Vikings feel like they have a superstar in the making in safety Harrison Smith. Smith, who missed the second half of 2013, had a sack and a pick-six that went for 81 yards against the Rams.
Smith could be a huge benefactor in Zimmer's more aggressive defense, which allows him to move all over the field and play an attacking style that suits his strengths.
One Patriots player Smith won't see on tape against the Dolphins is wide receiver Aaron Dobson, who sat out the opener to get fully healed. Dobson, according to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal, is ready to get going against the Vikings.
Dobson is a 6'3" speedster who can stretch the field and is a deep threat that Brady didn't have against the Dolphins. As a rookie in 2013, Dobson caught 37 passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns before suffering a hairline fracture in his foot.
Dobson is a player New England has high hopes for. They hope he can team with Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski to give Brady multiple options to throw to.
The Vikings secondary did a fantastic job shutting down the Rams passing game, limiting them to 246 yards, over 100 of which were gained in the last two drives when the game was out of reach.
One of the main points of emphasis for the Vikings defense this year is to generate more turnovers. With interceptions from Smith and Josh Robinson, things look to be going in the right direction. Smith is clearly the leader of the Vikings back end, and if he shuts down the Patriots receivers, it will go a long way toward gaining a victory.
Dobson is a great-looking receiver prospect for the Patriots and will more than likely get snatched up in a lot of fantasy football leagues in the coming weeks, but look for the Vikings and Smith to keep him off the scoreboard this week.
Vikings X-Factor of the Week: Cordarrelle Patterson
Yeah, we know, we're going way out on a limb with this choice.
But c'mon, imagine being in the Patriots defensive meetings this week and trying to game-plan for this athletic freak of nature.
Patterson scorched the Rams for 102 yards rushing on just three carries, including an electric 67-yard touchdown run that made the entire Rams defense look silly.
For a defense, it's time to panic if Patterson lines up in the backfield. Or if he goes in motion. Or basically if he's on the field.
What we learned last season is that Patterson is the best kick returner in the league and the best running receiver in the league. What might have given defensive coordinators hope is that the only passes he seemed to catch last year were quick-hitters, essentially long handoffs.
What Patterson has put on tape this season must have defensive coaches reaching for antacids. A fly pattern for a touchdown against the Chiefs in the preseason. A timing-out pattern against the Rams for a crucial first down to extend a drive.
Don't look now, but Patterson is becoming a legitimate wide receiver.
The sky is the limit if Patterson is able to become a player who can catch balls all over the pattern tree. With his strength, speed and running ability, he has the potential to be one of the top offensive talents in the sport.
Patterson will do something spectacular on Sunday. A kickoff return? A jet sweep? A go pattern? Just be happy you don't have to plan how to defend against him.
Prediction
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We might be reading too much into one week, but the thought here is that these are two teams who are moving in opposite directions.
The Patriots have been the class of the NFL during the Tom Brady era, with an astonishing .775 winning percentage over the past decade.
But Brady's 37 years old now, and nobody can stay on top forever. Julian Edelman is a fine receiver, but he's not a No. 1 wideout. Rob Gronkowski is a beast, but he has to prove he can stay on the field. It's still a running back by committee in New England, and none of their backs are game-breakers.
The defense ranked 26th in the league last year and was 30th against the rush. Yes, they added Darrelle Revis to their secondary, but he's 29 and coming off of an injury-plagued season.
The Vikings, on the other hand, have been jolted by the arrival of Mike Zimmer, who's quickly spread a winning culture across the organization and has everyone buying in.
The Vikings are young and hungry and now have playmakers all over the field on both sides of the ball. They have an unpredictable defense that smothered the Rams at every turn and an offense that boasts two of the best talents in the league.
Tom Brady is 3-0 against the Vikings in his career. That streak ends in the Vikings' home opener.
Vikings 26 Patriots 21
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