Final, Patriots 30-7: This one mercifully is over. The Patriots’ defense lived up to its potential against a weak opponent that didn’t have its best offensive player.
The Patriots were hit with 15 accepted penalties for 160 yards, which is far too many. That likely will be a talking point for coach Bill Belichick.
Fourth quarter, 2:00, Patriots 30-7: The Patriots are doing a nice job bleeding the clock, and Stevan Ridley is over 100 rushing yards for the game.
Fourth quarter, 6:41, Patriots 30-7: Matt Cassel’s pass went off his running back’s hands, and Patriots defensive tackle Dominique Easley made a brilliant dive for an interception. The rookie showed impressive athleticism for a 285-pounder.
Fourth quarter, 7:26, Patriots 30-7: Rookie center Bryan Stork got into the game in some mop-up duty. The Patriots went three and out and were forced to punt.
Fourth quarter, 9:37, Patriots 30-7: The Patriots and Vikings are trading non-scoring drives. Dont’a Hightower just came up with a big deflection at the line of scrimmage, forcing a punt.
Fourth quarter, 14:57, Patriots 30-7: The field goal was good. The Patriots now lead by 23.
End third quarter, Patriots 27-7:Â The Patriots did a nice job of bleeding the clock. They’ve been hit by some costly penalties, but they continue to drive down the field with some tough yards on the ground. Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes got hit with a pass-interference flag against Julian Edelman.
The Patriots are about to attempt a field goal when the fourth quarter starts.
Third quarter, 6:47, Patriots 27-7:Â The chants for Teddy Bridgewater continue, but the Vikings left Matt Cassel in the game. The Vikings’ offensive drive ended with a Dont’a Hightower sack — his first of the season. The third-year pro shoved off left tackle Matt Kalil with ease.
Third quarter, 8:32, Patriots 27-7:Â The Patriots capitalized on the Logan Ryan pick with a field goal. They lead by 20 points midway through the third quarter.
Third quarter, 9:34, Patriots 24-7:Â The Patriots recorded their third interception of the game, leading the Minnesota crowd to start chanting for rookie Teddy Bridgewater to take over at quarterback.
Logan Ryan grabbed this pick from Matt Cassel on a throw intended for Cordarrelle Patterson. Ryan has played a great game in place of Alfonzo Dennard.
Third quarter, 12:26, Patriots 24-7:Â The Patriots had a nice drive going, then decided to throw it deep on third-and-2, and Tom Brady’s pass went incomplete to Julian Edelman.
The Patriots were forced to punt, and the Vikings have the ball on their own 4-yard line.
Halftime, Patriots 24-7:Â Chandler Jones is having a helluva game after struggling in Week 1. He just blocked a field-goal attempt, scooped up the ball and returned it 58 yards for a TD.
The Patriots got lucky two plays earlier when Matt Cassel overthrew Cordarrelle Patterson on a pass down the sideline. Patterson was wide open. The Vikings also were hit with a costly offensive pass-interference penalty when wideout Greg Jennings ran into Jerod Mayo.
Brady is 9-of-10 passing for 105 yards and one touchdown.
Jones has a sack, a blocked field goal, a touchdown and two quarterback hits.
Darrelle Revis and Devin McCourty have interceptions.
Second quarter, 2:58, Patriots 17-7: The Patriots picked up only one first down on that drive. Stevan Ridley couldn’t convert on a third-and-1 carry.
The Vikings have the ball on their own 18 after a Ryan Allen punt.
Second quarter, 5:51, Patriots 17-7: The Patriots had a solid defensive drive in that series. Logan Ryan made multiple nice plays and allowed a first down to Cordarrelle Patterson. Ryan’s hand was an inch away from making a pass breakup on the completion.
The Patriots have the ball on their own 20 after a Julian Edelman fair catch.
Second quarter, 9:30, Patriots 17-7: Not that it’s saying much, but that was Tom Brady’s best drive of the season. He delivered two perfect passes to Julian Edelman — one down the sideline to pick up third and long, and one into the end zone with pressure bearing down.
The Patriots have a 17-7 lead.
Second quarter, 13:30, Patriots 10-7: Darrelle Revis was called for a holding penalty, then two plays later he picked off Matt Cassel. Revis made amends quickly.
The Patriots have the ball at their own 39.
End first quarter, Patriots 10-7:Â The Patriots ended the first quarter with a Chandler Jones sack — his first of the season.
First quarter, :32, Patriots 10-7:Â It wasn’t always pretty, but the Patriots took the lead 10-7 here in Minneapolis.
The Patriots gained some tough yards on the ground with Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen on that drive. Aaron Dobson also caught a first-down pass, and tight end Rob Gronkowski was targeted.
First quarter, 4:54, 7-7 tie: The Patriots did a nice job shutting down the Vikings’ offense. Jerod Mayo is having a nice game after getting a little lost in Week 1. Dont’a Hightower drilled Cordarrelle Patterson after he caught the ball in the flat.
First quarter, 6:14, 7-7 tie: Stevan Ridley drilled the ball in, and the Patriots are back in this one.
Huge play by Devin McCourty.
First quarter, 7:00, Vikings 7-0: Devin McCourty is making his presence felt. He picked off former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel and brought it back to the Vikings’ 1-yard line. Cassel’s pass was intended for slot receiver Jarius Wright.
First quarter, 9:32, Vikings 7-0:Â The Vikings drove down the field to score, then the Patriots went three and out.
The Patriots picked up 9 yards on a Shane Vereen run. Other than that — nada.
The Vikings have the ball at their own 12-yard line after a terrific punt by Ryan Allen.
First quarter, 11:00, Vikings 7-0:Â The Patriots just suffered a complete breakdown on defense, and rookie linebacker Deontae Skinner was being picked on left and right.
The Vikings went to their tight ends matched up on Skinner three times, and they picked up big gains on every play. Skinner overpursued on play action on the final play, a touchdown pass to running back Matt Asiata.
The Patriots mixed up their defensive alignments multiple times on that drive. It might be best to take out Skinner on the next drive.
First quarter, 15:00:Â The Patriots called tails, won the coin toss and will kick off.
12:55 p.m.:Â The Patriots have taken the field and the Vikings will momentarily. We’re getting ready for the coin toss here at TCF Bank Stadium.
12:35 p.m.:Â The Patriots’ starting defense in a 3-4 during warmups:
DL: Vince Wilfork, Chandler Jones, Sealver Siliga
OLB: Rob Ninkovich, Dont’a Hightower
ILB: Deontae Skinner, Jerod Mayo
CB: Logan Ryan, Darrelle Revis
S: Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung
12:28 p.m.:Â Based on pregame warmups, it appears Jordan Devey start at right guard. Patriots fans aren’t pleased.
11:49 a.m.: Linebacker Jamie Collins, defensive end Michael Buchanan, center Ryan Wendell, wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins, defensive end Zach Moore, running back James White and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard are inactive for the Patriots.
Josh Kline and Bryan Stork could rotate into the offensive line for the Patriots. Kline, Stork, wide receiver Aaron Dobson, defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Deontae Skinner are active for the first time this season. Jones could start on the defensive line, and Dobson could see a ton of time at wide receiver.
Either Malcolm Butler or Logan Ryan will start in Dennard’s absence.
With Buchanan, Moore and Collins inactive, rookie Dominique Easley figures to see time at defensive end.
11:27 a.m.:Â Alfonzo Dennard is on the field doing some jogging. Maybe he will play after all.
11:18 a.m.:Â James White is stretching with a group of 20 Patriots players on the field, and Alonzo Dennard is not present. The rest of the defensive backs, — Darrelle Revis, Malcolm Butler, Don Jones, Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Patrick Chung, Kyle Arrington, Tavon Wilson, Logan Ryan and Nate Ebner — are on the field.
10:49 a.m.:Â Multiple reporters in the press box saw Alonzo Dennard testing out his shoulder with the medical staff. He has surgery to repair his left shoulder over the offseason, and he’s had shoulder issues since college. Shoulder injuries are notoriously difficult to recover from fully.
If Dennard can’t play, Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan would see more playing time with the starting defense.
10:32 a.m.:Â James White and Alfonzo Dennard are getting in some early work with trainers on the TCF Bank Stadium field. They’re both wearing jerseys and helmets, which is odd for 2 1/2 hours before game time.
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Neither player was listed on the injury report.
10:26 a.m.:Â Just arrived at TCF Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. The Vikings are playing at the Gophers’ stadium until their new stadium is built in the footprint of the Metrodome in 2016. The stadium opened in 2009.
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9:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. CT: The New England Patriots’ 3-4 didn’t work last week, but it might this afternoon against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Patriots ruled out linebacker Jamie Collins, defensive end Michael Buchanan and center Ryan Wendell late Saturday night, which will shake up their offensive and defensive rotations. If the Patriots elect to keep a 3-4 defensive alignment, I expect Chandler Jones to shift from defensive end to outside linebacker and Dont’a Hightower from outside linebacker inside linebacker. Jones will be replaced at defensive end by a bigger player, and the Patriots’ three-man front will consist of a rotation between Vince Wilfork, Sealver Siliga, Dominique Easley, Chris Jones and Joe Vellano.
Replacing Collins with a bigger body could make the Patriots’ run defense better, but it will seriously weaken their pass defense, with the biggest hit coming in tight end coverage. Collins is excellent at covering hybrid, athletic tight ends, and now Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones, Dont’a Hightower and Jerod Mayo will be thrust into that role. The Patriots also could bring up a safety to help out against Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph.
If the Patriots decide to go with a 4-3, they’ll likely use Mayo at weakside linebacker, Hightower in the middle, Ninkovich at strongside, Chandler Jones at defensive end, and a rotation for the final three spots on the starting line between Wilfork, Siliga, Easley, Jones and Vellano. The Patriots’ only other option would be to thrust Deontae Skinner, Chris White or Zach Moore into a starting role, which is unlikely.
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET, so stay here for updates from TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and analysis throughout the game.
