FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ victory (turning point, second-guesses, 3 up/3 down, top takeaways) over the Vikings in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Defense holds it down: We tried to tell you before the game the offense was going to have its share of struggles, so it would be up to the Patriots' defense to carry the water for most of this game. And that's largely how it played out. Using more of an amoeba front with safeties mixed with linebackers and linemen confused with linebackers (similar to the Jets game), the Patriots were able to pressure Kirk Cousins — or at least make him think he was pressured — into an Alex Smith Special: all dinking and dunking and very few big plays (Vikings averaged just 4.0 yards on 44 pass attempts). New England officially registered just two sacks and three additional hits, but it felt like a lot more, especially to Cousins. He rarely pushed the ball downfield to his dangerous weapons, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, and the result was the Vikings going 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) on third and fourth downs. In the end, Minnesota was able to penetrate the New England 20 just once in 11 drives.
Offense finally gets aggressive: Tom Brady wasn't a whole lot better in the dink and dunk department as the Patriots scored on their opening drive and then didn't score another touchdown until near the end of the third quarter — despite the Vikings being without both their starting corners for much of the game. But once Minnesota tied the game at 10 late in the third, Brady finally pushed the ball down the field to Josh Gordon, who had yet to be targeted. Gordon caught a hitch, broke a tackle and went for 24 yards. Brady then hit Rob Gronkowski for 15 and, after a James White run, Brady connected with Gordon again for a 24-yard touchdown that gave New England a lead it would not relinquish.
Testy game overall: Most of the headlines will be dominated by the dustup between Bill Belichick and Adam Thielen, but there was a lot of chippiness between two teams that rarely see each other. Brady could be seen multiple times gesturing to the Vikings sideline and he appeared to take some issue during the final kneel down. The Vikings were doing a lot of complaining to the officials as well. And even though Belichick and Mike Zimmer have a lot of mutual respect, they had a very quick post-game handshake when the norm would be a lengthy embrace (ala Mike McCarthy, formerly of the Packers). Probably a good thing these teams only see each other every four years.
TURNING POINT
After the Patriots took a 17-10 lead, the Vikings had a third and 5 on the first play of the fourth quarter, Kyle Van Noy and Trey Flowers ran a game up front that allowed Flowers a free run at Cousins for a huge 10-yard sack that moved Minnesota back to its 20. A 23-yard punt return by Julian Edelman set up the Patriots at the 50 and they punched it in again six plays later for a commanding 24-10 lead.
SECOND GUESS
After the Vikings turned it over on downs with 6:15 left, the Patriots ran one running play and then put up a pass that a) was picked off — the worst possible outcome in that circumstance — and b) got Brady leveled as he delivered the pass. At that point, if you're a good or decent running team, you run the ball and punt it away if need be. Terrible playcall. Terrible pass. Terrible result.
Speaking of bad playcalling, the Patriots' direct snaps to White on third-and-1 in the second quarter was ... too creative. How about a little power or quick-hitting play-action?
THREE UP
James Develin: Since nobody else can seem to pick up 1 yard with regularity, give up for the Neck Roll, who plunged it in twice from a yard out to account for two of the Patriots' three touchdowns.
J.C. Jackson: The undrafted rookie got his first start as the Patriots elected to put him on the outside, with Jason McCourty for Jonathan Jones in the slot, and Jackson more than held his own, including two prevented touchdowns that may or may not have been pass interference (they were). Also caused Duron Harmon's game-clinching interception with a pass breakup.
Trey Flowers: Outside of the sack, Flowers didn't put up any huge stats. But anytime the Patriots have a good game defensively and generate a lot of pressure, it's a good bet Flowers was in the middle of a lot of it.
THREE DOWN
Rob Gronkowski: Had a pedestrian three catches for 26 yards and looked like he struggled at times with his blocking.
Julian Edelman: Caught just three of the eight passes thrown his way in this game and had a big drop on an early third down.
Josh McDaniels: Schemed the heck out of the first drive to get a few guys wide open, but after that, he really struggled to find the right calls to keep the Patriots moving and didn't have New England push the ball down the field until the score was tied at 10.
INJURIES
Rob Gronkowski (knee): Limped off the field after a low hit but eventually returned and finished.
Trent Brown: Was in the blue medical tent for at least part of one series but returned to finish the game.
TOP PLAYS
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
This Patriots offense is still way off from where it should be: And the group has got one more week to figure it out before the big showdown with the Steelers, where a first-round bye will be up for grabs. The Patriots can scheme up an opening drive and throw a few new wrinkles at a defense, but once they run out of those plays, it's clear they still don't know where their bread is buttered, with Gronkowski obviously struggling and Edelman not quite his pre-injury self. Liked how they went away from Gordon for some of this game, but even that was a little out of control. It's past time for the Patriots to start matching the groove found by the defense. It's painful to watch at times. Never thought I would say that about a Brady-led offense, but that's where we are.
Patriots can't afford a Miami swoon: Last year with a visit to the Dolphins before facing the Steelers, the Patriots laid an absolute egg in Miami — but they some margin for error. The Patriots have none this season, with Houston continuing to win and the Steelers in a tight afair with a good Chargers team at home (we'll see what happens there). One thing we definitely know about these Patriots: They're a much different and better team at home. They need a bye and as many home playoff games as possible. They might just need to win out to get all that.