New England Patriots 26 vs 33 Minnesota Vikings sumary: stats and highlights | NFL Week 12
The Minnesota Vikings bounced back after a humiliating loss last week, with a Turkey Day shootout against the New England Patriots. Kirk Cousins has 299 yards and three touchdowns in the 33-26 victory from U.S. Bank Stadium.
Vikings bounce back
Kevin O’Connell’s men got spanked by Dallas last week in front of their home fans and were looking to get in their good graces on Thanksgiving. There were plenty of doubts surrounding the 8-2 side coming into the game against New England. Their schedule had been questioned, and there were concerns about how they would perform against playoff caliber teams.
On Thursday night the Vikings helped smooth the waters by putting up 33 points just days after being held to just three against the Cowboys. The Patriots were also held without an offensive touchdown last week, using Marcus Jones’ last minute punt return to beat the Jets 10-3 in the Meadowlands.
The offense turned on for both teams under the holiday bright lights. Kirk Cousins drove the Vikings down the field in the first four minutes and put Minnesota on the board with a six yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson, who would go on to set the record for most receiving yards by a WR in his first three years.
The opening drive touchdown marked the seventh time the Vikings have started a game with a TD in their eleven games this year.
Red Zone problems haunt Pats
The Pats punched back in their first offensive series of the game when Mac Jones had a couple deep balls including one to Nelson Agholor on a 34 yard TD connection to draw the game level.
In the first half, it was the Patriots defense and special teams that gave them great field position on two different drives. An interception in Vikings territory and a punt return that brought NE to midfield the Patriots offense would have to settle for field goals.
New England’s offense didn’t have trouble moving the ball, but they did have trouble when they got into the red zone. In three trips inside the 20 yard line the Patriots settled for three field goals.
Nwangwu with a Turkey Day TD
Down 13-10 late in the second quarter, the Vikings marched down the field to take the lead with under two minutes to go in the first half when Kirk Cousins hit T.J. Hockenson on a one yard TD pass. A missed PAT from Greg Joseph, and a late New England field goal (one of Nick Folk’s four on the night) tied the game up at 16-16 with the Pats set to get the ball back to start the half.
Mac Jones, who finished the game with 382 yards and two TDs, would carry the Patriots momentum into the second half with a quick score drive capped off by a Henry Hunter’s 37 yard catch and run to give the Pats the 23-16 lead at the start of the third quarter.
The lead didn’t last long, as Kene Nwangwu returned the ensuing kickoff back 97 yards for a touchdown to tie the game for the fourth time. The Pats special teams is what won them the game last week, but on Thursday they cost the Pats the game. The kickoff return and then a running into the kicker penalty that led to the Vikings touchdown in the fourth quarter would seal the game for Minnesota.
Vikings close to wrapping up NFC North
Nick Folk kicked his fourth and final field goal on the next play, but that would be the end of the Pats scoring. The Vikings drew the score level for the fifth time early in the fourth quarter with a Greg Joseph field goal and the Vikings would put the game on ice on their next offensive drive.
The Pats had the Vikings stopped on what would turn out to be the game winning drive, but Pierre Strong was flagged for running into the kicker on the Minnesota punt and the drive was extended. Kirk Cousins punished the Pats with a deep shot to Justin Jefferson which set up a 15 yard TD pass to Adam Thielen to move the Vikings to 9-2 on the season.
Cousins was 30/37 for 299 yards and threw three TDs and a early interception on Thursday night, while Justin Jefferson had 139 yards and a TD on nine catches. The Minnesota Vikings have a firm grasp on the NFC North and are sitting right behind the Eagles for the top spot in the NFC. New England falls to 6-5 but are still in the hunt for the AFC East and a Wild Card spot.
What's Thanksgiving without a little Turkey? Cousins, Jefferson and Theilen were in on the celebration, but Patrick Patterson came up with the interceptions.
Cousins had all kinds of time to find Adam Theilen in the back of the end zone to break the fifth tie of the night and put the Vikings up top for good.
Under the Thanksgiving spotlight, Justin Jefferson passed Randy Moss for most receiving yards thorugh the first three season in the NFL with 4,203, 139 of which came on Thursday night.
The Pats lead didn't last long. On the ensuing kickoff Kene Nwangwu took the return 97 yards for a TD to tie the game once again.
Hockenson scored right before the half to put Minnesota up by a field goal, but the Pats marched down and tied it up before halftime. On the first possession of the third quarter, Henry made the catch down the middle, broke a tackle and took it to the house to give the Pats the lead.
The Pats may have had 409 yards of total offense, but the offense had trouble when they got in the red zone, going 0-3 inside the 20. Their only TDs came on big plays on their opening possession of each half.
Kirk Cousins came out and drove the Vikings right down the field on their first possession which was finished off by Justin Jefferson, who had 139 yards on nine catches.
The Vikings have won their 8th in their last 9 games and are in firm control of the NFC NORTH
Jones looks over the middel for Meyers who made the catch and went down like they had timeouts left.
The clock runs out and the Vikings survive!!
Shot up the sideline to Bourne who made the catch but didn't get out of bounds. The clock runs and the Pats will get one last play.
On first down with 53 second to go, Jones is sacked by Blacklock for a loss of 9.
2nd and 19 from the NE 2.
The Vikings are forced to punt and Jones took it from the 1 yard line to the NE 11. The ball came out at the end of the play, but his knee was down.
Cooke is stopped for no gain and the Pats take their last timeout with 1:02 to go.
Cook gets two yards on second down and the Pats take their second timeout.
3rd and 9 from the MIN 40.
Cook is dropped for a loss of a yard, and the Pats take a TO with 1:15 to go.
2nd and 11 from the MIN 39.
MIN get the ball from the 39 yard line and are a first down away from their 9th win of the season.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!
On 4th and 16 Jones takes a deep shot to Agholor who looked open but couldn't get underneath it and the Pats turnover on downs!
WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM MINNESOTA
Jones is dropped for the first time as the Vikings brought blitz and it was Hunter who got to him. Big play by the defense when Minnesota needed it most.
What do the Pats do here after the big loss on 3rd down?
Jones looking to Stevenson out of the backfield, but that time the Vikings were ready for it and he is stopped for no gain.
3rd and 7 from the 30.
Stevenson on the run to the left side and he gets 3 yards.
2nd and 7 from the MIN 30.
Screen pass to Stevenson and he follows his blockers all the way into MIN territory on a 40 yard catch and run.
1st and 10 from the MIN 33.
Jones throws it into the ground with nothing down field.
2nd and 10 from the NE 27.
Jones over the middle for Bourne for a 14 yard gain to start the drive.
1st and 10 from the NE 27.
New England have 4:21 to put the ball in the end zone and their drive starts from the NE 13.
The Vikings are stopped on third and long after there was no one waiting for his screen pass.
The Vikes will punt on 4th and 14 from the MIN 45.
WR screen for Theilen but the Pats knew it was coming and dropped him for a loss of 4 yards.
3rd and long coming up.
Cook is dropped at the line of scrimmage for no gain on first down.
2nd and 10 from the MIN 49.
Osborn was stopped on 2nd and 2 on a run up the middle, but then picks it up with 5 yard gain to move the chains.
1st and 10 from the MIN 49.
Cousins hits Osborn on a dangerous throw that coud have been intercepted but he used his strong hands to gain 8 yards.
2nd and 2 from the MIN 43.
Cousins drops a dime to Theilen in the corner of the end zone to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings will take over from the MIN 35 yard line after a 29 yard Palardy punt.
Minnesota has a chance to take the lead with 8:07 to go in the game.
Jones looks down the left side for Henry, but he went down and no flag flies.
4th and 1 and do the Pats go for it or settle for a 3 and out?
Jones to Stevenson again, and he's been his favorite receiver. That goes for 8 yards to bring up 3rd and 1.
The Patriots have to respond with a TD here and they start their drive from the 25.
Jones finds Agholor in the flat for a 1 yard gain.
2nd and 9 form the NE 26.
TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS!!!
Cousins with all day to throw which gives him time to find Theilen in the corner of the endzone for the 15 yard TD reception!
Minnesota lead 33-26 with 9:34 to go in the game.
The Vikings have to take their second timeout after getting to the line late following the Jefferson catch.
Cousins taking a shot to Jefferson down the left sideline and he goes up and grabs it for a gain of 36 yards!!
1st and 10 from the NE 15.
Cook out of the backfield on first down, and he picks up 8 yards.
2nd and 2 from the MIN 49.
Big mistake from NE, as Strong ran into the kicker and that will give the Vikings a first down!
1st and 10 form the MIN 41 after the penalty.
After Jefferson jumped early, Cousins hit Hockenson on 3rd and 14, but the TE is stopped short of the marker and the Vikings go three and out.
MIN will punt.
Cook is dropped on a screen pass out of the backfield as McMillan read the play and dropped him for a loss of 3.
3rd and 9 form the MIN 30.
The Vikings take over from their 29 with 12 minutes to go and run it with Cook on 1st down, he gets 4 yards on a run up the middle.
2nd and 6 from the MIN 33.
Jones rolls out after the Vikings bring blitz and looks for Meyers down the right sideline, but it's batted away and the Pats going three and out.
Punt coming up for the Pats.
Jones' pass to Agholor on 2nd down is incomplete.
3rd and long coming up from the NE 26.
The Patriots get the ball form the 25 yard line with 14 minutes to go all square at 26.
On 1st and 10 Jones hits Stevenson for a yard gain.
2nd and 9 from the NE 26.
FIELD GOAL VIKINGS!!!
For the fifth time tonight we are tied up after Joseph's 36 yard field goal.
It's 26-26 with 14:07 to go in the fourth quarter.
On third and long, Cousins pass to Theilen is incomplete and the Vikings will kick a field goal on 4th and 17 from the NE 18.
On 2nd and 8 from the NE 8 yard line Cousins is dropped in the backfield by Uche for a loss of 9 yards.
3rd and 17 from the NE 18.
Cook gets 2 yards on the first down, and that takes us to the end of the third quarter!
It's anyone's game with 15 minutes to go in Minnesota.
Hockenson jumped, and that brings the Vikes back five yards.
On 2nd and 15, Cousins steps up the pocket and looked for Theilen but the pass was well behind him. A flag flies on Bryant for a hit on a defenseless receiver and that give the Vikings a first down.
1st and Goal from the 10.
Cook dropped at the line for no gain on the run to the right side.
2nd and 10 from the NE 16.
Cousins out of shotgun oer the middle to Theilen on his second option and that will move the sticks again! Very efficient drive for the Vikings.
1st and 10 from the NE 16.
Cousins finds Jefferson in the flat, and he gets 3 yards on first down.
2nd and 7 from the NE 23.
Huge conversion there for the Vikings, who look like they are going to have to keep pace with the Patriots to win this game.
Wide open its Reagor over the middle for a big third down conversion for 25 yards.
1st and 10 from the NE 26.
Cousins looking for Jefferson, but the defense was good. and the pass falls incomplete.
3rd and 7 from the MIN 49.
Cook on the first down run to the left side and he gets 3 yards.
2nd and 7 from the MIN 49.
More pressure coming on Cousins, but he released it to Theilen who picked up 3 yards, but a face mask penalty brings the Vikes to their 46.
1st and 10 for MIN
Cousins steps up in the pocket and finds Cook for a short 3 yard reception and a first down.
1st and 10 from the MIN 28.
Cook stuffed on a run up the middle and gets maybe two yards.
3rd and 2 from the MIN 25.
Here come the Vikings looking to counter punch. They start their drive from the 17 and Cousins hits Jefferson for a six yard gain on the naked bootleg.
2nd and 4 from the MIN 23.
FIELD GOAL PATRIOTS!!
For the four time tonight, Folk comes on a hits a field goal. This time he hits from 25 yard and NE lead again.
Patriots are up 26-23 with 6:43 to go in the third quarter.
This could be the biggest play of the game!
After review the pass is ruled incomplete and a roar fills the stadium here in Minnesota.
4th and Goal from the 6 and the Pats will kick the field goal.
TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS!!!
Henry with his second touchdow of the second half!!!
The play is under review after the ball looked like it bobbled when his hand hit the ground.
Don't put the points on the board just yet!
Jones was incomplete on 1st and Goal, and on second and goal Stevenson fights to get back to the line of scrimmage.
3rd and Goal from the 6.
Big shot down field for Parker and that drops right into the arms of the WR for a gain of 40 yards!!!
1st and Goal form the MIN 7 after the big play!
Stevenson gets the first down run and picks up 3 yards.
2nd and 7 from the MIN 47.
Stevenson on the run to the left side and he gains 8 yards to move the sticks.
1st and 10 from the 50.
Jones to Agholor on the pass to the left flat and he gets 6 yards on first down.
2nd and 4 from the NE 42.
The Pats start the drive from the 25 yard line and Jones hits Stevenson for 11 yards out of the backfield.
1st and 10 from the NE 36.
TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS!!!
Minnesota wastes no time leveling the game! Nwangwu weaving up the left side line and turns on the jets for the 97 yard TD return!!!
We are all square again. It's 23-23 with 10:41 in the 3rd quarter.
Look at Hunter Henry breaking tackles and rumbling into the endzone to give the Pats the lead!
TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS!!!
Jones with another pass over the middle after the play action fake and he hit Henry on the seam route, and the big man broke a tackle and took it 37 yards to the house!!
Pats take the lead 23-16 four minutes into the second half.
Jones looking to the right side, but the pass falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the 37.
Jones over the middle again and he finds Meyers this time for 13 yards!
Pats are in MIN territory with 1st and 10 from the MIN 37.
Pass to the flat to Agholor, and he picks up 6 yards on the "long hand off"
3rd and 4 from the 50.
Harris stopped on first down for no gain.
2nd and 10 from the NE 44.
Play action from Jones, who looks for Parker over the middle on 3rd and short and that pass play goes for 10 yards.
1st and 10 from the NE 44.
Stevenson makes the catch on the right side out of the backfield and gains 7 yards.
3rd and 1 from the NE 34.
Harris gets the hand off on first down and he drives the pile for a gain of two, maybe three.
2nd and 8 from the NE 27.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FROM MINNESOTA!!!
The Patriots get the ball back after the late field goal to tie the game.
They start their drive from the 25 yard line.
So far Cousins has the edge over the Pats, but good field position and a forced turnover for New England has them level with the Vikes.
It's history for Justin Jefferson who surpassed Randy Moss and Odell Beckham Jr. for most receiving yards in the first three years in the NFL.
The Pats punched back with a deep TD hook up from Jones to Agholor on the second drive of the game.
Cousins hit Jefferson for the TD on the opening drive of the game. It was the 7th time the Vikes have scored a touchdown on their opening drive.
WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME ALL TIED UP AFTER 30 MINUTES!
Both teams going toe to toe in Thanksgiving's grand finale.
FIELD GOAL PATRIOTS!!!
Great drive from the Pats, who were on their way to the end zone, but ran out of time. Folk nails the 40 yard field goal and we are all square with a few seconds to go in the second quarter. .
The Pats tie it up at 16 right before halftime.
After the 1st down Jones had to spike the ball with 9 seconds to go. NE took a shot to Bourne on 2nd down but the pass was broken up and the Pats settle for a field goal.
Jones up the middle to Agholor and that moves the chains again and give the Pats 1st and Goal from the 5 after a 13 yard gain.
Jones finds Parker with a 14 yard gain for another first down and Pats aren't just thinking field goal.
Jones hits Parker for a 16 yard gain down the middle of the field.
1st and 10 from the MIN 32.
Jones links up with Henry as the Pats go no huddle and Henry made the catch and a great run up the sidelines, but he didn't get out of bounds. Time out Pats with 55 seconds to go.
1st and 10 from the MIN 48.
Jones looks to Stevenson on first down out of the backfield and he picks up 5 yards on the short catch.
2nd and 5 from the NE 30.
The Pats take over from the 25 with 2 TOs and 1:30 on the clock.
LeBron James is enjoying his Thanksgiving with some NFL football, and loving Justin Jefferson who has 94 yards and a TD on six catches.
TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS!!!
Cousins on the play fake, backing up with pressure in his face and he finds Hockinson in the end zone for a 1 yard TD!
Vikings take the lead 16-13 after the missed PAT.
Cook is stopped short of the goal line again, and the Vikings will have 3rd and Goal from inside the 1 yard line. Could this be four down territory?
Cook up the middle and he was flirting with the goal line, but cut down short and that takes us to the Two Minute Warning.
2nd and Goal from the NE 4 after the break.
Cousins links up with Hockinson and he is but down right at the marker for a 10 yard gain and a first down.
1st and Goal from the NE 4.
Cousins going back to who else? It's Jefferson over the middle and he takes it 17 yards up field on the catch and run.
1st and 10 from the NE 14.
Cook up the middle for a 4 yard gain.
2nd and 6 from the NE 29.
After an offside on Judon moved MIN up 5 yards, Cousins goes deep for Jefferson who was triple covered and still comes up with the catch.
1st and 10 from the NE 35.
Cousins looking for Hockinson and the pass falls incomplete.
3rd and long coming up from the MIN 23.
The Vikings take over from the 25 yard line, and Cook is stopped on first down for a loss of 2.
2nd and 12 from the MIN 23.
FIELD GOAL PATRIOTS!!!
On 4th and inches the Pats elect to go for the safe play and Folk drills the 46 yard field goal.
New England take the lead 13-10 with 5:41 to go in the half.
Jones hits Stevenson out of the backfield and he was tripped up just shy of the marker.
4th and 1 from the MIN 28.
Pass to the flat for Agholor and he takes it up the field for 5 yards.
3rd and 3 from the MN 30.
Stevenson on a run to the left for a gain of 2 yards.
2nd and 8 from the MIN 35.
Stevenson on the first play of the drive gets 14 yards to get deep into Vikes territory.
1st and 10 from the MIN 37
Jones with a huge run back to the 50 and the Pats will have great field position.
FIELD GOAL VIKINGS!!
The long Minnesota drive is cut short of seven points and Joseph hits the 30 yard field goal to level this game.
It's 10-10 from Minnesota with 8:29 to go in the half.
Theilen on the shallow cross over the middle and the Pats let him catch it knowing they had that covered all the way.
4th and 8 from the NE 12 after a 7 yard gain.
Cousins pegs it to Jefferson who made a fantasic catch, but a holding flag will bring back the first down, and create 3rd and 15 from the NE 19.
Cousins first down pass was incomplete, and then Cook was weaving around defenders to pick up 5 yards to bring up 3rd and managable.
3rd and 5 coming up from the NE 14.
Cousins floats one into Cook over the middle on 3rd down and he picks up 6 yards to keep the drive alive.
1st and 10 from the NE 14.
Stretch hand off to the left side for Cook but he is pushed out of bounds at the line of scrimmage.
3rd and 3 coming up.
Cousins on the bootleg and had some pressure in his face but was able to find Mundt for 7 yards.
2nd and 3 from the NE 20.
Pitch to Mattison who takes it up the middle for a gain of 8 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the NE 27.
Drop back from Cousins who finds Hockenson on the left side for a short gain of 7 yards.
2nd and 3 from the NE 35.
Cousins over the middle to Jefferson in stride and he takes it for 21 yards on a perfect catch and run.
1st and 10 from the NE 42.
Mattison gets the opening run of the second quarter and he picks up 4 yards on first down.
2nd and 6 from the MIN 37.
Perfect pass to Hockenson on the right side line for a gain of 14 yards and that will move the chains on the last play of the quarter.
NE leads 10-7 after the first 15 minutes, and the Vikes have 1st and 10 from the MIN 33 after the break.
Cousins looking for Thielen on a short pass to the right side and he will pick up 4 yards.
3rd and 7 coming up from the MIN 19.
Mattison gets the ball on first down and he gets maybe back to the line of scrimmage.
2nd and 10 from the MIN 16.
JOnes came up with the pick and a great return but the Pats could only get a field goal after the turnover.
FIELD GOAL VIKINGS!!!
Folk drills the 34 yarder to put the Pats up by three points with just over a minute to go in the first quarte.r
NE up 10-7 with 1:28 to go in the 1st Quarter.
Jones hits Agholor on the left side line, but he had a lot of work to do to pick up the 1st down after the short pass.
4th and 9 after the 7 yard gain and the Pats will settle for a FG after the INT.
Bourn on the reverse, but the Vikings smelled it coming and dropped him for a loss of 7 yards.
3rd and 14 from the MIN 21.
Harris gets three yards on first down.
2nd and 7 from the MIN 14.
INTERCEPTION!!!
Cousins was looking down the middle for Osborn, but he overthrew it and Jones was there waiting to make the pick and returned it all the way to the MIN 17.
1st and 10 Pats inside the 20.
Cook is stuffed in the backfield and dropped for a loss by McMillan.
3rd and 10 from the NE 46.
Cousins rolling right and looking for Theilen who appeared out of nowhere on the sideline, but the pass only goes for a gain of 2 yards.
2nd and 8 from the NE 44.
Cook gets the stretch hand off and picks up a couple, but a defensive holding will give the Vikes an automatic first down.
1st and 10 from the NE 46.
The Pats go three and out on their second drive as well after Jones' pass is incomplete to Stevenson who had a chance at it but couldn't make the snag.
4th and 3 and the Vikes take over from the MIN 43 after the punt.
JOnes looks right to Stevenson out of the backfield and that goes for a couple yards to bring up 3rd and 3.
After the punt the Pats take over from their 13 yard line and Stevenson picks up five yards on a first down run.
2nd and 5 from the 18.
Cousins seeking Jefferson again, but this time the pass is nearly picked off after Jones stepped in and almost came up with the INT.
4th down and the Vikes will punt after going three and out.
Cook up the middle and he gets eaten up by the pile after a gain of 3 yards.
3rd and 1 coming up from the MIN 39.
Here come the Vikes looking to make it two TDs in their first two possessions.
They start the drive from the 21 yard line and Cousins hits Jefferson for a gain of 6 yards.
2nd and 4 from the 27.
The Pats punch back with a deep ball form Jones to Agholor.
TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS!!!
Jones tosses a dime down the middle of the field for Agholor for a 34 yard TD! What an answer from Mac and the Pats and we might be in for a shootout after neither of these offenses scored a TD last week.
We are tied up at 7-7 with 8:21 to go in the 1st quarter.
Harris moves the chains with back to back runs for 7 yards and then 4 yards on second down.
1st and 10 from the MIN 38.
The Pats start their drive from the 25 and Jones hits Meyers down the right side for a 26 yard gain on first down!
1st and 10 and the Pats already in MIN territory.
You had to know that Jefferson was going to show up on Thanksgiving and it took him four minutes to get into the end zone.
TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS!!!
Minnesota marches right down the field and punch it into the enzone on a 6 yard pass over the middle to Jefferson! That's their seventh opening drive TD of the season.
Vikings lead 7-0 with 10:40 to go in the first quarter.
Cook with the first down run and he picks up 4 yards on the run to the right side.
2nd and 6 from the NE 10.
Back to back first downs on back to back throws to Theilen, the second one came from Jefferson to get them down to the NE 14.
1st and 10 Vikes in the red zone.
Cousins finds Jefferson for the first time tonight on the pass to the flat, and he picks up 8 yards and a facemask penalty will give the Vikings 15 extra yards.
1st and 10 from the NE 25.
Cousins on his first pass of the game hits the TD Mundt for 13 yards and that will move the chains for the first time tonight.
1st and 10 from the MIN 37.
Cook get the pitch to the left on the first play of the game and that run goes for 4 yards.
2nd and 6 from the MIN 24.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM MINNESOTA!!!
The Vikings will start the game with the ball after the Pats win the toss and differ. Nwangu takes it to the 20 and that's where Kirk Cousings will take over.
Tonight's odds
According to BET365.com the Vikings are 2.5 points favorites with the Over/Under at 42.
I'm taking the Vikings in a big bounce back game tonight in front of the eyes of the nation. The Offense gets going and cover the 2.5 points.
Bills and Cowboys get early Ws
We are in the third and final game of this festival of football here on the fourth Thursday in November. The Bills beat the Lions in Detroit thanks to a last second field goal to bring Josh Allen to 3-0 on Thanksgiving. Dallas downed another one of the top teams in the NFC with a 28-20 victory over the New York Giants.
Does Minnesota's record deceive?
The Minnesota Vikings are be 8-2 coming into tonight’s game. Despite their brilliant start to the season they have been under question because of their light schedule up through the first 10 weeks of the season.
Their early season loss came to the Eagles in Week 2, but rolled off seven straight wins before the Cowboys got the best of them last week. Of those seven kids, just three of them came against winning teams. The Dolphins lost to Minnesota with no Tua Tagovailoa, they beat the Commanders on a last second field goal, and a needed not just one but a handful of miracles to beat the Bills.
Pats defense dominating
How about the Pats defense? The unit seems to have stepped up ever since Mac Jones was injured at the beginning of October. Since then, the Pats have won five of six and given up more than 17 points just once, in their 33-14 loss to the Bears in Week 7. Since then they are giving up an average of less than 8 points a game in the last three, and now take on a team that will be itching to get on the score board early and often.
Jones comeback has turned season around
The Pats come into tonight riding a three game win streak and it is largely on that man’s shoulders right there. Mac Jones was injured earlier in the year and his back up Billy Zappe won a whole lot of fans in his short time under center for New England. Jones’ return against the Chicago Bears was an ugly one and he was pulled after going 3/6 for 13 yards and an interception. The Pats lost that game, but since then they have won three straight, including two over the Jets, their division rival.
Vikes back at home
The Vikings know they have their work cut out for them tonight. Obviously they want to get back in the win column, but they want to get back in the good graces of the Minnesota fans who showed up for the biggest game under the Vikings roof since the days of Randy Moss. They come back to U.S. Bank Stadium with something to prove tonight but surrounded by doubters saying they haven’t beat any good teams except the Bills with the help of about a dozen miracles.
Patriots last week
Last week was far from a week to remember for the Patriots offense. Mac Jones and the Pats struggled to move the ball, and struggled even more to score. Luckily for Bill Belichick’s men, the defense and special teams stepped up in a huge way. New England held the Jets to just 103 total yards, but with the offense stuttering, they found themselves locked in a 3-3 battle with under a minute left to go in the fourth quarter. After stopping the Jets yet again, New York had to punt and the rookie Marcus Jones took it to the house for a game winning 84 yard return to draw even with the Jets at 6-4 on the season.
Vikings last week
It has been a season where nearly everything has gone right for the Minnesota Vikings, but last week against the Cowboys nearly everything went wrong. They were riding a seven game win streak and had just come off of a win in the game of the season against the Buffalo Bills, but the wild ride came to a screeching halt against Dallas, who held Kirk Cousins and the Vikes to just three points.
They were out gained 458-183 by the Cowboys and were forced to punt on their final seven possessions. They dropped just their second game of the season, but those who questioned if the Vikings could beat good teams (and not with miracles like they had against the Bills) may have found their answer in Week 11.
We are live from Minnesota
Hello everyone and Happy Thanksgiving, so glad you are joining us from U.S. Bank Stadium from Minneapolis where the Vikings are looking to respond from one of the most shocking scores we have seen all season. The Patriots got a big divisional win at the death last week against the New York Jets and look to keep the wind in there sails tonight against a wounded Vikes team in need of a rebound.
Patriots vs. Vikings
We wrap up a very busy Holiday Thursday with a primetime match up between to teams that have the post season most likely in their future. Minnesota has looked like one of the best teams in the league all season, while the Patriots have had their ups and downs but remain in the hunt in the AFC East and the Wild Card race. AS English will be with you all night providing live stats, scores, highlights and analysis of tonights spot light match up to wrap up Thanksgiving.