2026
Week 14 · Thursday 8:15 PM ET · Gillette Stadium
vs
Patriots offensevsVikings defense
Season numbers through Week 8: 8 games for Patriots, 7 for Vikings. Ranks are out of 32; #1 is the best offense or the stingiest defense.
Ground game edge
Patriots average 3.9 yards per carry (20th). Vikings allow 4.5 (25th).
Deep middle is open
Vikings are worst against deep middle throws, allowing +1.12 EPA per attempt. Patriots send 2% of their throws there. That is a small part of their offense so far.
Field goals, not touchdowns
Patriots score a touchdown on 52% of red zone trips (26th). Vikings allow 27% (1st).
Yards per play
Call this one even. Patriots gain 6.1 yards per play (4th). Vikings give up 4.7 (2nd), with the league at 5.4.
Players to watch
Vikings
Kyler MurrayQB · 100/154 · 1022 yds · 5 TD · 3 INTEPA per dropback -0.06 · 27th
Jordan MasonRB · 38 car · 147 yds · 1 TD · 0 recEPA per touch -0.26
Justin JeffersonWR · 28 rec · 335 yds · 4 TD · 40 tgtEPA per target +0.54 · 16th
T.J. HockensonTE · 31 rec · 295 yds · 3 TD · 37 tgtEPA per target +0.67 · 3rdAndrew Van GinkelWeakside Linebacker · 21 tackles · 6.5 sacks · 1 INT · 1 PD6.5 sacks · T-5th in the NFLBlake CashmanRight Inside Linebacker · 62 tackles · 4.5 sacks · 5 PD4.5 sacks · T-16th in the NFL
Patriots
Drake MayeQB · 157/234 · 1983 yds · 15 TD · 8 INTEPA per dropback +0.21 · 9th
Rhamondre StevensonRB · 96 car · 367 yds · 3 TD · 23 recEPA per touch 0.00 · 18th
DeMario DouglasWR · 26 rec · 332 yds · 4 TD · 37 tgtEPA per target +0.57 · 13th
Hunter HenryTE · 29 rec · 326 yds · 2 TD · 34 tgtEPA per target +0.55 · 5thElijah PonderWeakside Linebacker · 23 tackles · 6 sacks · 1 PD6 sacks · T-7th in the NFLMarcus JonesNickel Back · 39 tackles · 1 sack · 1 INT · 6 PD1 INTThe Patriots lead the series 5–2 since 1999 (they first met in 2000). Nov 24, 2022, at U.S. Bank Stadium: the Vikings won 33–26. Kirk Cousins started at quarterback for the Vikings and Mac Jones for the Patriots; Kevin O'Connell and Bill Belichick coached.
The last 5
| 2022 · Wk 12 | NE 26 at MIN 33 |
| 2018 · Wk 13 | MIN 10 at NE 24 |
| 2014 · Wk 2 | NE 30 at MIN 7 |
| 2010 · Wk 8 | MIN 18 at NE 28 |
| 2006 · Wk 8 | NE 31 at MIN 7 |
2026 records
| Vikings | Patriots | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 6–1 | 5–3 |
| Division | 2–1 | 3–0 |
| Conference | 4–1 | 5–1 |
| Other conference | 2–0 | 0–2 |
| Home | 3–0 | 3–0 |
| Away | 3–1 | 2–3 |
| Last 5 | WWWWL | WWWLW |
| Streak | Lost 1 | Won 1 |
| Points a game | 20.0 – 13.3 | 23.0 – 20.3 |
Every meeting since 1999, regular season and playoffs, from nflverse's game list, which starts in 1999; the all-time series goes back further. Franchises that moved count as one team (the Raiders, Chargers and Rams). Home and away are from the Vikings' side. Records are this regular season.
Patriots offense · 3WR 1TE
- QBDrake Maye#10 · 157/234 · 1983 yds · 15 TD · 8 INT
- RBRhamondre Stevenson#38 · 96 car · 367 yds · 3 TD · 23 rec
- WRA.J. Brown#1 · 9 rec · 101 yds · 0 TD · 20 tgt
- WRDeMario Douglas#3 · 26 rec · 332 yds · 4 TD · 37 tgt
- WREfton Chism III#86 · 15 rec · 151 yds · 1 TD · 20 tgt
- TEHunter Henry#85 · 29 rec · 326 yds · 2 TD · 34 tgt
- LTWill Campbell#66
- LGWalter Rouse#72
- CJared Wilson#55
- RGMatt Pryor#65
- RTMorgan Moses#76
Vikings defense · Base 3-4 D
- RDEJalen Redmond#61 · 22 tackles · 0.5 sacks · 3 PD
- NTCaleb Banks#95 · 12 tackles
- LDELevi Drake Rodriguez#50 · 14 tackles · 1 sack
- WLBAndrew Van Ginkel#43 · 21 tackles · 6.5 sacks · 1 INT · 1 PD
- SLBDallas Turner#15 · 18 tackles · 6 sacks
- RILBBlake Cashman#51 · 62 tackles · 4.5 sacks · 5 PD
- LILBEric Wilson#55 · 41 tackles · 3 sacks · 1 PD
- RCBJames Pierre#23 · 24 tackles · 2 INT · 4 PD
- LCBIsaiah Rodgers#2 · 22 tackles · 1 INT · 4 PD
- NBByron Murphy Jr.#7 · 34 tackles · 3 INT · 6 PD
- SSJoshua Metellus#44 · 50 tackles · 0.5 sacks · 4 PD
- FSHarrison Smith#22 · 15 tackles · 0.5 sacks · 1 INT · 4 PD
Starters from each team's current depth chart (nflverse, from ESPN), drawn in the offense's base three-receiver set against the defense's base front. The nickel back, the extra defensive back most teams use against three receivers, is drawn lighter. Left and right are as the offense sees the field. The toggle at the top flips which offense is drawn.
| Stat | NE off | Favors NE · Favors MIN | MIN def allows | NFL avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||
| EPA per play | +0.06#8 | -0.17#1 | +0.00 | |
| Success rate | 46%#10 | 37%#2 | 44% | |
| Yards per play | 6.1#4 | 4.7#2 | 5.4 | |
| Explosive play rate | 11%#8 | 9%#14 | 9% | |
| Passing | ||||
| Pass EPA per dropback | +0.15#8 | -0.24#1 | +0.03 | |
| Sack rate | 6%#16 | 11%#1 | 7% | |
| Running | ||||
| Run EPA per carry | -0.14#23 | -0.11#10 | -0.08 | |
| Yards per carry | 3.9#20 | 4.5#25 | 4.1 | |
| Money downs | ||||
| 3rd down conversion | 43%#11 | 31%#2 | 41% | |
| Red zone TD rate | 52%#26 | 27%#1 | 61% | |
| Targets by position | ||||
| WR yards per game | 157#11 | 123#6 | 147 | |
| TE yards per game | 62#10 | 39#4 | 55 | |
| TE targets per game | 6.8#22 | 6.3#6 | 7.6 | |
| RB receiving yards per game | 34#12 | 18#3 | 32 | |
Patriots: EPA per throw
Vikings: EPA allowed per throw
Green gains more than expected, red loses value. Cells with fewer than 5 throws are grayed out.