What to Watch For: Patriots vs. Vikings
Friday, September 12, 2014
The Vikings, on the other hand, are coming off a dominant 34-6 beating of the St. Louis Rams in Week 1 behind former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel.
The Patriots allowed 191 yards rushing to Knowshon Moreno and Lamar Miller in Week 1 and will now face a backfield that features Adrian Peterson. Both Adrian Peterson and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson pose a huge threat on the ground, combining for 177 yards rushing in their Week 1 win.
Can the Patriots bounce back? Will the Vikings continue their hot start? Here are some of the players and match ups to watch in Week 2.
Stop Peterson & Patterson:
If the Patriots want to pick-up the win on Sunday, they will have to stop Adrian Peterson and Cordarrelle Patterson from sparking the Vikings offense. Peterson is in his 8th season and is showing no signs of slowing down. The former MVP did not have his best game in Week 1, gaining just 75 yards on 21 carries, but he will be looking to take advantage of a Patriots defense that looked porous in Miami.
As for Patterson - the 2nd year wide receiver is quickly emerging as one of the most dynamic and dangerous offensive talents in the NFL. Patterson has eight career touchdowns with four coming in the passing and rushing game, his other two came on kickoff returns. In Week 1 Patterson ran for 102 yards on just three carries, including a 67-yard rushing touchdown.
Although the Vikings have other offensive weapons, stopping Peterson and Patterson is the most important factor for the Patriots on Sunday.
Jamie Collins:
Collins was looked at as an important piece to stopping Adrian Peterson and Cordarrelle Patterson. His size and speed allow him to hope contain Peterson between the tackles and limit the space to the outside for Patterson. That role came into question on Thursday when Collins was added to the Patriots injury report with a thigh injury. Collins' health status will be important to monitor over the weekend, as his role could be the difference between the Patriots' first win of the season or an 0-2 start.
Can Brady Bounce Back?
Miami has almost never been kind to Tom Brady. In Week 1, Miami was especially harsh on Brady. He finished the game 29-56 for 249 yards, one touchdown and two lost fumbles. Brady was fighting through a calf injury, but arguably played the worst 2nd half of his career again the Dolphins.
Brady was removed form the injury report this week, meaning that the calf is no longer an issue. Brady will likely have a full complement of weapons in Week 2. With Rob Gronkowski returning Week 1, it appears that Aaron Dobson is poised for his return from injury in Week 2. With a full complement of weapons and a healthy calf can Brady return to the form we all expect from him? Or will Brady continue to struggle in 2014?
In the end, expect Brady to bounce back. He appeared even more focused than usual during his week of preparation and rarely has down games back-to-back. Expect Brady to pass for close to 300 yards and three touchdowns this week.
Prediction: New England Patriots 31, Minnesota Vikings 20
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