Patriots - Vikings, Who Has The Razor's Edge?
 Jerod Mayo and the Patriots defense face another tough test in trying to limit the Vikings Adrian Peterson this week. (USA TODAY Images) |
The New England Patriots (0-1) travel for the second week in a row to take on the Minnesota Vikings (1-0) in Minneapolis. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. and will be televised locally on CBS.
The Patriots had a 20-10 halftime lead last week but wilted in the heat during a second half that saw Miami score 23 unanswered points while dropping the 33-20 season opener. Miami controlled both sides of the lines of scrimmage in that pivotal second half.
The Vikings opened the season winning a blowout 34-6 win over the St. Louis Rams on the road giving new coach Mike Zimmer an excellent start in his tenure. Zimmer brought his trademark tough defense to the Vikes as they forced five sacks while shutting down the Rams allowing only two field goals.
We here at PatsFans.com are continuing our “Razor’s Edge” column in 2014 to give a quick break down on some of the key matchups of the game and what you can look for in how the game plays out.
Series History:
The Patriots and Vikings have met 11 times in their history with the Patriots holding a 7-4 all-time edge. The Patriots have won the last three meetings although the last time was back in 2010 in Foxboro with the Pats winning 28-18. All time in Minnesota the series is tied 2-2 with the last meeting on the road occurring in 2006.
Here is a look at some of the key matchups and who holds the Razor’s Edge.
Patriots RBs vs Vikings Front Seven- Razor’s Edge Vikings
Minnesota wasn’t a great team against the run in 2013 allowing an average of just under 125 yards per game which was 24th in the league. However, things are changing with the bringing in of Zimmer and his defense.
Bringing in Linval Joseph to complement Sharrif Floyd has solidified the Minnesota line. Stalwart Chad Greenway and rookie Anthony Barr at linebacker gives the Vikes a much better group in their rushing defense.
The Patriots offensive line had its troubles last week with a stout Miami defensive line and couldn’t take advantage of the Dolphins having all three starting linebackers out. They’ll be looking to right the ship and get more than 89 yards this week, but will have their work cut out for them.
Patriots WRs vs Vikings Secondary-Razor’s Edge Patriots
Like last week this matchup all comes down to protection as Tom Brady can’t be under as much pressure and as fast as he was last week. On three different sacks by Miami, Brady was hit in under 3 seconds which is unacceptable.
Minnesota’s pass rush consists of edge rushers Everson Griffen (2 sacks last week) and Brian Robison but in watching the Rams game last week as well as the Cincy game from 2013 much more. Zimmer loves to bring his defense up to the line and then mix up his pass rush by bringing five or more and overloading the offensive line. His defense held Brady and the Pats to just six points last year.
If (and a big if) the OL can hold up the Patriots have more than enough offensive weapons to make life tough for the Vikes secondary. Rob Gronkowski shook off some of the rust last week and is a matchup nightmare. Aaron Dobson should play this week bringing some pressure to the outside which should free up Brandon LaFell to work the intermediate area of the field. As always Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola will do the dirty work underneath along with running back Shane Vereen.
Watch for Brady to get TE Tim Wright a little more involved this week working on the middle of the field. Wright is a big target (6’4, 220) who can also provide some matchup problems for the linebackers.
Minnesota has two significant injuries to monitor this week as both Floyd and CB Xavier Rhodes are banged up. If they do play, their effectiveness may be less than 100 percent. One player to watch is SS Harrison Smith who is much more active in Zimmer’s defense and will be sent on some blitzes
Vikings RBs vs NE Front Seven- Razor’s Edge Vikings
The Vikings have arguably the best running back in the NFL in Adrian Peterson and any time he touches the ball is a threat to take it to the house. Last week against a very tough Rams front four, Peterson did the yeoman work grinding out 75 yards on 21 carries. WR Cordarrelle Patterson provided the fireworks carrying just three times but for 102 yards including a 67 yard touchdown.
The Patriots defense was gashed last week by the Dolphins zone blocking scheme as they got the DL moving laterally and RB Knowshon Moreno cut back with some huge gaps as Miami ran for 191 yards. While the debate rages over whether to ditch the 3-4 defense for the 4-3, one thing that must improve regardless is the tackling which was atrocious. The yards after contact garnered by Miami in the game was the difference and a repeat performance would spell disaster against someone like Peterson.
This is a tough matchup for anyone to slow down the Vikings but look for them to be a tad more aggressive in their approach in disrupting the running game, they'll need a big performance in the middle by Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo but this one is a decided advantage for Minnesota.
Vikings WRs vs NE Secondary- Razor’s Edge Patriots
Former Pats QB Matt Cassel has survived the competition from Christian Ponder and Teddy Bridgewater for the time being and gives the Vikings the best chance at winning now. Eventually the team wants Bridgewater to assume control but for now, he’s watching and learning. Cassel did a good but unspectacular job in the opener and has former Packer Greg Jennings, Patterson and tight end Kyle Rudolph to go along with Peterson out of the backfield.
The Patriots will probably put Darrelle Revis on Patterson and Alfonzo Dennard on Jennings who is mainly their possession receiver now. The Patriots pass defense is much stouter than in 2013 with the addition of Revis and the key here will be stopping the tight ends and running backs out of the backfield, something they continue to struggle with.
The pass rush with Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich off the edge was largely negated last week in Miami which is something the Patriots will be looking to rectify. Rookie Dominique Easley will also be looking to disrupt the flow with an inside pass rush to bring some pressure on Cassel and force some mistakes.
Special Teams- Razor’s Edge Vikings
The Vikings have a very solid kicker in Blair Walsh along with punter Jeff Locke give them an excellent tandem in the kicking game. The Patriots counter with Stephen Gostowski and Ryan Allen so the kicking games are about even.
But with Patterson returning kicks Minnesota has the decided advantage. He’s exciting, and dangerous and the Patriots will be looking for Gostowski to be limiting his returns by kicking out of the endzone as Patterson has returned kickoffs from as far as nine yards deep. The Patriots kick return game remains unsettled as Matthew Slater and Pat Chung handle duties for New England.
The team would love to get the dangerous Edelman loose on a few punt returns. Edelman remains one of the best punt returners in the business but the blocking hasn’t been there yet this season for him to showcase his open field talents.
Prediction:
This is going to be another tough road game for the Patriots, their struggles along both the offensive and defensive lines from last week will bear watching as they will either be a one week anomaly or a dangerous trend.
Minnesota’s ground game has the ability to dictate the game and open up play action passing which would make Cassel’s job much easier. The game plan from a Patriots perspective would be to get up early and force the game into Cassel’s hands thus negating Peterson. But last week they could only generate 10 points off of three turnovers which could have turned a 20-10 lead into much more at the half.
Zimmer’s defense really flummoxed Brady last year in Cincinnati and they’ll be looking to do the same this year by bringing pressure and getting in his face. But having Gronkowski and Vereen healthy for this one should really help get the offense moving.
This one should go down to the wire as Minnesota is far from the 5-10-1 team that they were a year ago. Peterson and Patterson will be matching the Pats offense tit-for-tat but in the end, the experience and advantage at QB for Brady should give New England the edge to eke out a tough road win. Patriots 27-24
Patriots Player to Watch- Chandler Jones
Much was expected from Jones this season as with the additions in the secondary it was thought that Jones would be the beneficiary of opposing quarterbacks having to hold the ball longer and he’d be the disruptor off the edge.
But in Miami last week, Jones was held in check and this week his matchup with Vikings LT Matt Kalil will be one to watch. Jones does look ill-equipped to be a 3-4 DE and it would benefit him for the team to go to a four-man front on passing downs.
Regardless, the Patriots will need much more from Jones this week and if they want to come out with a victory on the road, he will have to step up his game this week.
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