Preseason game No. 2 has arrived for the New England Patriots as they get ready to face-off against the Minnesota Vikings.
Despite a pair of joint practices with the Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday, the expectation is for quarterback Drake Maye and New England’s healthy starters to again see action. Minnesota, meanwhile, will be without its own starting QB, J.J. McCarthy, who will be kept out of the game after a strong final day of practice.
Follow along with everything down below.
Live Score: Patriots 20 : 9 Vikings
Saturday, August 16, 1 p.m. ET | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | Broadcast Information | Players to watch | Patriots depth chart
The Patriots opened with the football on Saturday with quarterback Drake Maye under center against Minnesota’s second defensive unit. Things got on the move with a first-down completion to Mack Hollins and a pair of runs by Antonio Gibson to move the chains again. A high miss from Maye targeting Douglas and delay of game backed New England up, however, which ultimately led to a punt as Maye’s third-down pass to TreVeyon Henderson was broken up.
With Sam Howell under center, Minnesota kept the ball on the ground on their first drive with five straight runs. Facing a third-and-two, Howell’s pass was broken up by cornerback Carlton Davis in his preseason debut.
New England’s special teams continued their strong summer as a 37-yard punt return by Marcus Jones started the next drive just shy of midfield. With Maye back out for a second series, the quarterback bought time on third-down and worked to his right before finding Mack Hollins along the sideline for a 20-yard completion. Then facing a third-and-10, a draw to Henderson moved the chains and the ball inside the red area. Two Antonio Gibson runs set up a third third-down, where Henderson fought through contact to find the end zone. [Patriots 7 : 0 Vikings]
Minnesota’s next drive ended with a turnover, as pressure on Howell resulted in a heave downfield which ended in the arms of Alex Austin for an interception.
Following the turnover, Joshua Dobbs took over under center for the Patriots. A play-action completion over the middle to Kyle Williams and face mask penalty drawn by Efton Chism III quickly moved the ball inside the 10-yard line. Keeping the offense on the field on fourth-down, Dobbs’ pass could not find an open Javon Baker in the end zone.
Taking over at their own five-yard line following the turnover on downs, Howell found some breathing room with a completion on the move. But, that was all Minnesota could muster as New England forced a punt behind a tackle for loss by Isaiah Iton.
A third-down completion from Dobbs to Cole Fotheringham picked up an initial first-down for New England, but Dobbs’ next third-down attempt led Javon Baker out of bounds between two defenders. Andy Borregales’ 57-yard field goal was then hooked wide left.
Starting just shy of midfield following the long field goal miss, Minnesota picked up a chunk gain on a screen that was similar to one they gashed New England on in the joint practice on Wednesday. The drive moved inside the red area where the Vikings kept the offense on the field on fourth-and-one, where a pass to the end zone was incomplete with Alex Austin in coverage.
Back-to-back short completions to Kyle Williams picked up a first-down, although the rookie receiver stayed down after taking a big hit on the third-down completion. The next third-down, Dobbs hit Chism over the middle for 11 yards before going right back to the undrafted receiver for a 33-yard gain. On a third-and-six following the two-minute warning, Dobbs went back to Chism who broke a handful of tackles to fight for a first-down. Moving outside the 10-yard line after a false start by Baker, Dobbs’ third-down pass went back to no one other than Chism, who dodged even more Viking defenders to find the end zone. [Patriots 14 : 0 Vikings]
With less than one-minute left in the half, Minnesota got on the move with several completions and a pair of illegal contact penalties on Alex Austin — the second that was declined after a 20-yard gain from Brett Rypien to Tai Felton. A third-down pass was then dropped leading to a short field goal. [Patriots 14 : 3 Vikings]
The following kickoff return saw Jeremiah Webb take it 60 yards which ended the half.
Minnesota started the second half with Max Brosmer marching the offense across midfield before a sack from defensive back Jordan Polk stopped their progress. Holding the Vikings to a long field goal, Will Reichard split the uprights from 54 yards out. [Patriots 14 : 6 Vikings]
Ben Wooldridge began the second half at quarterback for the Patriots. Moving backwards after a hold on Sidy Sow, Wooldridge’s third-down pass to Javon Baker fell incomplete leading to a punt.
Minnesota’s next drive started going backwards on a penalty and then 13-yard sack by Anfernee Jennings, who swept Brosmer’s ankle out of the pocket to bring him down. On third-down, Jennings struck again getting a second straight sack to force a punt.
A strong catch for John Jiles over the middle went for 12 yards to start New England’s next drive before Wooldridge went back to the receiver to move the chains on third-down. Moving inside the red area on the ground, the Patriots were held to a field goal in which Parker Romo knocked through from 28 yards. [Patriots 17 : 6 Vikings]
The ensuing kickoff from Romo was short of the landing zone — starting the Vikings drive at the 40-yard line. A 28-yard completion to Tim Jones than moved Minnesota shy of the red area, where Anfernee Jennings’ third sack of the game led to another Minnesota field goal. [Patriots 17 : 9 Vikings]
After picking up a first-down on the ground, a pretty back shoulder throw from Wooldridge found Baker along the sideline to move the chains again on third-down. A run on the following third-down was stopped for a loss leading to a 51-yard field goal by Andy Borregales. [Patriots 20 : 9 Vikings]