When the NFL released the 2010 schedule this past offseason, it's safe to assume that most people thought the Week 8 matchup between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings would pit two teams at the top of their division. The Patriots have held up their end of the bargain. The Vikings, not so much. Minnesota enters Week 8 desperate for a win at 2-4. Given the state of affairs in the NFC, the Vikings are hardly down for the count, so expect them to give the Pats their best shot this coming Sunday, regardless of who's under center. Here are a few notes and figures about the teams' series history, as well as up-to-date season stats for both clubs.
SERIES
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VIKINGS |
PATRIOTS |
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SERIES LEADER |
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6-4 |
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STREAKS |
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4 of past 6 |
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COACHES VS. OPP. |
Childress: 0-1 |
Belichick: 2-3 |
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LAST WEEK |
L 28-24 at Packers |
W 23-20 at Chargers |
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LAST GAME |
10/30/06: Patriots 31 at Vikings 7. New England QB Tom Brady passes for 372 yards & throws TD pass to 4 different teammates as Pats win on Monday Night to improve to 6-1. |
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LAST GAME AT SITE |
11/24/02: Patriots 24, Vikings 17. Brady throws for 239 yards & 3 TDs, including 2 scores to TE Christian Fauria (9, 1). Pats' defense registers 4 sacks & recovers 3 fumbles. |
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BROADCAST |
FOX (4:15 PM ET): Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 121 (Min.), 123 (NE). XM: 105 (NE). |
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STATS
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PASSING |
Favre: 104-179-1,191-7-10-68.0 |
Brady: 131-198-1,362-11 (T3C)-4-96.0 |
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RUSHING |
Peterson: 140-684 (2L)-4.9-5 (T1C) |
Green-Ellis: 68-259-3.8-4 |
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RECEIVING |
Harvin: 25-289-11.6-3 |
Welker: 37-295-8.0-3 |
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OFFENSE |
318.5 |
325.0 |
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TAKE/GIVE |
-6 |
+6 (3C) |
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DEFENSE |
308.3 |
379.7 |
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SACKS |
Edwards: 1.5 |
Wright: 3 |
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INTs |
E. J. Henderson: 2 |
Chung, Ninkovich: 2 |
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PUNTING |
Kluwe: 43.7 |
Mesko (R): 43.0 |
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KICKING |
Longwell: 27 (12/13 PAT; 5/5 FG) |
Gostkowski: 51 (21/21 PAT; 10/13 FG) |