Turning in a spectacular performance and yet another highlight touchdown run, Cordarrelle Patterson comes in No. 1 on the NFL's list of top 5 NFL runs during Week 1 of the regular season.
Having scored a touchdown in six consecutive games, it will be interesting to see how the Patriots plan to slow down the second year playmaker this Sunday in the Vikings home opener.
Tom Brady, who needs no introduction, has nothing but respect for the Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer. Brady has had some struggles against Zimmer's defense in past and that has him a little uneasy entering Sunday's contest.
Star Tribune's Matt Vensel writes that Brady is wary of the new look Zimmer-led Vikings defense:
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has gotten a chance to look at Mike Zimmer's defense, and while he says these Vikings look a little different than Zimmer's Bengals, he still sees a formidable unit.
"It's taken on a little bit different style, as it always does when you have different players," Brady said on a conference call with Vikings reporters. "So he's going to play to their strengths as players. That's what makes him such a great coach. He's got a great scheme. The guys really seemed to have learned it. I mean, they haven't lost a game, including the preseason, all year."
Brady and the Patriots have watched the game tape from the Vikings' win over the Rams in Week 1, in addition to their four preseason games. They've also dusted off some of the tape from when Zimmer coached the Bengals defense. The Patriots and the Bengals met twice from 2010 and 2013.
The most recent meeting between the two AFC teams was last October, when the Bengals halted Brady's touchdown streak in a 13-6 win. Brady was sacked four times, threw an interception and completed just 47.4 percent of his passes. The Patriots were 1-for-12 on third down.
"We struggled. We struggled all day," he said. "We couldn't do much on early downs which led to a lot of third-and-longs. Against a good defense, you're not going to be very successful in the NFL."
Although Zimmer's defenses have performed well against Brady's offenses and the team didn't allow a touchdown in Week 1, the matchup Sunday is a clear test and should provide a good measuring stick as to where the Vikings defense is.
Quick Hitters
-* *State Fairgrounds Parking / Tailgating Available for Vikings Fans During 2014 Regular Season.
- Vikings' Matt Cassel finally to face mentor (and friend) Tom Brady on the field.
