| Pats
at Vikings - October 30, 2006
by: VIP.com
The Patriots have proven themselves to be one of
the best road teams in the league, gunning for their
sixth straight regular season road victory. But
they won’t have things all their own way against
a Vikings team that has been among the surprise
stories of the early season. On
paper, there is little difference between the
teams. The Pats (5-1) are undefeated since week
three, and go in as slight 1.5 point favorites
against the improved Vikings (4-2). The Over /
Under for this contest is just 39, as points should
come at a premium.
Patriots quarterback, Tom
Brady has regained his confidence and is working
well with his receivers. Brady had a slow start
to the season following the loss of his two favorite
targets, Deion Branch to Seattle and David Givens
to Tennessee.
However, Brady gave one of
his best performances of the season in last week’s
28-6 demolition of Buffalo, and showed he has
found new go-to men in Doug Gabriel and rookie
Chad Jackson, who both caught touchdown passes.
New England also has one of the better receiving
tight ends in the league in Ben Watson.
The return to form of running
back Corey Dillon, who bagged two touchdowns last
week, comes as a timely bonus for the Pats. He
set a franchise record with over 1,600 rushing
yards in 2004, but then spent long periods last
season on the sidelines with injuries.
Dillon splits carries with
rookie Laurence Maroney, who played his college
ball in the Minneapolis Metrodome, although both
will have to contend with the NFL’s second
ranked rushing defense.
After missing the playoffs
last year, the Vikings brought in a new coaching
staff and have been among the most disciplined
teams in the NFC.
Coach Brad Childress has
brought a new consistency to the Vikings’
game, and they showed their improvement last week
by ending Seattle’s 12-game home winning
streak with a 31-13 trouncing.
Key man in the Vikings’
success has been running back Chester Taylor,
who entered the weekend the second-leading rusher
in the NFL.
Taylor is running hot, as
he powered his way to a career-high 169 yards
last week, including a franchise record 95 yard
run.
The Patriots run defense
is no slouch themselves at 5th in the NFL. While
quarterback, Brad Johnson has been solid, without
being brilliant this year, he will not be able
to rely on Taylor to move the ball on offense.
Minnesota will need to make several big passing
plays down the field to win this game.
Game Summary
Both teams are playing well,
especially on defense. That means a close game
should be in the cards. New England hasn’t
conceded more than 17 points in any game this
year, while the Vikings’ have done so just
once, in a narrow 19-16 loss to Chicago.
This is their first meeting
since 2002 when the Pats won a tight affair, 24-17.
Brady was the difference that day, throwing three
touchdown passes, and it may well be a similar
story tonight.
For all NFL betting picks,
please visit VIP.com
Posted by miker at October
30th, 2006 9:16 AM
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