MINNEAPOLIS — The New England Patriots are still the standard in this league that all others strive for, a model of salary cap management, successful drafts and on-field consistency this decade that hasn't been matched.

Teams are sure trying, though.

Take the Minnesota Vikings, who no longer introduce individual starters before their home games, preferring instead to run out together. The Patriots received plenty of publicity for that team-first, no-star concept while they were winning Super Bowls after the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Minnesota had several high-profile players in recent years, and Daunte Culpepper, Randy Moss and everyone else left without a ring. The Vikings spent a significant amount of cash in free agency in the offseason to build their roster for new coach Brad Childress, but Chester Taylor was the only addition who plays a glamour position — and he signed for far less money than many of his running back peers.

"It's an approach that I think we're buying into," said linebacker Ben Leber, who left San Diego to join Minnesota this year. "I think everybody knew at the beginning of the season what we were. We've heard the people talking, 'You guys don't have a big-name guy,' and all that. And we were OK with that. ... We knew it was just a matter of time before we could be successful, too."

The Vikings (4-2) host the Patriots (5-1) in their first Monday night home game since 2001. It will be a big test for both teams, but probably more for Minnesota, which has been making progress toward establishment of the disciplined, run-first, defense-fueled team that Childress is after.

"They're really impressive," New England coach Bill Belichick said during a gushing, 300-plus-word Vikings analysis that kicked off his news conference Wednesday.

The Patriots, who have won five straight on the road and outscored opponents 156-64 in those contests, are still built around a strong defense and an unflappable quarterback in Tom Brady, who sports a 9-0 career record when playing inside. New England, for that matter, has won nine straight dome games dating to Thanksgiving Day in 2000 that brought a defeat at Detroit.

This interconference matchup has been held at the Metrodome only once over the last 18 seasons, won by Minnesota 23-18 in 1997. The last time they played was in 2002, when the Patriots won 24-17.