Pats humble Vikings on their own turf
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings were ready to show the New England Patriots — and a prime-time audience — that they're really a contender.
Tom Brady handed them a humbling defeat and hushed another loud crowd.
Brady beat a relentless rushing defense by simply passing over it for 372 yards and touchdowns to four different receivers, and the Patriots pounded Minnesota 31-7 on Monday night to win their sixth straight regular-season road game.
"If you can duplicate it, it's a blueprint to go after the Vikings," coach Brad Childress said. "My hat's off to them. They did a great job."
New England had four sacks and four interceptions, forcing Brad Johnson into a handful of uncharacteristic mistakes.
"It's probably one of the most embarrassing games I've been a part of," said Johnson, who went 20-of-33 for 185 yards and three interceptions, which sent him to the sideline for the final 12 minutes while backup Brooks Bollinger took over.
Still firing well into the fourth quarter, Brady didn't let up — going 29-of-43 to beat a defense that had been pretty decent against the pass, too.
"The plan was to come out and put the ball in the air a little bit," Brady said, grinning. "The receivers made a lot of great plays, and it was a lot of fun, needless to say."
The Patriots (6-1) more than doubled Minnesota's average of allowing 15.8 points per game, setting the tone for an easy victory with an opening drive on which Brady completed all six of his throws for 94 yards.
"He found every weakness," Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said. "As soon as he got the ball, he knew exactly where he was going."
Minnesota's only score was a 71-yard punt return by Mewelde Moore in the third quarter, but New England rookie Laurence Maroney — playing in the stadium where he became a college star — answered that with a 74-yard kickoff return.
Up next for the Pats? A home game against Indianapolis (7-0), which is clearly a big one for November.
"We're happy to win," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, "but it doesn't get any easier."
The Vikings (4-3) proved they weren't in their opponent's class just yet. Playing their first Monday night home game in five years, they were consistently outschemed and outworked. The jazzed-up crowd of 63,819 lost the buzz by halftime.
"It was just good to come into a hostile environment and get a win," defensive end Richard Seymour said. "That's the biggest storyline — just to come in here, fight the crowd and play good, sound football all away along the board."
Save for an up-for-grabs pass up the sideline that Darren Sharper snagged for a one-handed interception as he fell down in the first quarter, Brady — now 10-0 when he plays inside — was brilliant.
