5 key reasons the Vikings should be worried about the New England Patriots
Each week, BringMeTheNews will analyze the Vikings' upcoming game from both sides, and give you "5 key reasons the Vikings should be worried." This week they host the New England Patriots, who are coming off a division road loss to Miami in Week 1.
For 5 key reasons the Vikings will win, click here.
5. Belicheck and Brady don't lose two games in a row
The Patriots don't like losing. Not that any NFL team does, but they have been the most consistent winner in the NFL this century. New England hasn't lost back-to-back games since Weeks 2 and 3 of the 2012 season, according to ESPN. Since 2003, Bill Belichek and the Patriots have lost back-to-back games just four times. Their record during that time in games after a loss? 33-4.
During his press conference on Wednesday Patriots quarterback Tom Brady called losing a quality of life issue.
"Hopefully that motivates us to go out there and have a great week of practice and be prepared for this game," Brady told reporters Wednesday. "And try to beat a very good team."
4. Patriots are familiar with the Vikings' coaches
It's safe to say Belichick knows a little about Mike Zimmer, considering they both have had long NFL careers.
Viking Update notes Belichick and his staff know the battle between the coaches will be just as intense as the on-field battles between the players.
Don't forget the Patriots are coming off a game in Miami and faced a defense similar to the Vikings'. Miami's defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle worked with Zimmer as the defensive backs coach in Cincinnati.
3. Zoning in on Cordarrelle
Expect the Patriots, who have struggled on special teams in preseason and last week, to make a special effort to keep track of Cordarrelle Patterson.
New England wide receiver and special teamer Matthew Slater says they are aware the Vikings led the NFL kickoff returns last year and were number two in punt returns. Slater says they know it will take a focused effort.
2. The outdoors have been unkind to the Vikings
The Vikings have enjoyed one of the most difficult home field advantages in the NFL for the past 32 seasons, inside the Metrodome. Before that teams had to deal with the cold weather, which the Vikings were used to at that time.
Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the Vikings have the fourth-best home record, at 227-113-1. Only Pittsburgh (245), Denver (236) and Miami (228) have more home wins during that span. The problem with Sunday is that the game is outdoors.
Vikings go outdoors Sunday. Since start of 2012, Vikings in regular season and playoffs are 1-11-1 in outdoor games and 15-6 in indoor games
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) September 10, 2014
Over the last 10 seasons the team has just 14 wins while playing outdoors. The one other regular season game they have played at TCF Bank Stadium was a 40-14 loss to Chicago on Dec. 15, 2010.
1. Brady is unbeaten against the Vikings
They don't play every year, but Tom Brady has never lost to the Vikings.
In his career, Brady is 3-0 as New England's starter against Minnesota. The last time the two teams played was in 2010, when Brett Favre was the Vikings' quarterback and Randy Moss was on his second (very short) stint in Minnesota.
The Vikings only have one starter on defense that was around then – linebacker Chad Greenway.
Too much negativity for you? Then here are "5 key reasons the Vikings will beat the New England Patriots."
