After a couple of joint-practice days in which the Vikings seemed to get the better of the Patriots, the Patriots sent their starting offense out for the first two drives of Saturday’s preseason game in Minnesota.
The No. 1 unit punted once and then scored a touchdown.
The first drive should have resulted in an interception. The second of two higher-than-ideal throws from quarterback Drake Maye was tipped by receiver Mack Hollins and nearly picked by safety Tavierre Thomas.
On the second drive, the Patriots went 51 yards in nine plays after a punt return set the Pats up near midfield. Rookie running back TreyVeon Henderson scored on an eight-yard run.
For the day, Maye completed four of seven passes for 47 yards. Henderson had four carries for 20 yards.
The Vikings didn’t play any of their starters.
Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers earned a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles last season before signing with the Vikings in free agency, but that ring isn’t for display at the Vikings facility.
Rodgers said some teammates have wanted to see his Super Bowl ring and that he told them that the goal should be earning their own.
“A couple,” Rodgers told CBS Sports, “but I told ‘em no. Wait until we get our own.”
As for what the Vikings have to do to get to where the Eagles were last season, Rodgers said they’re close.
“I think it’s already here,” Rodgers said. “You look at our head coach. Amazing guy, amazing coach. I think you have to be more player-led. By coming here, and watching how these players lead, I think we definitely got it.”
A Vikings team that thinks it’s already close after a 14-3 season hopes that Rodgers is one of a few offseason additions who will make the difference in getting them that ring.
On July 17, Vikings receiver Jordan Addison resolved a DUI citation by pleading guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge, with no jail time. He’ll miss the first three games of the regular season.
On July 17, Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice pleaded guilty to a pair of felonies arising from a street racing crash that was caught on video, and that caused multiple injuries. He’ll serve 30 days and spend five years on probation. And he’ll be on the field for at least the first four games of the season, because his disciplinary hearing won’t happen until September 30.
It makes no sense. And it’s making some wonder whether someone wants Rice to be available for a quartet of high-profile Kansas City games to start the season. From Week 1 against the Chargers in Brazil on YouTube to Week 2 against the Eagles at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox to Week 3 against the Giants on NBC’s Sunday Night Football to Week 4 against the Ravens at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS, Rice is now good to go.
Given that his hearing will happen on Tuesday, September 30, he’ll most likely be available for Week 5, a Monday night visit to Jacksonville on ESPN and ABC.
As one league source observed, it usually doesn’t work this way. With the player pleading guilty in the offseason, there’s usually an urgency to finalize his discipline and have it begin before Week 1.
“Maybe I’m a conspiracy theorist,” the source said, “but this is odd.”
Added the source, “You hardly ever see players get suspended in season unless they did something in season like a drug test or something.”
Here, there’s no dispute. Rice pleaded guilty. The question is only the extent of the punishment. Why didn’t the league expedite the case?
If all else fails, put him on paid leave until the case is resolved, and give him credit for the games he misses after the final punishment is issued.
At a time when many think the league favors the Chiefs, situations like this will not become evidence to the contrary. If anything, it looks like the dominos have fallen in a way to ensure that Rice will be available for four, and likely five, high-profile games to be played on YouTube, CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN/ABC.
To be successful, an NFL quarterback needs to have confidence. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is brimming with it.
Asked about his passing skills by reporters on Thursday, McCarthy was blunt.
“I think I’m one of the, you know, most accurate guys out there,” McCarthy said, “and just being able to take a day-to-day and, you know, really hone in on just every single throw. It’s not just, you know, ‘The ball was completed.’ It’s, ‘Did I give him a runner’s ball?’ ‘Did I put it on the right pad for him to turn a certain way?’ So, you know, just being able to really lean into that as one of my strengths is something that I always have to be extremely hard on, every single throw.”
So far, he’s backing it up. And if he performs in the games that count the way he has in practice, we’ll look back at the hazy uncertainty of the early offseason and laugh about Minnesota’s seeming uncertainty about trusting their 2024 evaluation and going all in with the player they moved up to pick with the 10th selection in the draft.
As joint practices become more prevalent, coaches strongly prefer getting work for their key players there, in lieu of preseason games.
That’s the case for the Vikings and quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters on Thursday that McCarthy won’t play in the Week 2 preseason game against the Patriots. Sam Howell will get the start instead.
As noted by Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, McCarthy got “a ton of work” during joint practices with the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday.
And the reviews have been very positive. Look at this throw to running back Aaron Jones. And this one to receiver Jordan Addison. And this one to receiver Lucky Jackson.
Also, McCarthy can run.
Said O’Connell of McCarthy’s performance on Thursday: “It felt decisive. Incredible amount of conviction to some of the decisions he made, location of the football.”
McCarthy is one of the biggest wild cards in the league. As the games that count creep closer, he’s looking more and more like he could be Minnesota’s ace in the hole.
One key will be to keep him healthy. Which means keeping him in the red jersey and not putting him fully in harm’s way in a game that doesn’t count.
