Right At Home
- Updated: December 3, 2018
James Develin rushed for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns and Josh Gordon added another score as the Patriots defeated the Vikings, 24-10, on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots improved to 9-3 and maintained their hold on the No. 2 seed for the AFC playoffs. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Raiders to retain their grip on the No. 1 seed.
The Vikings fell to 6-5-1, and became the third NFC North team to fall to the Patriots this season. The Lions were the only NFC North team to beat the Patriots this season, when the Patriots faced all four teams in the division.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady connected on 24 of 32 passes for 311 yards. Brady completed passes to nine receivers. He also ran for a first down in the first half that pushed his career rushing yardage to 1,000.
“Hopefully I don’t go backward next week,’’ Brady said. “It was good to get the win, that’s what I’m most excited about.’’
James White had seven receptions for 92 yards. Sony Michel rushed 17 times for 63 yards and caught one pass for 7.
“It was just a great win, they’re a good team,’’ Brady said. “Good defensively, obviously a lot of skill guys on offense. Just a hard-fought game. Good complementary football.’’
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 32 of 44 passes for 201 yards. He threw one touchdown pass and had two passes intercepted.
After the Vikings tied it at 10-10 in the third quarter, the Patriots pulled ahead 17-10 when Brady connected with Josh Gordon on a 24-yard touchdown pass play with 35 seconds left in the quarter.
The Patriots made it 24-10 early in the fourth quarter when Develin punched through the Vikings’ goal line defense for his second touchdown. The fullback’s 2-yard score capped a six play, 50-yard drive.
The Patriots scored on their first drive to take a 7-0 lead, and increased it to 10-0 on a 20-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal in the second quarter.