After getting whipped in the joint practices, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel forced his starters to work a bit more in a practice game. Starting quarterback Drake Maye and the rest of the first-team offense had two series and scored a touchdown on the second. The Vikings starters watched the game from the sideline in street clothes.
The Vikings biggest problem was not scoring touchdowns when presented with terrific opportunities to do so. In the second quarter, facing 3rd-and-1 from the Patriots 12-yard line, quarterback Brett Rypien threw incomplete on consecutive throws and gave the ball back to the Patriots. At the end of the first half, the Vikings had 3rd-and-two from the Patriots 16-yard line, Rypien threw incomplete and the Vikings had to settle for a short field goal. In the fourth quarter, Myles Price returned a kickoff 81 yards to the Patriots 8-yard line. Again, they couldn’t get in the end zone and had to settle for another short field goal. Finally, with less than two minutes in the game, on the strength of some brilliant throws by Max Brosmer, the Vikings drove to the Patriots 13-yard line. Price had a shot at a touchdown catch but couldn’t bring in a Bosmer bullet. The game ended with a Patriots interception in the end zone. Four times, the Vikings were within touching distance of the end zone. What could’ve/should’ve been as many as 28 points, the Vikings managed six.
Other than the Vikings inability to put the ball in the end zone, the most disappointing part of the game was the play of Sam Howell. Since offseason work, the play of the backup quarterbacks has been one of the biggest team concerns. Howell eased some of those concerns with his play against the Houston Texans in the first preseason game. Those concerns returned with his play against the Patriots. They peaked with his mind-boggling interception. “Why?” was probably exclaimed by Vikings fans across the globe. My concerns over the backup quarterbacks are probably less than most. My hope, and belief, is that a quarterback other than J.J. McCarthy doesn’t see a competitive snap this season. Beyond that, I believe that Kevin O’Connell, Josh McCown, Wes Phillips, and the rest of the Vikings offensive coaches will have any quarterback that takes the field ready. After Howell, Brett Rypien looked better than he did against the Texans and Max Brosmer continued to impress.
Preseason Game #2 Standouts
-Max Brosmer had the entire second half. 15/27 for 156 yards. Several of his completions were brilliant.
-The screen game looked good. Zavier Scott had a couple of the best ones.
-The receivers were a little shaky but Tim Jones wasn’t.
-Fifth-round rookie defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins continues to impress.
-Myles Price looked like the returner the Vikings are looking for.
The Tennessee Titans are up next in Preseason Game #3.
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