The Patriots wrapped a competitive week against the Vikings with a 20-12 win in Minnesota.
It would’ve been nice to see both teams’ starters, especially given New England was dominated in their second joint practice after a promising first session. Still, all three of the Patriots’ units showed reasons for optimism in preseason Week 2.
The red zone defense bounced back from a poor showing against the Commanders, holding the Vikings to zero touchdowns despite four possessions in scoring territory. Minnesota also converted just 33% of its third-downs (1-2 on 4th down), gave up four sacks, averaged 3.4 yards per rush, and committed an interception.
The Patriots’ run game struggled in its own right, averaging just 3.1 yards per rush. The offense also capitalized on just two of four red zone trips, and there were unforced errors that must be cleaned up. But the good far outweighed the bad, with New England converting on 60% of 3rd downs and not allowing a sack.
Special teams were a mixed bag, but it was encouraging to see a pair of rookies show mental toughness in adverse situations.
Here are some of my quick thoughts on the matchup, who helped secure the Patriots’ victory, and who might be trending in the wrong direction.
Attendance
Did Not Play: DT Christian Barmore, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Stefon Diggs, CB Christian Gonzalez, TE Hunter Henry, CB D.J. James, RB Terrell Jennings, LB Marte Mapu, RT Morgan Moses, S Jabrill Peppers, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, LB Jahlani Tavai
Injuries: NT Isaiah Iton, WR Kyle Williams
3 UP
Efton Chism
Efton Chism may have locked up a roster spot with today’s performance after putting on a show in joint practices. The undrafted rookie caught all six of his targets for 71 yards and a touchdown, showing his trademark reliability in crucial situations.
Chism had a dominant series on the Patriots’ second touchdown drive, catching four passes for crucial gains. He started with back-to-back catches on crossers, moving the chains on 3rd down and finding room against zone for a 33-yard gain. Later in the drive, Chism caught a contested short target, broke a tackle, then powered through two defenders for an unlikely conversion on another 3rd down. Chism put an exclamation point on the drive a few plays later, catching another short pass on 3rd & 9, breaking three more tackles, and splitting two more to score from Minnesota’s 12-yard line.
Both of Efton Chism's preseason TDs have come on mesh concepts where he refused to go down https://t.co/IISArCtfwV
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) August 16, 2025
Chism also made two defenders miss on a punt return, and he might’ve scored on an earlier red zone target if he turned the opposite direction after catching a sit route.
Between his sticky hands, reliable route-running, knack for making plays in critical moments, and willingness to do the dirty work, Chism has made himself a virtually impossible cut for the Patriots. I think he’s earned more opportunities with the starting offense.
Anfernee Jennings
Anfernee Jennings has been buried on the depth chart due to his lack of pass rush upside, but he’s been the same hard-nosed, high-motor player regardless of circumstance. That resilience paid off in a big way against the Vikings.
The elite run-stopper showed a different side to his game today, totaling three sacks of quarterback Max Brosmer. The first came on a great effort play where he chased down and caught Brosmer by the laces for a 14-yard loss.
33 gets there! @anferneejenning | #NEPats
📺: WBZ pic.twitter.com/X5JPE0DZOh
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 16, 2025
Two plays later, Jennings won the edge with a stab-rip move and corralled Brosmer as he tried stepping up in the pocket. Jennings’ final sack came on a similar win on 3rd & 5 in the 3rd quarter to end a drive.
With Keion White, Harold Landry, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Bradyn Swinson being roster locks and Elijah Ponder showing promise in multiple phases, there simply may not be room on the roster for Jennings. But whether Jennings forces himself onto New England’s 53 or is moved as a valuable trade chip, there’s no question he’s a quality player who deserves a top-three spot on someone’s depth chart.
Jordan Polk
Jordan Polk has flown under the radar this summer, but he’s making a name for himself in the preseason. One week after securing an (albeit opportunistic) interception against the Commanders, the slot corner continued to flash with more impact plays.
Polk recorded a sack on a slot blitz, filled gaps with ferocity in the run game, and showed exemplary effort chasing down a long kick return to prevent a touchdown.
Bobcat legend Jordan Polk with the TD saving tackle pic.twitter.com/woA46T7guY
— Maroon&GoldEnjoyer (@MaroonanGoldEnj) August 16, 2025
Polk is still a longshot to make the roster with Marcus Jones and Alex Austin being virtual locks, but that kind of versatility gets you noticed by NFL teams. The tape will tell how effective be was in coverage, but it looked like a strong outing for the undrafted rookie at first glance.
3 DOWN
Kyle Dugger
Kyle Dugger repped with backups until the game’s final whistle. The veteran looked like his usual self as a run defender, quickly filling gaps and sticking ball-carriers. However, he didn’t look great moving side-to-side, and his game-sealing interception may have been a fumble upon further review.
Unless a move to linebacker is in his future, it’s seeming less and less likely that Dugger makes the final roster. The best-case-scenario would be finding a trade partner for Dugger, but New England might be willing to eat the dead money that would come with cutting him. He’s unlikely to contribute on special teams and is making too much to be the fourth safety on the depth chart.
Javon Baker
Javon Baker has all the talent in the world, but consistency continues to elude him. He had arguably his best day of the summer in the second joint practice against the Vikings, then followed it up with a pair of glaring mistakes in today’s game.
Baker was flagged for a false start on a red zone possession, the type of mistake Mike Vrabel specifically mentioned had to be avoided earlier this week. One play later, Baker let a perfectly-placed out target slip through his hands. He also didn’t make a special teams tackle after recording two last week, though the tape may tell a more positive story.
Baker does deserve credit for getting open on a pair of bad throws that led to incompletions. He also made an impressive sideline grab on a comeback from Wooldridge. Still, if Baker wants to earn a roster spot and reps as more than a special teamer, he must consistently capitalize when throws come his way. To this point in the summer, that hasn’t been his M.O.
Ben Wooldridge
I sang Ben Wooldridge’s praises for his poise and accuracy against the Commanders. He showed similar toughness on a few throws against Minnesota, including a 3rd down conversion where he took a big hit from an unblocked rusher. Unfortunately, Wooldridge’s accuracy wasn’t nearly as consistent as it was last week once he found a groove.
Receivers were forced to adjust to multiple errant throws from the quarterback, including a high throw that led to John Jiles getting table-topped in mid-air. Woolrdidge ended the day with a 64.6 passer rating, going 7-13 for just 55 yards and no touchdowns.
Wooldridge didn’t get any reps in joint practices, which may have contributed to his shaky play, but that’s life as a third-string rookie behind a franchise pillar. With Joshua Dobbs having an exceptional second day of joint practices and posting a 107.8 passer rating in today’s game, the backup quarterback job might be set in stone barring a seismic change next week.
NOTEBOOK
Drake Maye had a tough start to the game. He threw over the middle to Mack Hollins, missed a wide open DeMario Douglas (possible miscommunication), and might’ve been responsible for a delay of game, an issue that popped up in the last practice before Minnesota. I also didn’t love that he took a big hit on a scramble throwaway. But Maye rarely gets rattled by slow starts, and he showed that by following up those gaffs with a perfect touch throw to TreVeyon Henderson, a deep completion to Hollins on a scramble drill, and a pre-snap adjustment that led to Henderson’s long 3rd down conversion. Maye had some shaky moments in the first joint practice, but overall, I thought he acquitted himself well against a unique defense and largely made good decision with the football. Moving forward, I’ll be looking for more consistent accuracy and a cleaner operation.
TreVeyon Henderson’s contact balance popped today, with the explosive back turning a 3rd & 10 draw into a conversion and recording an eight-yard score behind key blocks from Jack Westover, Will Campbell, and Ben Brown. Rhamondre Stevenson will be the Patriots’ bruiser when healthy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Henderson ends the season with more total touches.
K’Lavon Chaisson made multiple impact plays in limited snaps. He had a key pressure on the Patriots’ interception, bulldozed his blocker to influence a scramble on a 3rd down stop, and set a hard edge on Isaiah Iton’s run stuff. He’s exceeded expectations this summer and should be a key piece up front.
Alex Austin just keeps making plays as an inside-out depth cornerback. While his interception may have been opportunistic, he prevented a slot fade touchdown for a second straight week and is consistently competitive in coverage. He did draw a pair of illegal contact penalties, but at least one was a bad call. Given Vrabel’s preference for bigger slot corners and Marcus Jones‘ struggles against Jordan Addison in practice, I’d be slightly surprised if Austin doesn’t earn some reps above Jones this week.
With Lan Larison on injured reserve, I’d be surprised if JaMycal Hasty doesn’t make the roster as the Patriots’ fourth back. He can contribute as a runner, receiver, and pass blocker, and he was a core special teamer last season. Against the Vikings, he averaged a solid 4.2 yards per carry, had a key block on Marcus Jones’ big punt return, and had at least one standout rep in pass protection.
John Jiles seemed like a safe bet for the practice squad, but his preseason performances could make him an intriguing waiver wire option for a receiver-needy team. He’s a big target who blocks his butt off and will contribute on special teams. Though he dropped an open red zone target, he preceded those with some tough high-point catches through contact and turned an end around into a seven yard gain.
The Patriots’ defense got embarrassed on a screen in their first joint practice against the Vikings. In today’s matchup, the unit allowed at least two chunk gains on screens where there weren’t nearly enough defenders at the point of attack. New England has to clean that up before the regular season.