When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough.
TV, radio: Fox, WBZ-FM 98.5.
When the Vikings run
Dalvin Cook (5 feet 10 inches, 210 pounds) is a sturdy back who flashes a nice combination of moves and quickness. Cook runs with excellent leg strength, balance, and pad level. He sees lanes quickly and has a subtle jump-cut into the hole. Cook’s speed is back after an ACL injury last season, and he will get to the corner and punish defenses that don’t set the edge. Cook has the shiftiness to exploit cutback lanes and the strength to run over defenders. He doesn’t always flash those traits, however, and will occasionally pop out of bounds when there is more real estate to be had. Latavius Murray (6-3, 230) is a powerful between-the-tackles grinder who will fight tooth-and-nail for every yard — even if it means taking would-be tacklers for a ride. He’s neither quick nor fast, but if you need a yard, he’ll push the pile till he gets it. Pat Elflein is a dandy center. He has awesome lower-body strength and deceptive quickness, allowing him to dig in against bull rushers but also slip to the second level and cut down a linebacker. Right guard Mike Remmers is tough and strong but lacks lateral quickness. Left guard Tom Compton is athletic and plays with good leverage. He can pull, trap, and pick off linebackers. New England has the up-front beef in Malcom Brown and Danny Shelton to clog the gaps and funnel runners to Kyle Van Noy, Dont’a Hightower, Elandon Roberts, and Patrick Chung.
EDGE: Patriots
Rushing yards per game
Minnesota offense: 85.3 (30th)
New England defense: 107.7 (14th)
When the Vikings pass
Kirk Cousins is a smart, poised, and fiery leader. He has excellent mechanics and can be supremely accurate on short and intermediate throws. He has decent arm strength but doesn’t have the same pinpoint delivery on deep balls. Cousins does a nice job at leading his receivers, allowing them to catch the ball in stride and make a ton of yards after the catch. Though Cousins has good pocket presence — he senses the rush — a lack of athleticism and escapability will lead to some big hits on his thin frame (6-3, 202). Left tackle Riley Reiff (he’s quick) and right tackle Rashod Hill (he’s raw) can get overwhelmed. Receiver Adam Thielen (6-2, 200) is smart, athletic, and versatile. He excels as a big slot target but he can line up anywhere. Thielen runs smooth routes, explodes in and out of his cuts, and has a knack for finding openings in zone defenses. Oh yeah, and he catches everything. Stefon Diggs (6-0, 190) is a fast and fluid force. He shifts gears smoothly, tracks the ball exceptionally well, and has the stickiest mitts since Lester Hayes. He’s a threat from everywhere. Laquon Treadwell (6-2, 215) has excellent size and strength but his interest isn’t always there. Kyle Rudolph (6-6, 265) came right off the Model T tight end assembly line. He has size and strength and can stretch the seam with his speed. He can run right by you or right over you. New England’s secondary has a cadre of strong and savvy playmakers.
EDGE: Vikings
Passing yards per game
Minnesota offense: 283.2 (seventh)
New England defense: 269.7 (25th)
When the Patriots run
Getting Sony Michel back was a real boost. This week, Rex Burkhead returns to further bolster the running back corps. Michel is coming off his best game as a pro (21 carries, 133 yards). The rookie showed excellent vision, patience, burst, and toughness against the Jets. He let his blocks develop — an area of improvement — and got into the secondary on several runs. Michel ran with good power and broke tackles, and in the open field he downshifted fluidly to make defenders miss. Burkhead is a slashing-type runner who can zip through openings with both forward and lateral quickness. He has deceptive between-the-tackles power and will bounce off bodies and consistently gives second and third efforts. James White had a career-high 73 rushing yards last week and continues to show why he’s one of the most versatile and valuable weapons in the league. He can slip through holes and away from tackles with his quick feet and deceptive acceleration. New England’s offensive line was terrific against the Jets. This quintet was tremendous all afternoon, pulling, trapping, and working combo blocks to repeatedly get to the second level. This unit’s continued continuity will go a long way in achieving offensive balance as the weather gets nasty. Minnesota middle linebacker Eric Kendricks is an instinctive head-banger with a high-revving motor. He has excellent recognition skills and will peel off blocks and get to the ball.
EDGE: Vikings
Rushing yards per game
New England offense: 118.2 (12th)
Minnesota defense: 93.6 (t-4th)
When the Patriots pass
Tom Brady will be feeling some heat in this one. The Vikings defend the pass better than most with a fierce rush and a solid secondary working together to frustrate and disrupt quarterbacks and pass catchers. Ends Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen can apply the pressure. Hunter (6-5, 252) has a great first step and ridiculous athleticism. He has long arms and can swim past blockers and also bat down passes at the line. Griffen has strong hands and will disengage from his man in a flash. Tackles Linval Joseph and Sheldon Richardson have a ton of beef, and they can push the pocket and prevent Brady from stepping up. Safety Harrison Smith is no stranger to a well-timed blitz. Brady will target Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman early as he looks to quell the pass rush. With size and strength, Gronkowski commands attention from linebackers and cheating safeties underneath and down the seam. Edelman has superb quickness and hands and a penchant for coming up big in big moments. With Gronkowski and Edelman occupying multiple defenders, Brady can get Chris Hogan involved on intermediate man-beater routes. This opens things up for Josh Gordon, whose superior combination of physical skills and ability to adapt to Josh McDaniels’s scheme has been remarkable. Gordon has the height, muscle, and quicks to make defenders look foolish and his quarterback look flawless.
EDGE: Patriots
Passing yards per game
New England offense: 270.0 (11th)
Minnesota defense: 221.1 (fifth)
Vikings’ key player: Harrison Smith
He’s one of the most instinctive, versatile, and rugged safeties in the league. But all you really need to know about him is that Bill Belichick recently mentioned him in the same breath as Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu.
How he beats you: With great versatility. Harrison gets downhill quickly and supports the run like an extra linebacker. He also has good coverage skills and can stick with tight ends underneath. And when he blitzes, he usually gets there.
How to shut him down: By swamping him. Dedicate the bodies to get Harrison caught up in traffic. He will fight his way through it eventually, but the hope is the ball is by him when he gets free.
Vikings’ keys to victory
1. Purple people eaters: Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen must get off the edge and swallow up Tom Brady before he starts distributing to his weapons.
2. Purple aura: Stefon Diggs has to be able to stretch New England’s defense with his speed. His big-play ability could help negate the Patriots’ chances to get to – and rattle — Kirk Cousins.
3. Purple haze: Mix the looks and coverages to confuse Brady. It’s not easy, but Mike Vrabel set the blueprint in Tennessee. If you’re predictable, Brady will kill you.
Patriots’ keys to victory
1. Raspberry beret: Got to get a hat on a hat, because the Vikings like to blitz and they’re really good at it. Harrison Smith and linebacker Anthony Barr know how to time it and land blows.
2. Housequake: Making Kirk Cousins uncomfortable is imperative. Bring the house and rock his world to get him off his spot and force him into bad decisions.
3. Little red Corvette: The Patriots have to get their engines revving against the No. 1 red zone defense in the league. Rex Burkhead’s tough inside running could be the answer here.
PREDICTION: Patriots 31, Vikings 27
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride.
