Minnesota Vikings vs. New England Patriots: 2010 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-10-31, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 28–18 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Favre (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +8.79 total EPA, and +7.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.51 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+22.5% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (8:14) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 19-B.Tate for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 12-Brady 237th career TD pass, ties Jim Kelly for 17th place all-time. NE 19-Tate 1st career TD reception.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +10.51 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Favre · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +8.79 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Green-Ellis · New England Patriots · Rushing · +8.71 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Tate · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.61 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.65 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Gerhart · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.02 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Peterson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.01 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Woodhead · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.42 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Jackson · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +2.23 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Minnesota Vikings — A. Peterson (Q2 45:00)
• New England Patriots — D. Woodhead (Q2 40:28)
• New England Patriots — B. Tate (T. Brady pass) (Q3 23:14)
• New England Patriots — B. Green-Ellis (Q3 17:30)
• Minnesota Vikings — N. Tahi (T. Jackson pass) (Q4 7:31)
• New England Patriots — B. Green-Ellis (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — R. Longwell (Q3 24:37)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q2 45:00); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 44:57) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIN 3 (Q2 40:28) — (10:28) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 39-D.Woodhead. 39-D.Woodhead up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 40:25) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–3. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NE 5 (Q3 24:37) — (9:37) 8-R.Longwell 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIN 65 (Q3 23:14); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 22:59) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIN 13 (Q3 17:30) — (2:30) 42-B.Green-Ellis left tackle for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 17:25) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 8–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q4 7:31) — (7:31) MIN 7-Jackson now at QB. 7-T.Jackson pass short right to 38-N.Tahi for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings registered a safety from the NE 2 (Q4 7:26) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 7-T.Jackson pass to 12-P.Harvin is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIN 2 (Q4 2:00); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 1:56) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New England Patriots (Q3 23:14) — (8:14) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 19-B.Tate for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 12-Brady 237th career TD pass, ties Jim Kelly for 17th place all-time. NE 19-Tate 1st career TD reception. [WPA +22.5% · EPA +5.66]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 19:25) — (4:25) 4-B.Favre pass short right intended for 12-P.Harvin INTERCEPTED by 32-D.McCourty at NE 26. 32-D.McCourty to MIN 37 for 37 yards (83-J.Dugan). [WPA -20.5% · EPA -6.61]
• New England Patriots (Q4 4:02) — (4:02) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 39-D.Woodhead to MIN 40 for 16 yards (96-B.Robison). [WPA +10.4% · EPA +2.21]
• New England Patriots (Q2 40:28) — (10:28) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 39-D.Woodhead. 39-D.Woodhead up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.2% · EPA +2.14]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 31:07) — (1:07) 62-R.Cook reported in as eligible. 28-A.Peterson right guard to NE 3 for -2 yards (96-J.Cunningham, 55-B.Spikes). [WPA -9.5% · EPA -3.34]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 19:25) — (4:25) 4-B.Favre pass short right intended for 12-P.Harvin INTERCEPTED by 32-D.McCourty at NE 26. 32-D.McCourty to MIN 37 for 37 yards (83-J.Dugan). [WPA -20.5% · EPA -6.61]
• New England Patriots (Q3 23:14) — (8:14) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 19-B.Tate for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 12-Brady 237th career TD pass, ties Jim Kelly for 17th place all-time. NE 19-Tate 1st career TD reception. [WPA +22.5% · EPA +5.66]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 31:07) — (1:07) 62-R.Cook reported in as eligible. 28-A.Peterson right guard to NE 3 for -2 yards (96-J.Cunningham, 55-B.Spikes). [WPA -9.5% · EPA -3.34]
• New England Patriots (Q4 3:25) — (3:25) 42-B.Green-Ellis left end pushed ob at MIN 1 for 26 yards (20-M.Williams). NE 42-Green-Ellis 2nd career 100-yard game. [WPA +4.9% · EPA +3.31]

Quarterback report card

B.Favre led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Favre (Minnesota Vikings) · 35 dropbacks · 62.9% completion · +7.6% CPOE · +0.25 EPA/play · +8.79 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 27 dropbacks · 59.3% completion · -1.9% CPOE · +0.39 EPA/play · +10.51 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

New England Patriots held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.23 vs +0.09), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Minnesota Vikings: 10 drives, +7.96 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 10 drives, +16.32 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Favre (MIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · NE 1 · Score 6-0
   (15:00) 62-R.Cook reported in as eligible. 28-A.Peterson left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. New England challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the pla
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 44:57 · NE 2 · Score 7-0
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 40:28 · MIN 3 · Score 7-6
   (10:28) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 39-D.Woodhead. 39-D.Woodhead up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 40:25 · MIN 2 · Score 7-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
5. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q3 24:37 · NE 5 · Score 10-7
   (9:37) 8-R.Longwell 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 23:14 · MIN 65 · Score 10-13
   (8:14) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 19-B.Tate for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 12-Brady 237th career TD pass, ties Jim Kelly for 17th place all-time. NE 19-Tate 1st
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 22:59 · MIN 2 · Score 10-14
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
8. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 17:30 · MIN 13 · Score 10-20
   (2:30) 42-B.Green-Ellis left tackle for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 17:25 · MIN 2 · Score 10-21
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
10. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 7:31 · NE 1 · Score 16-21
    (7:31) MIN 7-Jackson now at QB. 7-T.Jackson pass short right to 38-N.Tahi for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Minnesota Vikings Safety (+2) — Q4 7:26 · NE 2 · Score 18-21
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 7-T.Jackson pass to 12-P.Harvin is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
12. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · MIN 2 · Score 18-27
    (2:00) 63-D.Connolly reported in as eligible. 42-B.Green-Ellis right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 42-Green-Ellis 1st career multi-TD game. The Replay Assist
13. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 1:56 · MIN 2 · Score 18-28
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.