New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2014 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-14, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 30–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Cassel (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with -15.32 total EPA, and -11.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Edelman (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.76 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-13.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (7:16) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep left intended for 17-J.Wright INTERCEPTED by 32-D.McCourty [50-R.Ninkovich] at NE 39. 32-D.McCourty pushed ob at MIN 1 for 60 yards (75-M.Kalil).

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 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.76 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Rudolph · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.65 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +3.82 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.37 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.37 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Ellison · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.30 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.23 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Develin · New England Patriots · Receiving · +0.84 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Cassel · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +0.58 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.29 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 — M. Asiata (M. Cassel pass) (Q1 56:02)
• New England Patriots — S. Ridley (Q1 51:57)
• New England Patriots — J. Edelman (T. Brady pass) (Q2 39:34)
• New England Patriots — B. Walsh (Q2 30:19)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q1 45:36)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q3 23:36)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 15:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NE 25 (Q1 56:02) — (11:02) 16-M.Cassel pass short right to 44-M.Asiata for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 55:54) — (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q1 51:57) — (6:57) (Run formation) 71-C.Fleming reported in as eligible. 22-S.Ridley left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 51:14) — (Kick formation) 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIN 30 (Q1 45:36) — (:36) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIN 9 (Q2 39:34) — (9:34) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 11-J.Edelman for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN [52-C.Greenway].; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 39:30) — (Kick formation) 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 30 (Q2 30:19); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 30:09) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 20–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIN 80 (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 87-R.Gronkowski to NE 26 for 6 yards (55-A.Barr).; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIN 28 (Q3 23:36) — (8:36) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIN 9 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 52:16) — (7:16) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep left intended for 17-J.Wright INTERCEPTED by 32-D.McCourty [50-R.Ninkovich] at NE 39. 32-D.McCourty pushed ob at MIN 1 for 60 yards (75-M.Kalil). [WPA -13.7% · EPA -5.88]
• New England Patriots (Q2 41:47) — (11:47) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 11-J.Edelman pushed ob at MIN 21 for 44 yards (22-H.Smith). [WPA +10.0% · EPA +4.52]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 43:37) — (13:37) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep right intended for 15-G.Jennings INTERCEPTED by 24-D.Revis at NE 39. 24-D.Revis to NE 39 for no gain (15-G.Jennings). [WPA -9.4% · EPA -3.22]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:19) — (:19) (Field Goal formation) 3-B.Walsh 48 yard field goal is BLOCKED (95-Cha.Jones), Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke, RECOVERED by NE-95-Cha.Jones at NE 42. 95-Cha.Jones for 58 yards, TOUCHDOW [WPA -9.2% · EPA -9.01]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 58:42) — (13:42) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle to 82-K.Rudolph to MIN 37 for 17 yards (30-D.Harmon; 55-D.Skinner) [51-J.Mayo]. [WPA +7.4% · EPA +2.58]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:19) — (:19) (Field Goal formation) 3-B.Walsh 48 yard field goal is BLOCKED (95-Cha.Jones), Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke, RECOVERED by NE-95-Cha.Jones at NE 42. 95-Cha.Jones for 58 yards, TOUCHDOW [WPA -9.2% · EPA -9.01]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 52:16) — (7:16) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep left intended for 17-J.Wright INTERCEPTED by 32-D.McCourty [50-R.Ninkovich] at NE 39. 32-D.McCourty pushed ob at MIN 1 for 60 yards (75-M.Kalil). [WPA -13.7% · EPA -5.88]
• New England Patriots (Q2 41:47) — (11:47) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 11-J.Edelman pushed ob at MIN 21 for 44 yards (22-H.Smith). [WPA +10.0% · EPA +4.52]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 6:37) — (6:37) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle intended for 44-M.Asiata INTERCEPTED by 74-D.Easley at MIN 35. 74-D.Easley to MIN 35 for no gain. PENALTY on NE-54-D.Hightower, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, en [WPA -0.0% · EPA -3.91]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Cassel (Minnesota Vikings) · 48 dropbacks · 39.6% completion · -11.9% CPOE · -0.32 EPA/play · -15.32 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 27 dropbacks · 51.9% completion · +4.6% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +3.82 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.03 vs -0.36), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Minnesota Vikings: 13 drives, -30.24 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, -2.39 total EPA, 5 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.
• J. Edelman (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Cassel (MIN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• T. Brady (NE) 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) — Q1 56:02 · NE 25 · Score 0-6
   (11:02) 16-M.Cassel pass short right to 44-M.Asiata for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 55:54 · NE 2 · Score 0-7
   (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 51:57 · MIN 1 · Score 6-7
   (6:57) (Run formation) 71-C.Fleming reported in as eligible. 22-S.Ridley left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 51:14 · MIN 2 · Score 7-7
   (Kick formation) 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
5. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q1 45:36 · MIN 30 · Score 10-7
   (:36) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 39:34 · MIN 9 · Score 16-7
   (9:34) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 11-J.Edelman for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN [52-C.Greenway].
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 39:30 · MIN 2 · Score 17-7
   (Kick formation) 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
8. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:19 · NE 30 · Score 23-7
   (:19) (Field Goal formation) 3-B.Walsh 48 yard field goal is BLOCKED (95-Cha.Jones), Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke, RECOVERED by NE-95-Cha.Jones at NE
9. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 30:09 · MIN 2 · Score 24-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
10. New England Patriots TD (+17) — Q3 30:00 · MIN 80 · Score 24-7
    (15:00) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 87-R.Gronkowski to NE 26 for 6 yards (55-A.Barr).
11. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 23:36 · MIN 28 · Score 27-7
    (8:36) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
12. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 15:00 · MIN 9 · Score 30-7
    (15:00) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.