Mike Reiss of The Boston Globe reports that the Vikings have started fast in every one of their games so far this season. They've executed scoring drives on the first possession in each of their six games, a touchdown and five field goals. Also, four of the six drives have been 10 plays or longer.
*The Boston Globe* explains that the Patriots may have to face one of the top offensive lines in the NFL this week without the help of Richard Seymour. Seymour missed four consecutive games last season, and during that stretch the Patriots went 2-2, giving up 100 yards on the ground in every game.
John Tomase offers the Boston Herald's Patriots Notebook, which includes stories on Seymour, Laurence Maroney and Tom Brady.
Albert Breer of the Boston Herald reports that Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson and Patriots backup Matt Cassel have a few things in common. They both spent their college careers on the bench, though Johnson is in his 15th NFL season. "It's a great case of hard work and determination and somebody who had to overcome a lot of adversity to get to where he was," Cassel said of Johnson's example.
Cowboys coach (and former Pats coach) Bill Parcels announced that Tony Romo will start over ex-Patriot Drew Bledsoe this weekend, and the Boston Herald's John Tomase spoke with former Patriot Andre Tippett and current Patriots recently about Bledsoe's impact on the Pats during the mid '90s. He led the team to the Super Bowl in the '96 season.
Boston Herald writers Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa report that Paris Hilton will be part of the opening for the Patriots-Vikings Monday Night Football game.
The Providence Journal's Joe McDonald offers a feature on rookie running back Laurence Maroney. Maroney was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a 74-yard return against the Bills last weekend.
McDonald offers The Providence Journal's Patriots Notebook, which includes stories on Richard Seymour, a former Patriot now on the Vikings and the noise levels expected on Monday at Minnesota's Metrodome.
Alan Greenberg of the Hartford Courant explains that the Patriots will need Jarvis Green to be a monster on Monday if Seymour is unable to play. Greenberg explains that Green isn't your typical replacement-guy.
Rich Garven of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette also offers a piece on Seymour and Green.
Garven of the *Worcester Telegram & Gazette* reports that Maroney will be have a homecoming of sorts when the Patriots travel to play at the Metrodome. Maroney played three years at Minnesota and his former Golden Gophers also play at the Metrodome. "I'm treating it just like it's another game," Maroney said yesterday.
Eric McHugh of The Patriot Ledger reports that the Pats have mopped the floor with AFC East opponents so far this season, and now begin a stretch of games against the NFC North. They haven't played that division since the 2002 season. The last time the Patriots faced the Vikings, the Pats won 24-17. McHugh evaluates the Patriots play in their last game at Buffalo and takes a look at this weeks Vikings-Patriots matchups.
Mark Farinella of The Sun Chronicle reports that linebacker Tedy Bruschi and the Patriots are doing their best to prepare for the less-familiar Vikings. "This isn't the first day that we've dived in to start watching film," linebacker Tedy Bruschi said Wednesday. "You really start early after the game of last week because you're not really familiar with a team like this."
Alan Siegel of The Eagle-Tribune offers a feature on rookie wideout Chad Jackson.
Michael Parente of the Woonsocket Call reports on Vikings running back Chester Taylor, who currently has the second-most rushing yards in the NFL. "He's pretty much had all the carries on the team," Green said Wednesday. "What's the next guy have? Fourteen carries? We know he's going to get the ball and we know we're going to have to stop him." Taylor rushed for 165 yards last week against the Seahawks.
Also, check out USA Today's Inside Slant on the Patriots, updated weekly.
