The New England Patriots head to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis today to take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2 of the 2025 preseason.
Minnesota dominated in joint practices, particularly with their defensive front overwhelming New England’s line — sacking Drake Maye multiple times — while rookie J.J. McCarthy dazzled, completing 14 of 16 passes with five touchdowns. His command in situational drills ignited excitement, though he will sit out today’s game as coaches continue pacing his debut.
The Patriots, meanwhile, leaned on players like Ben Brown, who has emerged as a key offensive line contributor at guard and center after offseason injuries to starters.
4 Things to Watch This Week
Vikings’ defensive trench dominance: Will their pass rush and depth carry over from joint practices into real-game disruption?
McCarthy’s absence: With the rookie QB held out, who steps into the QB role, and how do they handle the pressure?
Patriots line cohesion: With Ben Brown stepping into a key role, can New England’s interior survive Minnesota’s defensive heat?
Vrabel’s intensity: Will the physical energy from practice translate to urgency on the field?
How to Watch Patriots vs. Vikings
Kickoff for today’s Patriots–Vikings game is set for 1:00 PM Eastern / 12:00 PM Central at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN.
No national broadcast here. Local viewers in the Twin Cities can watch live on FOX 9, and stream it for free on FOX9.com and the FOX LOCAL app.
The Patriots broadcast airs on its flagship network, WBZ-TV Ch. 4 in Boston, and affiliates in every New England state. We’ve got a full list below. Additionally, Patriots fans in New England can stream live for free using the Patriots mobile app or Patriots.com in-market.
For everyone else, NFL+ provides out-of-market streaming access.
New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings
Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM Eastern / 12:00 PM Central
Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
TV (Vikings): FOX 9 (Local Twin Cities)
TV (Patriots Preseason TV Network): WBZ-TV Ch. 4 (Boston, Mass.), WWLP-TV Ch. 22 (Springfield, Mass.), WCTX-TV Ch. 8 (Hartford, Conn.), WMTW-TV Ch. 8 (Portland, Maine), WVII-TV Ch. 7 (Bangor, Maine), WMUR-TV Ch. 9 (Manchester, N.H.), WPRI-TV Ch. 12 (Providence, R.I.), WCAX-TV Ch. 3 (Burlington, Vt.)
Streaming: NFL+ (out-of-market); Patriots App/Website (New England); Fox9.com and FOX LOCAL app in Twin Cities
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