REGULAR SEASON WEEK THIRTEEN MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS GILLETTE STADIUM || 12.2.18 WEEK 13 - MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 - GILLETTE STADIUM - 3:25 P.M. CT - FOX - VIKINGS.1RMG.COM 2018 VIKINGS SCHEDULE GAME SUMMARY REGULAR SEASON (6-4-1) The Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1) hit the road to play New England Patriots (8-3) for Week) Date Opponent Time (CT) TV their 1st of back-to-back road games. The Vikings are coming off a 24-17 home win over the 1) 9/9 (Sun.) SAN FRANCISCO Noon W, 24-16 Packers, while the Patriots are coming off a 27-13 road win at the New York Jets. The Vikings 2) 9/16 (Sun.) at Green Bay Noon T, 29-29 own a 2-2-1 record on the road and the Patriots hold a perfect 5-0 home record this season. 3) 9/23 (Sun.) BUFFALO BILLS Noon L, 27-6 The Vikings defense has allowed 314.7 yards per game, the 3rd-lowest average in the 4) 9/27 (Thurs.) at Los Angeles Rams 7:20 p.m. L, 38-31 NFL. Vikings DE Danielle Hunter is tied for 2nd the NFL with 11.5 sacks, helping power a 5) 10/7 (Sun.) at Philadelphia 3:25 p.m. W, 23-21 pass rush that has generated 36 sacks this season, tied for the 3rd most in the NFL. 6) 10/14 (Sun.) ARIZONA Noon W, 27-17 The defensive unit has been particularly stout since the team's Week 4 matchup on 7) 10/21 (Sun.) at New York Jets Noon W, 37-17 Thursday Night Football at Los Angeles, allowing only 276.6 yards per game over the last 7 8) 10/28 (Sun.) NEW ORLEANS 7:20 p.m. L, 20-30 games, ranking 3rd in the NFL in that span. 9) 11/4 (Sun.) DETROIT Noon W, 24-9 Minnesota's offense ranks 14th in the NFL in total yards per game with a 368.5 mark 10) 11/11 (Sun.) BYE WEEK through 11 games witih Vikings QB Kirk Cousins throwing for 3,289 yards, the 5th-highest 11) 11/18 (Sun.) at Chicago 7:20 p.m. L, 20-25 total in the NFL and totaling a 101.9 passer rating, 9th best in the NFL. 12) 11/25 (Sun.) GREEN BAY 7:20 p.m. W, 24-17 WR Adam Thielen is on a record-breaking pace, recording 93 receptions (1st in the 13) 12/2 (Sun.) at New England 3:25 p.m. FOX NFL), the 3rd most in NFL history through the 1st 11 games of a season. Thielen's 1,138 14) 12/10 (Mon.) at Seattle 7:15 p.m. ESPN receiving yards is 2nd in the NFL and his 8 receiving TDs rank tied for 5th. Thielen and Stefon 15) 12/16 (Sun.) MIAMI Noon* CBS Diggs, who ranks 5th in the NFL with 79 receptions, joing Steelers WRs Antonio Brown and 16) 12/23 (Sat.) at Detroit Noon* FOX JuJu Smith-Schuster as the only WR duos in the NFL to rank in the top 10 in catches this 17) 12/30 (Sun.) CHICAGO Noon* FOX season. The Vikings WR corps leads all WR groups league wide with 216 receptions tied for Home games capitalized 2nd with 19 TDs in 2018. *Game-time subject to change due to flexible scheduling BROADCAST COVERAGE WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE Wednesday, November 28 NATIONAL TELEVISION: FOX 10:00 a.m. – Zimmer press conference Play-by-Play: Joe Buck Analyst: Troy Aikman Sideline: Erin Andrews 11:05 a.m. – Open locker room – Kirk Cousins available 1:00 p.m. – Practice (Filming available at beginning) Thursday, November 29 11:00 a.m. – Practice (Filming available at beginning) LOCAL RADIO: KFAN-FM 100.3/KTLK-AM 1130 12:45 p.m. – Coordinator press conferences and open locker room Play-by-Play: Paul Allen Analyst: Pete Bercich Friday, November 30 Sideline Reporters: Greg Coleman and Ben Leber 11:00 a.m. – Practice (Filming available at beginning) Pre-Game Show: Mike Mussman – 5:00 p.m. CT 12:30 p.m. – Zimmer press conference and open locker room KFAN and KTLK serve as the flagship stations for the 72-station, 5-state Vikings Radio Network. Saturday, December 1 No access Sunday, December 2 NORSEMAN NOTABLES 3:25 p.m. CT – Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots on FOX Monday, November 26 • WR Adam Thielen has totaled 9 games with at least 100 receiving yards, topping Randy 1:15 p.m. – Open locker room Moss - 8 in 2003, 8 in 2000 - for the most in a single season in Vikings history. 4:00 p.m. – Zimmer press conference • WR Stefon Diggs has 4 games and Adam Thielen has 3 games with at least 10 catches in 2018. Cris *Practice open to media at the beginning Carter in 1994 (4) and 1995 (4) set the team record for the most games with 10+ catches in a single season. Reminder - No tweeting from practice field during open portion of practice and no live streaming during any Vikings media availbilities unless previously approved • RB Dalvin Cook registered a career-long 70-yard run vs. Detroit (11/11), the 5th longest run in the NFL this season and the longest for the Vikings since Adrian Peterson's 80-yard run in 2015. STAT OF THE WEEK • TE Kyle Rudolph has started a league-leading (among TEs) 60 consecutive games, which is the longest streak for any TE all-time in Vikings team history. Rudolph is slated to start his Through 11 games, Vikings WR Adam Thielen is 7 catches 100th career game vs. New England. shy of his 1st career 100-reception season. Marvin Harrison • S Harrison Smith has 3 INTs and 3 sacks becoming the 1st in the NFL since Landon Collins holds the NFL record for the fastest to reach 100 catches, and Ryan Shazier in 2016 to record at least 3 INTs and a 3 sacks in a single season. doing so in 11 games in 2002. • QB Kirk Cousins' 3,289 passing yards are the most passing yards through 11 games to Fastest to reach 100 recepions, single-season all-time NFL start a season in team history. Cousins needs 223 yards to set the team record for the most Rk) Player, Team, Year ..................... Games passing yards through 12 games to start a season. 1) Marvin Harrison, IND, 2002 ...............11 • Despite missing a game, WR Stefon Diggs' 79 receptions are 5th in the NFL this season and 2) Julio Jones, ATL, 2015 ..........................12 the 4th most in team history through 11 games to start a season. 3) 8 tied .........................................................13 • Rudolph (365 receptions) ranks 8th, Diggs (279 receptions) ranks 14th and Thielen (273 Thielen has 93 receptions through 11 games receptions) ranks 15th all-time in Vikings history in career receptions. • The Vikings have allowed only 4 runs of 15 or more yards in 2018, the fewest in the NFL. • The Vikings defense has held opponents to a 27.6 %-3rd down converstion rate, the best in the NFL. WEEK 13 - VIKINGS AT PATRIOTS - VIKINGS.1RMG.COM Our hearts go out to Jeanette and the entire Sparano family as we all mourn the loss of Tony. Tony was a passionate and driven individual who cared deeply about his family, and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Tony's presence within the Vikings organization will be deeply missed. We are only thinking of Tony’s family during this incredibly difficult time. We ask that the entire NFL and Vikings family keep the Sparanos in their thoughts. - Vikings Owners Mark and Zygi Wilf - 7/22/18 I love Tony Sparano. He was a great teacher, a grinder of a worker and had a toughness and fighting spirit that showed in our linemen. He was a great husband, father and grandfather and a great friend to me. This is just sinking in for us but Tony will be sorely missed by all. - Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer - 7/22/18 I am at a loss for words with Tony’s sudden passing. Tony loved the game of football and his players. More importantly, he was a strong man of faith who treasured his family. My heart is with the Sparanos today. As an organization we will support them in whatever ways we can. - Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman - 7/22/18 The Minnesota Vikings family is devastated by the loss of our dear friend Fred Zamberletti. Fred was a staple of the franchise since its founding, helping build the Vikings from an expansion club in 1961 to a team ingrained in the fabric of life for Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Fred worked tirelessly, at one point building a streak of 1,049 consecutive Vikings games attended, and was loved by everyone throughout the organization – players, coaches, and staff. He cared deeply about the health of his players as well as their lives off the field. With his incredible stories and his passion for the team, he was respected by us as owners. Each of us inside the Vikings has our own personal memories we shared with Fred and those will never be forgotten. Our thoughts are with the entire Zamberletti family. – Vikings Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf - 9/2/18 Fred Zamberletti was the epitome of a Minnesota Vikings icon. He was more to players than just an athletic trainer; he was a friend, a mentor and a father figure who earned respect and admiration from everyone he encountered.