The New England Patriots eased to a comfortable 30-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings to register their first win of the 2014 NFL season.
The Vikings, without Adrian Peterson in light of charges of child abuse during the week, began the game well as Matt Cassel hit tight end Kyle Rudolph for several completions, before finding Matt Asiata in the flat and he sprinted into the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown.
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New England responded well as Devin McCourty intercepted a Cassel pass and returned the ball to the one-yard line. Stevan Ridley then powered his way over behind his offensive line to level the scores.
Stephen Gostkowski fired the Patriots ahead at the end of the first quarter with a 47-yard field goal. Tom Brady then found Julian Edelman in the back of the endzone for a nine-yard touchdown to put the visitors in the ascendency.
Bill Belichick's side went further ahead just before the break when Chandler Jones blocked a field goal and ran the ball 58 yards back for a touchdown.
In the second half, the Patriots defense took a hold of the game as Logan Ryan intercepted Cassel, while the quarterback was also sacked by Dont'a Hightower and Jones.
New England put the game beyond the Vikings with two field goals in the second half from the boot of Gostkowski.
Simon Sinclair
