New England’s Young Guns Fuel Victory in Minnesota

Football Nation
Aug 20, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Aug 20, 2025

New England’s Young Guns Fuel Victory in Minnesota

The New England Patriots kept their preseason momentum going with a 20-12 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. Two rookies, TreVeyon Henderson and Efton Chism III, once again stole the spotlight with touchdowns for the second straight week.

Henderson Making His Case in the Backfield

Second-round draft pick TreVeyon Henderson continues to show why New England invested in him. The former Ohio State running back took only four carries but made them count, recording 20 yards and an 8-yard touchdown run on the Patriots’ opening drives.

Henderson’s performance followed up a thrilling 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the preseason opener, making it back-to-back weeks with highlight plays. His mix of speed and balance has quickly established him as a serious contender for immediate snaps in New England’s rotation.

Chism Battling for a Roster Spot

Undrafted rookie wideout Efton Chism III out of Eastern Washington turned in another strong showing. Working with backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, Chism caught all six of his targets for 71 yards and found the end zone on a 12-yard reception where he broke multiple tackles.

Chism also scored a touchdown last week, giving him a strong preseason résumé as he fights for what may be the Patriots’ final wide receiver roster spot. With veterans like Stefon Diggs, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte already secure, Chism has made the most of his opportunities to stand out.

Maye’s Steady Night Under Center

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye led the first-team offense early, finishing 4-for-7 for 46 yards. While his outing included a delay of game and a near-interception, he effectively managed the offense against Minnesota’s backup defense.

Dobbs handled much of the work afterward, going 11 of 16 for 106 yards and Chism’s touchdown. The Patriots’ passing attack spread the ball around, with 10 different players registering catches.

Defensive Highlights: Jennings and Dugger Lead the Way

New England’s defense also made its mark. Linebacker Anfernee Jennings posted three sacks while seeing extended playing time in the second half, and safety Kyle Dugger provided the dagger — intercepting a pass in the end zone on the final play of the game to prevent any chance of a Minnesota comeback.

Head coach Mike Vrabel has emphasized evaluating depth players this preseason, and both defenders — typically starters in past seasons — saw heavier workloads in rotation with younger prospects.

Vikings Rotate Quarterbacks

Minnesota sat nearly all of its projected starters, turning the game into an audition for backups. Sam Howell, acquired in an offseason trade with Seattle, struggled with an interception on just one completion in five attempts.

Brett Rypien was sharp in the second quarter, throwing for 83 yards on 7-of-11 passing. Rookie Max Brosmer played the entire second half, compiling 156 yards through the air before his last-second throw was tipped and picked off by Dugger in the end zone.

Looking Ahead

The Patriots improved to 2-0 this preseason while putting rookie playmakers on display. Henderson appears poised to take on a meaningful role right away, while Chism’s push for a roster spot has become one of New England’s most compelling storylines.

The Patriots will wrap up the preseason on Thursday against the New York Giants, while the Vikings (1-1) head to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans.

Game Stats and Box Score Highlights

Final Score

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Patriots	7	7	0	6	20
Vikings	0	3	3	6	12

Passing Leaders

Team	Player	Comp	Att	Yards	TD	INT
Patriots	Joshua Dobbs	11	16	106	1	0
Patriots	Drake Maye	4	7	46	0	0
Vikings	Max Brosmer	15	27	156	0	1
Vikings	Brett Rypien	7	11	83	0	0
Vikings	Sam Howell	1	5	13	0	1