MINNEAPOLIS -- A week after they allowed just six points on the road, the Minnesota Vikings had to apply some perspective to their 30-7 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. The Patriots started four drives at midfield or better on Sunday, along with two others that began at the New England 39 and 45. That fact, along with Chandler Jones' touchdown return of a blocked field goal, contributed far more to the final score than long drives by Tom Brady and the Patriots' offense.

But the Vikings still had plenty to lament after the loss, in a game where a handful of defensive penalties and an inability to stop the run kept Minnesota from putting too much heat on Brady. The Vikings allowed 150 rushing yards on a day where the Patriots relied heavily on six-lineman formations, and Brady picked on second-year cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who was playing with a groin injury and was flagged three times, including twice for pass interference.

"They came in, obviously, with a plan to run the football and not let us get into these pressure situations," coach Mike Zimmer said. "They took good care of the ball."

Rhodes was covering Julian Edelman for much of the game, and that matchup led to some of the cornerback's worst moments. He was flagged for a defensive holding penalty that was declined in the third quarter, and was cited for his second pass interference penalty of the game two plays later. Edelman also caught a 44-yard pass when Rhodes, who was trailing him on the play, dove to deflect Brady's pass and missed the ball, giving Edelman room to run on third-and-14.

Asked about the penalties, Zimmer said, "Well, they were called, so I'm assuming they were good calls. These officials do a good job. We've got to do a better job of getting him in better position than what he was."

The Patriots spent much of the day in manageable down-and-distance situations, threw at rookie linebacker Anthony Barr enough to keep him from getting involved as a pass rusher and allowed just one sack (by defensive tackle Tom Johnson) a week after giving up four. That formula proved to be an effective one, on a day where New England's offense was frequently staked to good field position.

"You can’t do that against anyone in the NFL," defensive end Brian Robison said. "You go out there and allow them to have five to six yards a pop on first down that puts them ahead of the chains already. We go out and don’t create any turnovers and have three or four turnovers ourselves and lose the turnover battle that bad; your likelihood of winning isn’t that good."