5 winners (and 3 losers) from Patriots unexciting preseason win vs. Vikings

The Patriots went into their preseason game against the Vikings following several rough joint practices, which made it more apparent they still have a long way to go before becoming a truly competitive team again. It drew attention to their weaknesses, while highlighting some of their strong suits, which were on full display once the game actually began on Saturday.

There were some standout moments from all aspects of the roster, with the consistency of the special teams being the most prominent.

At the same time, there were some more concerning parts of the game to keep in mind moving forward, with just one preseason game left on the schedule and not a lot of time for the Patriots to massively improve before their regular season opener.

That made it easy to identify the winners and losers from their not-so-pretty win over the NFC North Champions.

The best and the worst of the Patriots preseason win over the Vikings

Winner: CB Alex Austin

With Christian Gonzalez sidelined and Marcus Jones relegated to mostly special teams, cornerbacks like Alex Austin have been given more opportunities to show what they are made of over the last few weeks.

He showed up and showed out against the Vikings on Saturday, recording two combined tackles, a pass defended, and an interception to cap off the day. It was just the latest example of the talent he possesses, demonstrating that he could easily be a starter for the team, if not, at the very least, move him swiftly up the depth chart.

Winner: RB TreVeyon Henderson

At this point, TreVeyon Henderson might be considered a winner every week for the rest of his Patriots future. It might be premature to say that since he has only played minimally in two preseason games, but it's clear he's a megastar waiting to explode in the NFL.

He's proven that on the practice field, and it was clear as day again in the Patriots' matchup with the Vikings on Saturday. His stat line might not be all that impressive, since he recorded just four carries for 20 yards and a touchdown, but he's clearly going to be one of Drake Maye's favorite weapons and has turned the team's backfield into the most solid group it has been in a long time.

Loser: QB Drake Maye

Inconsistency has plagued Drake Maye so far this offseason, and that unfortunately continued during the two drives he was on the field for against the Vikings. Although he managed to rebound before Joshua Dobbs replaced him, fans were hoping to see more from the quarterback and better decision-making than what Maye has shown.

He's clearly talented and has to continue working through the growing pains that every second-year quarterback goes through, especially one working with a new offensive coordinator and a completely made-over offensive roster.

However, time is running out before the regular season begins, so Maye needs to demonstrate the growth he has made over the last few months sooner rather than later.

Winner: LT Will Campbell

After a rough week of practice against the Vikings last week, Will Campbell began to be questioned about his readiness ahead of the start of his rookie season. He didn't look too good against some of the best pass rush talent the Vikings have on their roster, so many reporters and fans grew concerned about him being a day-one starter.

While that remains true, he fared well against them on Saturday, and despite the limited snaps, he showed exactly why the Patriots drafted him by allowing no quarterback hits or sacks, and created open lanes for the running backs to get through.

Loser: WR Javon Baker

A recent rise in training camp and an impressive showing on special teams had many thinking that second-year receiver Javon Baker was well on his way to making the Patriots' 2025 roster, in one way or another.

Although that might still be true, he had a rough day working with backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, which didn't elevate his potential to secure a spot on the roster. That will need to be considered when evaluating his development this offseason, as he has had some standout moments during training camp.

But he now has a limited amount of time to show the new regime what he can do, and hopefully, he will manage to do that in the next few weeks.

Loser: K Andres Borregales

The competition at kicker has been an unexpected yet welcomed part of the Patriots' offseason, and so far, Andres Borregales, who was drafted this year, and Parker Romo have been neck and neck all summer.

That has changed slightly over the past week, as Romo seemed to have more hits than misses, which can't be said about Borregales. He missed a long field goal against the Vikings, a 57-yarder which Romo hit in practice earlier in the week, and redeemed himself with a successful score later in the game.

However, this only adds more weight to the rookie's shoulders, forcing them to continue impressing or risk losing the job.

Winner: Efton Chism III

Just like fellow rookie TreVeyon Henderson, UDFA Efton Chism III has been a nonstop superstar since the Patriots signed him this spring. From being compared to franchise greats Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman to getting attention from even teams in the CFL, the rookie continues to look like an absolute steal by New England in every way.

That was on full display against the Vikings on Saturday, as Chism recorded 6/6 receptions for a team-high 71 yards and a touchdown.

He has been one of the most consistent and reliable options for the offense over the past few months, and it's fair to assume he has already solidified a spot on this year's roster, and rightfully so.

Winner: LB Anfernee Jennings

One of the more prominent players heading into this year's offseason on the roster bubble continues to be pass rusher Anfernee Jennings. Despite a recent uptick in his production on the field, he was immediately deemed a tradeable player or even a roster cut due to not fitting the typical look of what Vrabel looks for in a linebacker.

That still remains true, but his recent performance against the Vikings puts him squarely back in the conversation of making the roster. He led the team in sacks with three, as well as recording three total tackles and three for a loss. It was certainly the kind of game he needed to be back on the radar, and he could squeeze his way on the 2025 roster if he can maintain this level of play.

It won't be easy, as the linebacker room is crowded, especially with players Vrabel and Co. have signed, but Jennings is clearly not going down without a fight.

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