The Patriots turned in one final walk-through before the preseason finale, still in helmets and shoulder pads as competition remained fierce. Christian Barmore and Milton Williams anchored a disruptive interior that flashed the disruptive edge the team hoped to unlock this season. Drake Maye endured pressure from a stout front as pass protection continued to be a concern, with Ben Brown plugged into guard/center spots to stabilize the line. Keion White started hot but drifted to the second unit, while Robert Spillane piled up sacks and Jabrill Peppers added a sack as Terrell Williams leaned on blitzing from safety and corner. The kicking race between Andy Borregales and Parker Romo remained a coin flip, both thriving in a tight battle. Offense touched the ball as well with Henry, Hollins, Diggs, and Dobbs all contributing. A game plan rehearsal looms as New England heads to East Rutherford for the final tune-up.

Pass protection remained a narrative thread. Barmore and Williams consistently found disruption in the backfield, challenging Drake Maye and keeping the offensive line under pressure. Will Campbell and the rest of the line showed flashes, but the unit’s ability to keep Maye clean will be critical for the preseason and beyond. On defense, Spillane’s two-sack day followed a previous interception spree, signaling a potential high-volume role in the regular season. Peppers leveraged blitz opportunities, hinting at a more aggressive use of safeties in coverage and pressure packages. In the kicking duel, Borregales and Romo split the 4-for-4 mark, underscoring how evenly matched the competition remains as the roster edges toward Week 1 considerations.

New England edged Minnesota 20-12 in a defensive-minded preseason duel, with Drake Maye stepping in for a couple of Patriot drives and showing composure under limited reps. Maye went 4-for-7 for 46 yards, while veteran Joshua Dobbs competed for Minnesota and Ben Wooldridge led a Patriots backup series. Undrafted Efton Chism III dominated the receiver group for New England, hauling in six catches for 71 yards and a TD. TreVeyon Henderson capped a scoring sequence with an eight-yard TD rush early, and the Pats’ defense again stifled the Vikings to field goals, pushing New England to 2-0 in the exhibition slate.

New England’s preseason ascent looks real, not just on paper. Will Campbell stepped in at left tackle and didn’t allow a single pressure across seven pass-blocking snaps, signaling a potential anchor point on a reworked line. TreVeyon Henderson found the end zone again, piling up four carries for 20 yards with 16 after contact, showing a bruising, between-the-tackles style that could reshape the Patriots’ backfield dynamic in the early going. Undrafted Efton Chism III flashed as a reliable target, logging six catches on six looks for 71 yards, a TD and a stellar 86.2 PFF grade pending full review. Joshua Dobbs came home for a productive showing, going 11-for-16 for 106 yards and a TD with no turnover-worthy plays or sacks. PFF’s graders were busy, and while the final grades come tomorrow, the high-level snap counts and the standout‑of‑the‑game motif point to a Patriots unit that’s more cohesive, versatile and ready to push for meaningful fantasy value this season. Carlton Davis III anchored a stifling start on defense, earning a 90.3 PFF score in a controlled six-snap appearance, underscoring the Patriots’ revamped secondary.

Vikings backups slumped in a 20-12 loss to New England, failing to build on momentum from the week’s joint practices. Sam Howell’s shaky day (0.0 rating on five passes) highlighted depth-chart uncertainty behind Minnesota’s starters, while Max Brosmer endured four sacks and 15 completions on 27 attempts. The Vikings were penalized seven times for 44 yards through three quarters, and special teams produced costly miscues, including a kick-return fumble by Tai Felton and a late 62-yard Patriots return that put New England in position for a scoring drive before halftime.

Drake Maye and several New England starters joined early, while Josh Dobbs supplied the most productive stretch for the Patriots, notching 11 of 16 for 33 yards to Elton Chism III and a 12-yard TD to Chism. Minnesota also got a cost-free lesson from the NFL’s virtual measurement tool when a third-down call ended three inches short of a first down. The day reinforced the Vikings’ depth questions, the Patriots’ QB flexibility, and the growing importance of return and special-teams discipline for fantasy rosters.

Fantasy angle: rostering Minnesota’s backups is a gamble, with Brosmer showing decisiveness but facing pressure and inconsistent protection. Upside could come from the receivers stepping up in a raucous stadium environment, yet the risk remains high until the Vikings stabilize their penalties and QB sequencing behind Howell and Brosmer. Dynasty/DFS managers should monitor Brosmer’s progress and any shift in the Vikings’ third-string receiver corps after back-to-back joint practices this week.

Efton Chism III exploded onto the Patriots’ preseason scene, snagging four balls for 63 yards and punching in six on a short score during a long, methodical 17-play, 88-yard march that kept the clock draining and the game out of reach by halftime.

New England’s WR depth—already sizable with 11 on the roster—got another chance to prove its upside, as Chism’s performance could cement his spot in the final 53 with one game left. A sync between Chism and Josh Dobbs amplified the drive, underscoring the Patriots’ willingness to lean into multipleTwo-parter offensive looks and keep defenders honest in the early going of the exhibition schedule.