EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are taking a break from division play to square off against one of the most successful head coach and quarterback tandems in league history.
Minnesota is 6-4-1 following Sunday's win over Green Bay. The Vikings won two of three games against division foes in recent weeks and would be in the playoffs if the postseason started this week.
But a tough Week 13 meeting awaits in New England against Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, a duo that has teamed up for 204 regular-season wins, by far the most in NFL history, and five Super Bowl victories.
The Patriots, who have made the postseason in 16 of 18 seasons that Brady has been the starting quarterback, are 8-3 and lead the AFC East.
Here's a look at 10 numbers of note heading into Sunday's matchup:
3 — The Vikings are only one of three defenses in the NFL that ranks in the top 10 in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game. Minnesota is tied for fourth with 93.6 rushing yards allowed per game and ranks fifth by allowing 221.1 passing yards per game.
30.9 — Former Vikings Pro Bowl kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson ranks second in the NFL with an average of 30.9 yards per kickoff return. Patterson is one of three players in the NFL with a kickoff return for a touchdown in 2018.
129.5 — Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins posted a quarterback rating of 129.5 on Sunday against Green Bay, which was Cousins' best mark of the season. It was the fourth-best rating of his career in games when he's attempted at least 30 passes.
4 — Patriots quarterback Tom Brady holds the league record with four Super Bowl MVPs. Brady, who has won five total rings, ranks fourth all-time with 69,190 career passing yards and 507 passing touchdowns. He needs one more score to tie Hall of Famer Brett Favre for third.
36 — Minnesota's defense is tied for third in the NFL with 36 total sacks, with Danielle Hunter leading the team with 11.5 sacks. New England's offense has allowed just 16 sacks, which is tied for the second-fewest in the league.
500 — The Patriots have four players with 500-plus receiving yards in 2018. Running back James White has a team-high 567 yards, while Josh Gordon (547), Julian Edelman (510) and Rob Gronkowski (504) each have 500-plus receiving yards and multiple touchdowns.
112 — Brady has a record of 112-19 in 131 career home games with the Patriots. He has thrown for 33,833 yards with 249 touchdowns and just 66 interceptions.
216 — The Vikings wide receivers unit leads all groups at that position with 216 total receptions. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs have combined for 172 of those catches. Minnesota's wide receivers also rank second with 19 total touchdown catches.
258 — Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has 258 career wins, which ranks third all-time behind Don Shula and George Halas. Belichick has a .718 playoff winning percentage (28-11 record), which is the best in NFL history.
2 — The Vikings are just 2-5 on the road against the Patriots in team history. Minnesota won the first meeting in 1970 at Harvard Stadium but has struggled since.
