Special teams were almost nonexistent in the first half for both teams. In the second half, things drastically changed.

With the Pats holding a 17-0 lead after the first 30 minutes, the Vikings' Mewelde Moore recorded a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown after the Pats went three-and-out to begin the third quarter. That TD, plus the extra point, cut the deficit, 17-7.

Clearly Minnesota had a different attitude in the second half, but the Patriots' Laurence Maroney halted any momentum the Vikings gained when he posted the key play of the game for New England.

The rookie answered Moore's TD with a 77-yard kickoff return, and it only took Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady two plays to connect with Troy Brown on a seven-yard TD pass. After Stephen Gostkowski converted the extra point, New England reestablished its 17-point lead at 24-7.

Maroney, the Patriots' first-round selection (21st overall), has been outstanding this season, especially the last couple of weeks. Against the Bills last week, he had a 74-yard kickoff return that also set up a TD for New England.

If there's such a thing as a second "play of the game," it has to go to the Patriots' Reche Caldwell.

With New England holding a 10-0 advantage, and Minnesota starting to come out of its coma, Brady connected with Caldwell on a third-and-12 situation for a 34-yard gain that set up New England's second touchdown of the game. That drive clearly stifled Minnesota's home-field advantage.