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Patriots making a statement ahead of Colts match

The New England Patriots are quite familiar with their spot on the main stage. The closest thing the NFL has to a dynasty in the 21st century, the Patriots took the stage Monday night and pounded the Minnesota Vikings 31-7, behind 372 passing yards from quarterback Tom Brady. The Patriots defense too had a strong performance, with four sacks and four interceptions. Did anybody say contenders?

New England (6-1) opened with a scoring drive, during which Brady completed all six of his throws, for a total of 94 yards. He ended up throwing 29-43, with four touchdowns. The first 11 plays were all passes, and the Patriots` running backs were not a major factor in the game. The Vikings (4-3) only score cam on a 71 yard punt return in the third quarter.

The Patriots will host the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts (7-0) on Sunday. The game will serve as a true test for both teams as they prepare for the playoff run of the second half of the season. The Colts are coming off a close win over the Broncos, in Denver. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, `"it doesn`t get any easier. We have a tough challenge coming up this week against the Colts."