Initial thoughts?

Well, for starters, I'm not willing to pin this on Adrian Peterson being deactivated because of his indictment on Friday. I predicted the Vikings would be out of sorts at the beginning of the game because of Peterson's absence. But the opposite was true. They took the opening kickoff — after New England won the coin toss and deferred — and drove 80 yards in seven plays for a 25-yard touchdown pass to Matt Asiata, Peterson's replacement.

Obviously, Peterson not playing isn't a good thing. But I wouldn't pin this loss on that. It's too convenient. The Vikings lost because 24 points came off of four Matt Cassel interceptions and a blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown.

The average scoring drive for New England's offense: 33 yards. So while the defense didn't play great, particularly against the run or in creating turnovers (0), it also isn't the reason the Vikings lost.

Cassel had the biggest hand in the loss. Three of his four picks were his fault. But this is what Matt is, which is up and down. As well as we all remember him playing during last year's three-headed quarterback fiasco, he also laid some stinkers at home against Carolina and on the road in Cincinnati.

Coach Mike Zimmer also was wise not to throw Teddy Bridgewater into a lopsided loss and to announced today that Cassel will start next week at New Orleans. Cassel deserves a leash that's longer than one bad game.