Hard lesson brought home to the NFC

Minnesota had sound reasons to believe it could face down the Patriots, who walked onto the field with a depleted offensive line reduced to using third-string guard Billy Yates to block massive Kevin Williams and with All-Pro defensive end Richard Seymour clearly impaired by the braced left arm he nearly broke a week ago. Yet by halftime, it was obvious that these football teams were in two different classes.

For unsuspecting Viking fans, it was like going to the zoo for the first time and learning the difference between a hyena and a lion. One may be irksome at times but the other is to be feared at all times. The Vikings were not the lions last night. They were eaten by the lions.

New England led, 17-0, after 30 minutes on the way to a lopsided 31-7 victory, on which the only blemish was a 71-yard punt return for a score by Minnesota's Mewelde Moore. The victory left New England 6-1 going into Sunday night's real showdown, when the undefeated Colts (7-0) come to Foxborough to show all of football what happens when titans collide. Last night, there was only one team of titans on the field, and it was the Patriots, although at times the Vikings did resemble the Tennessee Titans.

Minnesota was destroyed at the line of scrimmage, repeatedly having its seams burst whenever poor Brad Johnson tried to throw (3.2 yards per attempt, three interceptions, many bruises) and never able to reach Tom Brady, who riddled the Vikings secondary by throwing for 372 yards and four touchdowns.