GronkNation

12.03.18

Patriots Take Down the Vikings as Brady Reaches 1,000-Yard Rushing Milestone and Belichick Drops F-Bombs

Posted by: Gronkowski

Welcome to the era of TB1K.

The Patriots staved off an attempted Vikings invasion on Sunday meaning that Tom Brady remains unbeaten against unbeaten against Minnesota. (He’s also never lost to the Cowboys, Bears, Bucs or Falcons).

Yep, even dishing out an $84 million contract to QB Kirk Cousins couldn’t buy the Vikings a win over Brady, as the Norsemen were slayed 24-10 with Patriots defense allowing just 278 yards from scrimmage. 

The victory also led to Brady to yet another milestone – 1,000 career rushing yards thanks to a 5-yard run in the first quarter. And he was so determined to maintain the landmark number that he stepped forward to take a knee to avoid negative yardage. What looked like a victory salute was actually the G.O.A.T. pointing to the refs to make sure they saw it (don’t let anyone ever say our boy ain’t smart!). 

Brady was so pleased with his last milestone that he even bragged via Instagram on Monday saying that “the only reason I’ve been playing 19 years is to get to that milestone, and I did it.

“So that’s it – I’m OUT! Time to ride off into the sunset,” he said as he got into his James Bond-esque Aston Martin. 

Wait, hold on a second – did he just retire???

Sorry Dolphins, you’re not gonna miss out on any TB12 action next Sunday that easily, as Tom quickly added: “Nah, I’ve gotta get back to work.” (And the whole of Patriots Nation breathed a sigh of relief after collectively holding their breath for a second). 

Brady’s been gearing up for that ‘gram post since the summer, so he deserves a few minutes to bask in the glory.

Tom threw for 311 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception Sunday, with James Develin earning a career-high two touchdown runs. 

Finishing the day with 471 yards, Brady said after the game that diversity was the Patriots’ most lethal weapon.

"Seven guys running, eight guys catching -- that makes it hard for them to defend us. Hopefully we can keep it going."

One of those targets was newbie Josh Gordon, who snapped up a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brady just after the Vikings tied the game for the first and only time in the game. 

The ninth win of the year also marked Bill Belichick’s 250th victory while wearing a Patriots hoodie, and allowed the team to secure their 18th straight winning season.

Belichick’s continued dominance against opponents over the decades earned him the right to the viral moment of the day – namely his sideline spat with Vikings receiver Adam Thielen.

When Thielen mouthed off against Belichick in the fourth quarter, Bill could clearly be seen telling him to “shut the f-up” and “sit the f--- down.”

While hearing that from the Hoodie would make most grown men cry, Belichick at least had respectful words for Thielen the next morning during his weekly WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni and Fauria” interview.

“I have a lot of respect for Thielen,” Belichick said, according to WEEI.com. “He’s a great player. I don’t even really remember what happened. He’s a great player and it was around that fourth down call. I have a lot of respect for him and the way he plays the game and what he’s accomplished.”

Thielen had been upset about Patrick Chung going down in what he thought was a “cheap” play, but admitted that he let emotions get the better of him.

"Yeah, obviously, I got to keep my cool," Thielen told reporters after the game, via the Vikings' official website. "I got a lot of respect for him [Belichick] and what he's done. I can't lose it like that, but I just thought it was interesting timing for a guy to go down when it was a close play that could have been reviewed. So for me, I just lost my emotions."

While we’re not sure if Thielen is still on Belichick’s Christmas card list, Bill later put the altercation down to two competitors "exchanging holiday greetings" when asked about the incident during his postgame press conference, NFL.com reported.

The Pats now head down to Miami to go fish with the Dolphins before their annual December meetup with the Steelers in Pittsburgh. 

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