A Minnesota Vikings fan wears a mask as he watches the first quarter of the National Football League game between the Vikings and the New England Patriots at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on Monday night. The Patriots won 31-7. - Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters):

TOM BRADY threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers as the New England Patriots thrashed the Minnesota Vikings 31-7 on Monday night in Minneapolis.

Brady was in dominant form, going 29-for-43 for 372 yards, as the Patriots (6-1) took a 17-0 half-time lead and were never threatened by the outclassed Vikings.

"You come into this environment, and you see the fans leaving midway through the fourth quarter," Brady said.

"We were playing a great defence on the road, and the plan was to come out and put the ball in the air a little bit. The receivers made a lot of great plays, and it was a lot of fun, needless to say."

Touchdowns

The Patriots quarterback threw touchdowns to Reche Cladwell and Benjamin Watson in the first half, and then to Troy Brown and Chad Jackson in the second as the Patriots tightened their grip on the AFC East.

Veteran receiver Brown told reporters Brady was constantly improving and that after some early season struggles with a new crop of receivers, the Patriots were starting to click.

"He's getting better and better every year," Brown said. "We have our timing down with Tom now and we're coming together pretty well.

"We just wanted to come out and play well and we did that. When you come out on national TV, you want to send a message that you can still play."

The Patriots' message was delivered loud and clear as they out-gained the Vikings 430-284 in total yards, and made it a miserable night for Minnesota quarterback Brad Johnson.

Interceptions

Johnson threw three interceptions and was 20-for-33 for 185 yards before being benched in the fourth quarter as the Vikings (4-3) slipped three games behind the undefeated Chicago Bears in the AFC Central.

Brady took the Patriots 86 yards in seven plays on the opening drive, hitting Caldwell with a six-yard pass to open the scoring before Stephen Gostkowski booted a 23-yard field goal early in the second to make it 10-0.

Brady then connected with tight end Watson for a nine-yard strike to make it 17-0 at the half.

Mewelde Moore returned a punt for 71 yards early in the third to pull the Vikings within 10, but Brady threw scores to Brown and Jackson before the end of the quarter to put the Patriots out of sight.

New England rusher Corey Dillon was held to just three carries for five yards while Vikings running back Chester Taylor carried 10 times for 22 yards before leaving in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.