Patriots Wear Red Throwbacks vs. Vikings on Thursday Night
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 25th 2026
- New England hosts Minnesota in Week 14 on Thursday, December 10.
- The Patriots wear red jerseys with white helmets; the team announced the date in August.
- They wore the same look on October 11 in a 45–17 win over the Raiders.
- The game comes four days after the Patriots' Nor'easter game against the Bills.
This report covers the Patriots' uniform for the Vikings game. It does not preview the game itself.
Patriots vs. Vikings: game and uniform details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots, Thursday Night Football |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Kickoff | 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video |
| Patriots uniform | Red throwback jersey, white helmet |
| Previous red game | October 11, 45–17 win over the Raiders |
What the red throwback is
The red jersey comes from the Pat Patriot era, when the Patriots wore red at home and the helmet carried the minuteman logo. That logo was the team's main mark from 1961 to 1992. New England brought the uniform back in 2022. When the Patriots wear it, Gillette Stadium usually matches, with the Pat Patriot logo at midfield and refreshed end zones, according to CBS Boston.
Two looks in five days
New England's home schedule gives the equipment staff little time. On Sunday, December 6, the Patriots host the Buffalo Bills, and the schedule calls for the storm blue Nor'easter Rivalries jersey. Four days later they switch to red. The Nor'easter debuted in a Thursday night game against the Jets in November 2025, with six stars for the six New England states.
Why the red look needed a rule change
The Patriots could not wear the red throwback for years. Under the NFL's "One Shell Rule," teams had to use a single helmet shell each season, which blocked a white throwback helmet. The league repealed the rule in June 2021, and the red uniform returned in 2022 for the first time since 2012, Sports Illustrated reported. Sports Illustrated also noted that the uniform keeps the three-stripe theme of the current home and away jerseys.
How the red jersey started the season
The first red game of 2026 was October 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders, a 45–17 Patriots win that also honored the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Super Bowl team. New England is 4-3 after seven weeks, according to ESPN. Quarterback Drake Maye had 1,784 passing yards and 13 touchdowns through Week 7, per Wikipedia.
Thursday night on Prime Video
The Vikings game is a prime-time home game for New England and the only red game left on the schedule. ESPN lists the broadcast on Prime Video at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Patriots' 2026 slate then continues with a Monday night trip to Kansas City on December 21.
Wearing red on game day
Fans pair the red with a current player. The Drake Maye jersey (No. 10) is the quarterback's. For every date and color this season, see the Patriots jerseys 2026 guide.
Nike makes the NFL's uniforms and has since 2012, so every jersey described here is a Nike design.
Quick questions
What time is Patriots vs. Vikings on December 10?
8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video, per ESPN. Check the NFL schedule for changes.
What color will the Patriots wear?
Red jerseys with white helmets, the Pat Patriot throwback.
When did the Patriots last wear red?
October 11, in a 45–17 win over the Raiders.