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Vikings at Panthers: Highlights, score and recap

By John Buhler

Nov 30, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) passes against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) passes against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers host the Minnesota Vikings for a Week 3 NFC showdown in Charlotte. Here are the highlights, the recap, and the score from the game.

The Minnesota Vikings move to 3-0 on the season by stopping the Carolina Panthers’ home winning streak at 14 games with an impressive 22-10 victory in Charlotte Week 3.

Many expected this game to be a low-scoring affair between two fantastic NFC defenses. This game had the feel of an NFC Divisional Round or NFC Championship Game. Neither team was able to do much on the ground against stellar defensive-front sevens.

Where the game was won and lost was in the turnover differential. Carolina quarterback Cam Newton had three costly interceptions against the outstanding Minnesota secondary. Minnesota played within itself and didn’t turn the ball over once against Carolina.

With this home loss, Carolina falls to 1-2 on the year. The Panthers only win this season has come against a struggling San Francisco 49ers team. Then again, their two losses to the Denver Broncos and the Vikings are nothing to be ashamed of, as these are two teams with Super Bowl LI aspirations.

Minnesota was a seven-point underdog on the road to Carolina. The Vikings had three key players on their offense go down with season-ending injuries in the last month.

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Quarterback Sam Bradford was exceptional, but did a phenomenal job of game-managing in a hostile road environment to win Charlotte and move to 3-0. Entering Week 4, the Vikings have to be one of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LI in Houston. Carolina may not be a playoff team if the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers improve in 2016.

Three Stars

  1. Kyle Rudolph: Rudolph was Bradford’s favorite target on Sunday. He had seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in a huge road win for the Vikings.
  2. Sam Bradford: Bradford did enough to win on the road against the Panthers. He completed 18-28 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown.
  3. Marcus Sherels: Sherels’ 54-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the second quarter was the impetus in the Vikings’ incredible road victory in Charlotte. Who knows how this game ends up with out this special teams paydirt?

Highlights

Next Game

The Vikings’ next game will be on Monday Night Football in Week 4. They will travel to East Rutherford, New Jersey to play the NFC East’s New York Giants at MetLife Stadium at 8:30 PM ET on Monday, October 3rd.

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Carolina’s next game will be on Sunday afternoon in Week 4. The Panthers will travel south down I-85 to play the NFC South division rival Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 2nd.

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