A game that started out totally nuts settled down and became rather routine in the second half, with the Vikings holding on for a convincing 31-13 win over the Panthers.
More from Minnesota Vikings News
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
- Vikings have reportedly begun extension talks with T.J. Hockenson
The Vikings carried a 28-6 lead into halftime after scoring twice on blocked punt returns and twice on Teddy Bridgewater touchdown passes.
The Carolina Panthers would mount a semi-rally in the third quarter, cutting the Vikings’ lead to 28-13 on a long Cam Newton TD bomb against Josh Robinson’s coverage (with Harrison Smith also blowing his help assignment), but that was as close as they would get.
The Panthers’ punting struggles would continue in the second half, leading to a pair of helpful long returns by Marcus Sherels to set up the Vikings’ ball control offense.
Minnesota would add only a field goal in the second half but it would be more than enough with the defense holding up well against Carolina.
The Panthers were able to get some things going in the run game, both with Jonathan Stewart and Cam Newton himself, but the passing game could not get on track.
Minnesota got a pair of huge sacks from Everson Griffen to help salt it away, and also got big contributions from Chad Greenway and Harrison Smith.
Josh Robinson redeemed himself for giving up the touchdown earlier by picking off Newton late in the fourth to put it away.
Minnesota didn’t have the prettiest overall game offensively, but after scoring four TDs in the first half, they didn’t need to be pretty.
Grinding out yards on the ground was enough to get it done in the second half with the defense making big plays to stuff Carolina and keep them from rallying back.
The Vikings move to 5-7 on the season, while the Panthers slide to a dismal 3-8-1.