This game has played out exactly as everyone expected.
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Everyone knew going in the Vikings were going to block a pair of Carolina punts and return both blocks for touchdowns.
Of course.
Block #1 came courtesy of Adam Thielen, who scooped up the ball and returned it for a touchdown.
Block #2 came from Jasper Brinkley with Everson Griffen picking it up and running it in.
When you get two blocked punt TDs in the same game, your offense doesn’t have to do that much. But the Vikings’ offense didn’t rest on its laurels.
Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings kicked the game off with a crisp drive ending in a Kyle Rudolph touchdown reception.
With the score 21-6 late in the half, Bridgewater led the Vikings down the field for a second TD, finishing it off with the scoring throw to Greg Jennings.
The Vikings’ defense was on the field a lot in the first half thanks to the punt return TDs and Carolina was able to move the ball, but the Vikes got tough in the redzone and held the Panthers to a pair of field goals.
Right now this one looks like a laugher. The Vikings just need to keep everything in front of them on defense and keep churning out first downs on offense and they will cruise to their fifth victory of the season.
This would also be their third win in four games against the brutal NFC South.