Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers: Week 3 review and grades

The QB Situation – Grade: B

Sam Bradford wasn’t perfect in this game but he didn’t have to be. He had to be good enough, and he surely was as the Carolina Panthers took away his favorite target in Stefon Diggs for most of the game. Instead of forcing ill-advised throws, Bradford found a new favorite target in this game in his TE Kyle Rudolph. Emerging from the uprising of a Vikings passing attack is WR Adam Thielen who is pushing to unseat Charles Johnson from his spot on the depth chart by making consistent highlight reel catches and showing that he has true big catch capabilities that will most likely become more evident as the season rolls along. As Bradford delves deeper into the Minnesota Vikings playbook he will uncover more creative ways to spread the ball around to different receivers. For the second consecutive week Bradford managed to find 7 different receivers in the game, and with continued production of that magnitude, defenses will not be able to cue in on all of the talented Vikings receivers and be able to control the Vikings rushing attack.

The O-Line performance – Grade B+

No unit on this years Vikings squad needed a boost more than the offensive line. Against this vaunted Carolina Panthers defensive front, the Minnesota front limited the defense to being able to secure only 2 sacks and paved the way for Minnesota’s backup running backs to rush for 70 yards in this game. T.J. Clemmings starting for the injured Matt Kalil, protected Sam Bradford’s blind side better than it had been in the Vikings first 2 matchups this season. After a dismal showing against Green Bay the Vikings offensive line started to look like the “Minnesota Moving Company” of seasons passed. This unit shoring up all its holes will solidify the Vikings as the team to beat in the NFC this season.