TVA Predictions: Will it be nine wins in a row for the Vikings after Sunday?
By Adam Patrick
Jordan Schmidt:
Vikings win 19-16
The Minnesota Vikings went to Carolina last year and won that game against the Panthers. The Vikings will repeat it this season and continue to stay hot.
The Panthers rely on their run game for the majority of their offense, but Minnesota will be able to stop their run game and force Carolina quarterback Cam Newton throw the ball. Newton is an average passer and the Vikings would rather have him beat them with his arm than his legs.
By forcing the Panthers to throw the ball, Minnesota’s defense will be able to create some sacks and turnovers. Carolina does not have any big threat wide receivers for the Vikings to worry about. Everson Griffen matches up against former teammate and current Panthers Matt Kalil on Sunday. Griffen will dominate that matchup and get three sacks.
As for Minnesota’s offense, Case Keenum will run a similar game plan to what he did in Atlanta last week against the Falcons by just being efficient and not forcing the ball into double coverage. Expect Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen to have big games as Carolina’s secondary is the weakest part of their defense. The Vikings’ offense will look to exploit that for their ninth-straight win.