The Viking Age writing staff comes together to give their predictions for the Minnesota Vikings Week 14 matchup with the Carolina Panthers.
This weekend, the Minnesota Vikings will attempt to improve upon their impressive 10-2 record and maintain their standing as the top seed in the NFC playoff picture when they take on the 9-4 Carolina Panthers.
This will be the third matchup between the Vikings and Panthers since Mike Zimmer became Minnesota’s head coach back in 2014. With Zimmer leading the way, the Vikings have won their last two games against Carolina and their margin of victory was by at least 12 points in each matchup.
How does the writing staff here at The Viking Age believe this Sunday’s game between the two teams turn out? Will Minnesota extend their current winning streak to nine in a row or will the Panthers be the team to hand the Vikings their first loss since Week 4?
Adam Carlson:
Vikings win 23-17
The Minnesota Vikings enter Week 14 of the NFL season on an eight-game winning streak and hold their fate in their own hands when it comes to winning the NFC North and capturing the first seed in the NFC playoffs. But to do that, they first have to beat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Carolina has a lot going for them. Their offense is sixth in the league in third down conversion percentage, which means they know how to keep drives alive. But they also tend to turn the ball over more than they take it away, being -6 in turnover differential while Minnesota is +4.
Offensively, there will be some issues for the Vikings. Panthers corner Captain Munnerlyn should be able to slow down Adam Thielen or Kyle Rudolph in the slot since he’s one of the better nickel corners in the league and Carolina defensive end Mario Addison will be able to get some pressure. However, expect Case Keenum to once again be an efficient quarterback who spreads the ball around and the combination of Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon to do some damage in the open field.
On defense, all eyes will be on the matchup between Everson Griffen and Panthers left tackle Matt Kalil. Griffen enters Week 14 fourtth in the NFL in sacks and Kalil has been a big disappointment for the Panthers this season. Minnesota’s defense will be able to force Carolina quarterback Cam Newton out of the pocket, but the former NFL MVP can also do some damage from that spot.
This will be another tough game, but the Panthers are prone to making some big mistakes and the Vikings are good at capitalizing on those kinds of errors. I expect Minnesota to emerge victorious.
Adam Patrick:
Vikings win 22-7
Last week in their loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Carolina Panthers’ offense struggled to convert on third down and their defense could not keep up with the Saints’ talented running back duo. That is not a good sign for a team about to face the Minnesota Vikings.
This year, the Vikings’s defense is the best in the NFL at stopping opposing offenses on third down and their own running back duo of Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon have averaged 139.5 total yards in the last four games. It looks like Minnesota has very good chance to do something similar to what New Orleans was able to do last week against the Panthers.
There is no reason for the Vikings to not center their offensive game-plan around their rushing attack this week as it has been quite reliable all season long. Murray and McKinnon will, once again, be a key factor in Minnesota getting a win or not this week.
With Mike Zimmer as their head coach, the Vikings’ defense has done well at frustrating Carolina quarterback Cam Newton in their last two meetings. In his two previous games against Minnesota, Newton has completed just 56 percent of his passes, thrown for only 228 yards per matchup, tossed four interceptions and just one touchdown, and been sacked 12 times.
Expect more of the same from Minnesota’s defense as their ferocious pass-rush will feast on Carolina’s offensive line and bring down Newton multiple times for the second-straight season. Watching former Vikings and current Panthers left tackle Matt Kalil try and stop Everson Griffen this Sunday sure is going to be a joy to watch.
Griffin Nelson:
Vikings win 17-10
This game shapes up to be very similar to last week’s defensive struggle against the Atlanta Falcons. The Carolina Panthers have been somewhat unpredictable this season, while the Minnesota Vikings have been the model of consistency this year.
I went against consistency last week, I can do it no longer. I’m all in on this team going forward.
Look for Everson Griffen to eat up former-Vikings and current Panthers left tackle Matt Kalil (and thereafter Cam Newton) and for Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks to lock down Carolina’s rookie hybrid-running back Christian McCaffrey.
Minnesota’s offense may struggle moving the ball against the Panthers’ formidable defense. But the Vikings will score enough to get the win and clinch the NFC North division title.
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.
Spencer Suckow:
Vikings win 17-13
This season, Case Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings’ offense has consistently given performances ranging from solid to spectacular and the team’s defense has been flat-out dominant at times against some of the NFL’s best offenses.
With that being said, both units will face tough challenges this week against a Carolina Panthers team that’s still very much in the hunt for the NFC South championship.
Minnesota Vikings
Led by a ferocious front seven featuring All-Pro level players like linebacker Luke Kuechly, defensive tackle Kawaan Short, and others, the Panthers boast a stout defense that currently ranks sixth in total yards allowed per game. Additionally, Carolina is in the top seven in both passing and rushing yards per game allowed.
The Panthers’ offense isn’t incredibly explosive, but nonetheless presents quite the challenge in the run-game as Carolina quarterback Cam Newton and running back Jonathan Stewart headline a rushing attack that ranks fifth in the NFL in yards per game.
Just looking at this matchup on paper, it seems likely that another low-scoring affair is in order like the Vikings’ game in Atlanta last week. Both defenses are stout against the run and pass, and both excel at getting to the quarterback (Carolina is slightly better, currently ranking fifth in the league with 34 sacks).
It’s hard to believe that in a matchup of Cam Newton and Case Keenum, I actually prefer the latter. Newton’s weapons on offense are underwhelming as a whole and the Panthers’ line will continue their struggles in protection.
Next: Vikings Week 14 injury report
Additionally, it’s hard to bet against Keenum with the way that he’s been playing as of late. He’s due for a turnover and he won’t be perfect, but Keenum and the offense will do just enough to squeak by and give the Minnesota their ninth-straight win in a low-scoring affair. What a time to be alive.