7 biggest takeaways from the Vikings stunning win over the Panthers

Kendricks is the best middle linebacker in the NFL

In 2019, Eric Kendricks took his play to a level that resulted in him earning a First-Team All-Pro selection. This season, that level of play is continuing to ascend into the sky.

Kendricks is putting together another marvelous year with the Vikings and he might even be performing better than he did in 2019.

For as much as Minnesota’s young defense has taken a step back this season, the veteran middle linebacker seems to always come up with a big play whenever the team needs one. This happened again during Sunday’s win over the Panthers.

Midway through the second quarter, Carolina only needed to gain 12 more yards to score a touchdown and tie the game at seven points apiece. Facing a 3rd-and-11, Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater fired a pass into the middle of the field that was intended for running back Mike Davis.

But instead of Davis coming up with the catch, Kendricks snapped the pass out of the air for his third interception of the year. With the pick, the Vikings linebacker set his new single-season career-high for interceptions.

Kendricks pick in the second quarter prevented Carolina from putting any points on the board and in a matchup that ended with Minnesota only winning by a single point, it was definitely a very impactful play.