4 most disappointing Vikings from their Week 12 win over the Panthers
By Nik Edlund
Kris Boyd – CB
Kris Boyd was coming off a poor performance against the Dallas Cowboys last week and he didn’t exactly follow it up with a bang against the Panthers on Sunday.
Boyd was first noticed in a negative way when he drew a penalty on a Vikings punt. Minnesota punter Britton Colquitt launched a rare long punt and he was looking to pin Carolina inside their own 10-yard line.
But as is the case with probably 95 percent of the time with punts in the NFL, a flag was thrown for an illegal block in the back during the return. The man at fault for this was Boyd and he showed his displeasure on the sideline by slamming his helmet on the ground and wearing a scowl on his face.
Later in the game, after the Vikings took the improbable lead, Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had about 45 seconds to march his team down the field and steal a victory from his former team. On the first play, Bridgewater dropped back and launched a floater up to the heavens. The ball didn’t have much on it, but somehow it fell into the arms of Carolina receiver Curtis Samuel.
Boyd was the man assigned with covering Samuel and while Harrison Smith tried to get there in time to knock the ball down, he was too late. Boyd was pulled after this play in favor of fellow rookie corner Harrison Hand since he almost cost Minnesota a victory for the second week in a row.