3 favorable matchups for the Vikings in Week 6 vs. the Panthers
By Luke Parrish
Vikings pass rush vs. Panthers offensive line
In five games this season, the Panthers have allowed 14 sacks of Sam Darnold. That is good for the sixth-most in the NFL, while the Vikings rank second in the league with 17 defensive sacks in the five games of their own.
A huge key to Minnesota’s success so far has been the return of Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter off the edge as the duo has combined for 10.0 sacks already this season. After recording just 23 sacks as a team in 2020, the Vikings are already staring down that total just five weeks into this season and could potentially reach that mark before their bye week.
Sam Darnold has done a good job of making plays with his legs and has looked much better than he ever did with the Jets. His mobility in the backfield will be a nice test for Zimmer’s defense, but the pass rush should be in for a big day.
If Hunter and Griffen can continue to disrupt things off the edge, the Vikings can come away with a huge road win. Hopefully, those two can force some turnovers and make Darnold’s afternoon a long one.