Vikings - Panthers

Finally.

It took four weeks but the Minnesota Vikings finally won a game. 

Minnesota Vikings   21

Carolina Panthers   13

Offensively, the Vikings played perhaps their worst game of the season. They did some good things running the ball. The passing game appeared out of sync for much of the game. The Vikings defense was the difference. 

It helped that the Panthers are in a clear rebuild. Rookie quarterback, experienced but first-year head coach, young players splashed across the roster. The veteran leader of the youthful Panthers offense is former Vikings receiver Adam Thielen. He had a solid game against his former teammates. Seven catches for 76 yards. There were stretches, especially early in the game, during which Thielen looked like Bryce Young’s only target. It helped that he was routinely open. It was both fun and terrible to see. 

The Vikings opened the game with a crisp 70-yard drive to the Panthers 5-yard line. Forty-five of those yards came by a pass interference penalty on a deep pass to Jordan Addison. Instead of an early score, Kirk Cousins threw another interception at the goal line. It was his third interception of the season. All three were intercepted at the goal line or in the end zone. This one was returned 99 yards for a Panthers touchdown. It was a horrible decision by Cousins. As soon as the ball left his hand it was headed to the waiting hands of Panthers defensive back Sam Franklin Jr. He had an easy path to the other end of the field. It was a possible 14-point swing. It was a terrible start. 

If this season is to amount to anything, the Vikings must stop making things easy for their opponents. This easy pick-six was so avoidable. Cousins never should’ve attempted that pass. Late in the first half, another nice drive ended without points due to another interception. The Vikings had driven to the Panthers 21-yard line. Cousins was hit as he threw and essentially tossed up a pop fly. It was another easy interception for the Panthers. It led to a half-ending field goal. 10 of the Panthers 13 points were the direct result of Vikings giveaways. Very generous. Through four games, the Vikings have turned the ball over 11 times. 11! 11!! The Vikings must stop making things easy for opponents. 

The Vikings defense is slowly finding its way under the aggressive direction of defensive coordinator Brian Flores. This was their best game. With the offense out of sync for much of the game, the defense needed to play its best game. Granted, this young Panthers offense was probably the weakest that the Vikings have faced this season. Still, the defense kept this young Panthers offense out of the end zone. They really only gave up a single field goal. Harrison Smith was the defensive catalyst. He was fantastic. 

Harrison Smith’s day:

14 tackles

3 sacks

3 QB hits

2 tackles for loss

1 forced fumble

Smith’s first sack of Young forced a fumble that D.J. Wonnum returned 51 yards for a touchdown. The third quarter defensive score gave the Vikings their lead of the game, 14-13. It was the play of the game for the Vikings. It’s still so early but it might’ve been the play that changed the direction of the season. Smith’s final two sacks of Young ended the Panthers last possession and game-tying hopes. This is the sort of game I envisioned Smith having when Flores was hired. It was brilliant.

Through the first three weeks, the Vikings needed a great start by Danielle Hunter to generate any sort of pass rush. It’s been a one-man pass rushing show. The Vikings were forced to send extra rushers more than even Flores is probably comfortable doing. Hunter needed pass rushing help. He got that help yesterday with the return of Marcus Davenport to the field. He was inactive in Weeks 1 and 3 and only played about four snaps in Week 2. Davenport was signed in the offseason to form a dynamic pass rushing pair with Hunter. He was finally able to be that yesterday. He collected his first sack and caused a second that went to Wonnum. Davenport was routinely in the Panthers backfield. Hopefully, it’s only the beginning. He must stay on the field. 

The Vikings offense, explosive through the first three weeks, often struggled against the Panthers. They gained only 265 yards for the game. They gained about that much in a single half in previous games. Perhaps even more surprising than the total was that only 130 of the yards were gained passing. Cousins had been getting that in a single quarter. About the only thing nice about the Vikings offense against the Panthers was the running and Justin Jefferson. 

Vikings RBs: 22 carries for 135 yards

Justin Jefferson: 6 catches for 85 yards and 2 TDs (4,30)

Alexander Mattison had his second consecutive productive game. He gained 95 yards on 19 carries. Most importantly, he did not put the ball on the ground. Recently acquired, Cam Akers made his Vikings debut. He ran well, five carries for 40 yards. It’s a ridiculously small sample size but Mattison and Akers look like a solid rushing pair. 

Only with Justin Jefferson can a six catch, 85 yard, two touchdown game feel like a quiet game. Through three games, he’d made 150 yards feel like his baseline game. 

I’m not worried about a sub-par passing game. This game is an outlier. Cousins is too good. Jefferson is too great. Jordan Addison didn’t catch a pass. T.J. Hockenson only caught two pass. K.J. Osborn only caught one pass. They only had 44 plays. The Vikings have too much talent on offense for this game to be concerning. The important thing was the win. The Vikings finally got one. 

Moving forward, the offense will get back on track. Hopefully, the defense will build on this performance. 

Finally. The Vikings finally won a game.