The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Carolina Panthers by the score of 24 to 21 after Olindo Mare missed a field goal which would have tied the game. Of course I am not blaming this loss on Mare but he sure didn’t make things better.

The Carolina Panthers lost two of three fumbles and this helped the Minnesota Vikings beat them. At least the penalties were better than in past games with six for 60 yards. The Carolina Panthers also averaged 5.1 yards per rushing attempt which is excellent for a NFL team.

The once sieve like Carolina Panthers run defense even played decently at times holding Adrian Peterson to 86 yards on a workman like 21 carries. Adrian Peterson did score two touchdowns though, one rushing and one receiving. Linebacker Omar Gaither had seven tackles while safety Charles Godfrey added seven solo and two assists.

Rookie Christian Ponder played very well completing 18 of 28 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown. Cam Newton did well in the passing game against the Vikings.Newton completed 22 of 35 passes for 290 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. However Cam Newton fumbled twice and the team lost them both to the Vikings.

Steve Smith had a nice game against the Vikings with seven receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown. Greg Olsen had four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown and Shockey scored on his only catch. Legedu Naanee had a nice game with five receptions for 49 yards and didn’t seem as fearful of contact as in the past.

The fumbles really hurt the Carolina Panthers but I was pleased with the effort of the team. The run defense is getting better each week and hopefully special teams play will be addressed during the upcoming bye week.

The problem for the Carolina Panthers and all NFL teams during the bye is the new practice rules. The teams must give the players five straight days off that in past years would have been used for practice.  

This is my preview of the Minnesota Vikings at the Carolina Panthers game which will be played on Sunday October 30^th. Since I am a fan of theirs this will have a Carolina Panthers slant in my review of the Vikings game.

Two rookie quarterbacks will battle it out as Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers host Christian Ponder and the Minnesota Vikings. Ponder has one NFL start in which the Vikings went toe to toe with the Green Bay Packers.

Ponder may have a bright future but as my review of the Vikings at the Panthers will show, Adrian Peterson is the key. Adrian Peterson has missed some practice time with a sore ankle but he is the man to stop.

Adrian Peterson is a workhorse back and probably the best in the NFL right now. Peterson is averaging 4.9 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns so far in 2011. That does not bode well for a young and banged up Carolina Panthers defense that is not adept at stopping the run. Percy Harvin also scares me either on a reverse or just as a receiver or returner.

For the Carolina Panthers to defeat the Minnesota Vikings we need more of what we saw in the Redskins game. Cam Newton must not turn the ball over and the Panthers need to continue to improve their own run game. I would like to see more short passes this week to negate Jared Allen who already has 11.5 sacks in 2011.

If the Panthers can get a quick lead then the defense can tee off on the rookie Ponder.  Look for the Panthers to change their looks often to try to confuse Ponder. I have a feeling that Charles “Big Money’ Johnson will have a big game against the Vikings.

If the Carolina Panthers can limit their penalties this week then I don’t see the Vikings beating Cam Newton and company at Bank of America Stadium. Cam Newton is coming off his best game as a pro and I think he will continue to improve.