For the third time this season, the Vikings spotted an opponent at least a one-touchdown lead. And for the third time the Vikings won thanks in large part to a dominant defense and the uncanny ability to make game-turning plays. Make no mistake: even through all the injuries and problems with the offensive line/running game, this is a very good team. How good? We'll get to that at the end. First, let's recap Minnesota's 22-10 victory over the Panthers with 5 GIFs (and a bunch of words, too).
ALLOW ME TO RETORT
Like I said, the Vikings have been spotting opponents early lead. This time, they gave Carolina 10 quick points and looked like they were in danger of getting their doors blown off. Instead? As has been the case in all three games this year, Minnesota stiffened after the initial wave and blasted past its opponent. The Vikings have given up 13 points (7 that weren't in garbage time) beyond allowing those early leads this year. Like Samuel L. in Pulp Fiction, their retort game has been STRONG.
SAFETY FIRST
The shift started with a dominant defensive play by Danielle Hunter, with an assist to very good pass coverage, leading to a safety that trimmed Carolina's lead to 10-2 at the end of the first quarter (which, frankly, sounds more like a Twins score than a Vikings score). That sequence felt like the beginning of a massive momentum switch that really never relented for the final three quarters.
SPECIAL TEAMS ACES
Marcus Sherels also got an assist on that safety by helping down a Jeff Locke punt deep in Carolina territory. Then Sherels gave Minnesota its first TD with a sweet punt return. Add in Cordarrelle Patterson looking like a special teams whiz and it's clear the special teams played a starring role in this victory (another missed extra point from Blair Walsh notwithstanding).
SAVAGE DEFENSE
