Initial reaction after today's game …
My first thought is the Vikings didn't even need to return two blocked punts for touchdowns to beat a Panthers team that looked as awful if not more so than the awful Falcons team that lost here 38-10 back in Week 4.
The Panthers were the team with a playoff spot to play for despite a 3-7-1 record, but the Vikings, at 4-7, were just the better team in all three phases. Becoming only the fifth team in NFL history to return two blocked punts for touchdowns was just a nice add-on to a game the Vikings would have won either way.
Offensively, don't underestimate the value of Teddy Bridgewater's first completion of the game. It was an easy pitch-and-catch throw to Greg Jennings for seven yards on third-and-five. But, remember, seven days earlier, Teddy was throwing the ball maybe 10 feet over the head of receivers on relatively easy throws in the first half of the loss to the Packers. So Teddy B completing that simple pass kept the team's opening drive alive, led to a touchdown pass and ultimately set the tone for a 120.7 passer rating for Bridgewater.
Defensively, the Vikings stood up to the Panthers on the first drive when Carolina clearly wanted to challenge the team's weak run defense. Carolina called two runs to start the game, but the Vikings stuffed them for a gain of two yards and then got a sack from Sharrif Floyd. The Panthers punted and the Vikings took advantage of good field position to score.
The run defense, overall, struggled. But opening the game strong helped the offense and special teams take control of the game.
Also, midway through the third quarter, the defense bailed the slumbering offense out. After back-to-back three-and-outs by the offense, Carolina had moved to within 28-13 and was at the Vikings' 42-yard line when Xavier Rhodes and Chad Greenway made excellent pass deflections in tight coverage on second-and-15 and third-and-15.
The Vikings still won't make the playoffs. But they're 5-7 with the woeful Jets visiting next week. So in a rebuilding year, the Vikings should be able to walk away from this season knowing they're moving in the right direction with a record that will be better than last year's 5-10-1 mark.
