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Scouting report: Carolina Panthers

November 27, 2014 at 6:10AM

Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil (67) looks on from the sideline during a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 8, 2014, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn) ORG XMIT: 20140808MM_1079.jpg (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Scouting

report

game 12

CAROLINA

at VIKINGS

Noon Sunday

TCF Bank Stadium

TV: Ch. 9

Radio:

100.3-FM, 1130-AM

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (3-7-1)

• The Panthers lost 19-17 to the Falcons on Sunday, giving up the game-winning field goal with 2:08 left in the game.

• Quarterback Cam Newton has been sacked the third most times in the NFL, 32. He's thrown 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season.

• Carolina has the 22nd ranked offense in the NFL, averaging 327.2 yards per game. The Panthers are one of 11 teams averaging fewer than 100 rushing yards per game (96.4).

• The Panthers have allowed 27.3 points per game, tied with the Bucs for 28th most in the NFL.

• Linebacker Luke Kuechly is tied for the NFL-high in tackles with 116.

• The Panthers are just a half-game behind the Falcons and Saints for first place in the NFC South. They're also a half-game ahead of the Bucs, who are in last place in the division.

PLAYER SPEAK Ryan Kalil

• Kalil will make his 99th career appearance and 96th start on Sunday. He has spent eight seasons with the Panthers.

• Ryan is the older brother of Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil.

• On the Vikings pass rush: "I think they do a lot of very good things with their linebackers. They get them involved a lot. It's one of the bigger cutup tapes we've watched this season of putting pressure on the quarterback and getting after them. I think that's going to be a big challenge for us, making sure we identify all that stuff."

• On his little brother's frustrations this year: "I talk to [Matt] after every game, and obviously it's been real frustrating for him individually but more so just his team [being] sort of in a similar situation that we're in this year. I think he's his hardest critic. It really weighs on him when he doesn't play well."

COACH SPEAK RON RIVERA

• The 52-year-old Rivera is in his fourth season as the Panthers head coach. He's 28-30-1 during his tenure during the regular season, and 0-1 in the playoffs.

• On Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn's tenure with the Panthers: "He's one of the toughest players I've ever been around. He's got a good sense and feel for the game. He's a different kind of guy, his own person. He works hard at his craft. He wants to do things the right way."

• On Newton's season: "We've gone through a big transition on the offensive side, beginning with the wide receiver position, then through the offensive line positions. Not only have we gone through a transition, we've suffered a whole lot of injuries. It's been very difficult on our team, not just our quarterback."

MASTER TESFATSION

This is a 2014 photo of Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers NFL football team. This image reflects the Carolina Panthers active roster as of Friday, June 20, 2014 when this image was taken. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: NFLHS14 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)