Minnesota Vikings vs Carolina Panthers Pick & Prediction, Sun Oct 17 01:00 PM
The Minnesota Vikings narrowly secured a win over the Detroit Lions in Week 5. Their inability to dominate games is clearly going to be their demise. They now head out on the road, an area where they’ve underperformed. They’ll face the Carolina Panthers, a team that has struggled in the last few weeks. Could this finally be the game where Minnesota shows some tenacity?
The Carolina Panthers need to get their year back on track after losing two straight games. The good news is the Panthers know exactly what they need to do to get back on the right path. If they’re able to correct some of these issues, they should do well against the Vikings. Needless to say, this should be a good game between these two.
Vikings vs. Panthers Lines for NFL Week 6
TV: FOX
MONEY LINE: Vikings (+110) vs. Panthers (-130)
SPREAD: Vikings +1.5 (-110) vs. Panthers -1.5 (-110)
GAME TOTAL: Over 46 (-110) vs. Under 46 (-110)
Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Preview
Although they closed Week 5 with a win, tons of questions surround the Vikings camp. Their conservative play has cost them games in the past too. Fans are looking at Mike Zimmer to be the reason for the conservative playstyle. The term “playing not to lose” is a common description of their performance.
They need to open up the playbook against Carolina as the Panthers’ secondary is quite soft. If the Vikings continue their stagnant offense, they’ll inevitably lose this game. Targeting their wide receivers and letting Kirk Cousins loose is the Vikings’ best bet. However, the Panthers have a plan of their own.
The Panthers are in a rough spot with two straight losses, even WR Robby Anderson is frustrated. To get back on track they need QB Sam Darnold to settle down. They should start off with the running game, something that has worked well against Minnesota. The Vikings allowed nearly 200 yards on the ground, something Carolina should emulate.
After they establish the running game they can follow up with the pass. Giving Darnold clear targets without worrying about the blitz will be perfect. However, Darnold has to learn to perform under pressure. If he doesn’t, he’ll never truly develop as a quarterback in the NFL.
Vikings vs. Panthers Money Line Pick
Vikings 23 - Panthers 21
The Vikings haven’t shown much intensity this season, especially on the road. They’re 0-2 when traveling, but they’ve played some strong teams too. Their first game was against the Cincinnati Bengals, their second was against the Arizona Cardinals. It’s fair to say that the Panthers don’t match the same level of competition.
This game is definitely going to be a close one, especially with how these teams perform. The conservative nature of the Vikings is troublesome, but so is Sam Darnold. He hasn’t done well protecting the ball and that will definitely come into play on Sunday. We anticipate the Vikings to get their first road win of the year, but by a narrow margin.
Extra Points
1. Minnesota is 2-1 against the Carolina Panthers in their last two meetings.
2. The Minnesota Vikings are 2-3 ATS this season.
3. RB Dalvin Cook could be making his return to the Vikings lineup on Sunday.
Best Bet: Minnesota Vikings ML (+110)
Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers Recap OCT 17TH 2021
Kirk Cousins threw 27 yards to K.J. Osborn on the first possession of overtime as the visiting Minnesota Vikings defeated the Carolina Panthers 34-28 in a mistake-filled game Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.
Cousins threw three touchdown passes and Dalvin Cook returned to action by rushing for 140 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries. Cousins went 33-for-48 for 373 yards through the air.
Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold was 17-for-41 for 207 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Carolina forced overtime by driving 96 yards, scoring on Darnold's 7-yard pass to Robby Anderson and converting a two-point conversion pass with 42 seconds left.
The Vikings scored two touchdowns in a two-minute span of the third quarter for a 25-17 lead.
The first of those came on Cook's 16-yard touchdown run. Four plays after a Carolina fumble, the Vikings converted on Cousins' third-and-goal pass of 5 yards to Adam Thielen, who made a diving catch on the side of the end zone.
On Minnesota's next possession, it drove 63 yards for Greg Joseph's 38-yard field goal with 10:19 remaining. A missed field goal from 50 yards three minutes left the lead at 28-17.
The Panthers ended up with Zane Gonzalez's 23-yard field goal at the 4:44 mark.
Carolina got the ball back at its own 4-yard line with 2:18 left.
The Panthers did little on offense, but they were up 17-12 after Frankie Luvu blocked a punt and Kenny Robinson returned the ball 4 yards for a third-quarter touchdown.
Carolina had a total of 68 yards on its first four possessions of the second half. Two of those sequences ended in turnovers.
The Vikings had Cook back after he missed time with an ankle injury. Carolina, though, was again without running back Christian McCaffrey, who has missed three straight games and won't be eligible to return until November since being placed on injured reserve.
The first points for each team came following turnovers.
The Vikings settled for two field goals -- both from 25 yards out by Joseph -- in the first quarter. This was despite taking over at the Carolina 22-yard line after Bashaud Breeland intercepted Darnold's pass on the first snap of the game.
The Panthers took better advantage of Justin Jefferson's fumble and Haason Reddick's 22-yard return, converting for a touchdown two plays later on Chuba Hubbard's 2-yard run.
The Vikings reached the end zone on a nine-play drive, with Cousins connecting with Chris Herndon for a 2-yard scoring play.
Gonzalez booted a 47-yard field goal for Carolina later in the second quarter.
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