Carolina Panthers (0-4) – Minnesota Vikings (1-3): 13-21
We believed, once again, that Minnesota was not going to learn the lessons of their failed start to the season. Two new losses of balls, making eleven in total this year, led us to believe that we were going to witness a déjà vu scenario.
This was without counting on an adversary who also wanted to be generous. Bryce Young (25/32, 204 yards, 1 fumble) was precise with the pass, but never managed to guide his team to the promised land.
Minnesota continues its gift distribution
With nine turnovers already in 3 games, the Vikings were the worst team in the league in this sector. Obviously they didn’t want to reverse the trend this Sunday. From their first possession, the purples find themselves 5 yards from the goal but Kirk Cousins (13/19, 139 yards, 2TDs, 2ints) sends the ball into the hands of an opposing safety. 95 yards further, Sam Franklin Jr converted the offering.
Back within 3 points of the Panthers, Minnesota has a new opportunity to take the advantage, just before the end of the second quarter. At the entrance to the redzone, Cousins was intercepted a second time and allowed the locals to double their advantage on the gong, 13-7 at halftime.
A loan for a return
After taking advantage of the opposing turnovers, the Panthers decided to be welcoming hosts. Well on his way to increasing his team’s advantage, Young lets the ball escape under pressure from Harrison Smith and DJ Wonnum also goes to score a long-distance defensive touchdown.
He might’ve Wonnum the game with this one? @DWonnum
📺: #MINvsCAR on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6 pic.twitter.com/9FcKmNByDb— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023
Two possessions later, Kirk Cousins took advantage of a false start by the locals to have a free game. An opportunity that he fully seized by finding Justin Jefferson (6 receptions, 85 yards, 2TDs), a second time, in the endzone.
Minnesota then takes an eight-point lead at the start of a fourth quarter which will not see a single point scored. Young and the Panthers had one last opportunity to equalize. But the young quarterback is finally stopped in the red zone, by an untenable Harrison Smith.
Complicated start to NFL career for the first choice in the 2023 draft. Carolina, which travels to Detroit on Sunday, has still not had success. For Minnesota, it’s a first victory which will feel good, but which is not reassuring. We will have to do much better to hope to beat Kansas City next week.
