The Associated Press
Steve Reed
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The Minnesota Vikings keep finding ways to overcome injuries—and keep finding ways to win football games.
Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph, and Marcus Sherels returned a punt for a score, as the Vikings snapped the Carolina Panthers’ 14-game home winning streak with a 22-10 victory yesterday.
The Vikings put the clamps on Cam Newton, intercepting the league’s reigning MVP three times and getting eight sacks—one of those resulting in a safety by Danielle Hunter.
The eight sacks were the second-most ever against Newton.
“We have a great team—the best team I have been a part of,” said Vikings’ defensive end Everson Griffen, who had three sacks yesterday.
“We come from every area on the field and we get sacks. They were dictating to us after they got the momentum,” noted Newton.
The Vikings improved to 3-0 despite losing running back Adrian Peterson and offensive tackle Matt Kalil to injuries last week.
They lost starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater during the pre-season.
The Panthers were averaging 42 points per game in their last three home games, but could do little after bolting out to a 10-0 lead.
The Vikings held Carolina wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess without a catch.
“For him not to have any touches is baffling,” Newton said of Benjamin.
“We have to find ways [to get him the ball],” he stressed.
Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said the Vikings’ focus was on shutting down Benjamin.
“We just knew where Benjamin was the whole time,” Munnerlyn noted.
“Funchess, we weren’t worried about him. It was Kelvin Benjamin.”
Benjamin said the Vikings’ pressure on Newton helped take him out of the game.
Bradford improved to 2-0 as the Vikings’ starter, completing 18-of-28 passes for 171 yards.
With Peterson injured, Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon combined for 70 yards rushing on 22 carries.
Rudolph had seven catches for 70 yards, including a 15-yard TD catch to put the Vikings ahead for good in the early in the third quarter.
Carolina only led 10-8 at halftime despite outgaining the Vikings 205-34 in the first half and limiting Minnesota to two first downs.
Sherels accounted for the Vikings’ only touchdown of the first half—taking an Andy Lee punt near midfield and cutting across the grain for a 54-yard touchdown return.
