The Vikings beat the Panthers 21-13 for their first win of the season. It wasn’t a pretty victory, by any means, but there were five things that stood out above the rest. Let’s dive into them…
1. What was Kirk Cousins thinking?
Four Panthers defenders were covering three Vikings receivers when Cousins threw an awful pass that was easily intercepted and taken 99 yards for a touchdown by Sam Franklin Jr.
99-YARDS!
No stopping Sam 😤 pic.twitter.com/3SzM0NRIvj
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 1, 2023
It’s the fourth Minnesota turnover at the goal line this seasons. Cousins was picked off in the opener against Tampa Bay at the goal line and last week his pass to T.J. Hockenson was tipped twice and intercepted to end the game against the Chargers. The other goal line turnover was Justin Jefferson’s fumble against the Eagles.
The Vikings nearly turned it over inside the 5-yard line on a fumbled snap, but Cousins was able to fall on it and scored on the next play in the second quarter.
Cousins now has six turnovers – three fumbles and three interceptions – this season.
2. Why wait so long to play Dalton Risner?
Cousins’s second interception of the game came with 40 seconds left in the second quarter. Minnesota had it first-and-10 at the Carolina 21-yard line when right guard Ed Ingram beaten by Yetur Gross-Matos, who hit Cousins as he was throwing, causing the ball to sail aimlessly into the air for an interception.
Ingram, known for getting killed by opposing defensive linemen on a weekly basis, started the game despite Minnesota signing Risner last week. Risner was active for the game and despite Ingram’s struggles he stayed on the sideline and watched.
Ed Ingram gets beaten by Yetur Gross-Matos, causing a Kirk Cousins interception and the Vikings' league-leading 11th turnover in 3.5 games. pic.twitter.com/vQg0Q5Wn54
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 1, 2023
3. Long field goals are killing the Vikings
Entering play Sunday, a grand total of six field goals of 56+ yards had been made by NFL kickers this season. Now there are at least seven after Eddie Piniero split the uprights with a 56-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter against the Vikings.
For a franchise mauled by kicking woes over the decades, it should come as no surprise that three of the seven 56-plus-yard field goals this season have come against the Vikings.
- Chase McLaughlin 57-yarder in Week 1 (winning points)
- Jake Eilliott 61-yarder in Week 2 (at the half after Justin Jefferson fumble)
- Eddie Piniero 57-yarder in Week 4 (after Cousins interception)
4. Vikings running game comes to life
Facing a Carolina defense that ranked 27th in rush yards allowed per game entering Week 4, the Vikings had no problem with as their new-look backfield combo of Alexander Mattison and Cam Akers combined for 135 yards on 22 carries, which is an average of 6.1 yards per carry.
- Mattison: 17 carries for 95 yards
- Akers: 5 carries for 40 yards
The Vikings were 31st in rush yards per game (66.3) entering Week 4.
5. Davenport the difference maker
Marcus Davenport played just four snaps through three games because of an ankle injury. He played a big role in this game and came alive in the second half, coming up with a pressure that led to a sack for D.J. Wonnum in the third quarter followed by a sack of his own (that forced a punt) in the fourth quarter.
