Special Preview Number Two- Week 14
Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers
Vikings: They are one of four teams in the NFL right now with a record of 10-2 and with their win against the Falcons and the Eagles losing in Seattle on Sunday night, the Vikings right now hold the top spot in the NFC. This NFC race is definitely going to be a fun one to watch all the way to week 17. Last week was their most impressive win of the year in my opinion. When they played Atlanta on Sunday, they established the tempo of the game in their favor, they were physical and their defense is the real deal, especially after shutting down one of the better offenses in the league with an MVP-winning quarterback and elite wide receiver and holding the Falcons offense to three field goals (nine points). The Vikings continue to roll right now and Mike Zimmer has done such a great job with this team. This is a complete football team if you look at everything they are able to do. As an offense, they have multiple weapons that can all make plays so as a defender, you can’t just put all of your emphasis on one guy because if you do that, someone that you never expected to have a big game is doing just that, having a big game. They run the football and Latavius Murray was such a nice signing for them during the off-season, they have a good offensive line that pulls, pass blocks and controls the line of scrimmage and next to the Jaguars, this is the best defense in the league. Their defense has a very active front four, the linebackers can get to your playmakers and the secondary, well, you saw what they did last week. That speaks for itself. The Vikings will look to keep winning with a visit to Carolina on Sunday.
Panthers: Their game against the Saints was an important one because if you win, you’re in first place and you have a much better shot at taking your division. Although they look like a playoff team, their chances of winning the NFC South have definitely dissipated. The Panthers can still win ten games, maybe even 11 at the most and they can get in as a wild card in the NFC playoffs and the only way they would host a playoff game is if they win out and the Saints lose their remaining four games which I don’t see happening. I was looking to see what Cam Newton would show up on Sunday after struggling to really get into a rhythm in week 12 against the Jets in East Rutherford. He was much better this Sunday completing 17 of 27 pass attempts, two touchdown passes, no picks and he added on six carries for 51 yards leading the team once again in rushing (rolls eyes). He did all that he could to keep the team in the game, but the Saints just proved to be way too much. One thing I really took away from their game on Sunday was their lack of tackling. Don’t be afraid to bring someone down with the football because if you look afraid, you’ll be labeled as soft and that’s exactly what they were. They are one of the best when it comes to running the football which I find shocking because for the last month or so, Cam has been their leading rusher. If the Panthers still had Greg Olsen on the field, they’d be my favorites easily to win their division, but he got hurt again. If they want to get back on track, this is a game they need to have against the surging Vikings.
Vikings Player To Watch: Tom Johnson– What makes this Vikings front four so impressive has been the fact that all their defensive linemen can get to the quarterback in some capacity and if they can’t get to him, they’ll collapse his pocket. Tom is a pocket pusher that has great release off the snap and he’s able to stop the run.
Panthers Player To Watch: Kaelin Clay– With Olsen out and Benjamin traded, this guy has really stepped up and become a nice target for Cam. He’s your typical slot receiver and chain mover at five-foot-ten and 195 pounds. He’s shifty in space and makes the tough catches over the middle of the football field.
Final Analysis: This is a big game for both teams. With a win, the Vikings will clinch the NFC North for the second time in three seasons and for Carolina, this would be a nice bounce back win after losing last week in New Orleans. I’ll keep saying it and saying it, someone not named Newton needs to be the leading rusher! Don’t put everything on your quarterback. Minnesota just needs to keep playing how they’ve been playing. It’s won you eight games in a row.
Prediction: Vikings 17 Panthers 13
