Written By Sam Ekstrom
LAST WEEK
The Vikings took on the red-hot Green Bay Packers and gave them a game, though succumbed to Aaron Rodgers’ dominance late in a 24-21 loss. The Vikings’ offense was slow-starting yet again as Teddy Bridgewater threw for 210 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His opponent, Rodgers, was nearly mistake free as usual, but the real damage came on the ground from running back Eddie Lacy, who gashed Minnesota for 125 rushing yards, one touchdown on the ground and one through the air.
Carolina was one of the NFL’s final teams to take its bye week as they rested during Week 12. Their Week 11 game in Charlotte resulted in the team’s fifth straight loss, a 19-17 defeat to divisional foe Atlanta. A fourth quarter comeback put the Panthers in front late, but Atlanta answered with a field goal in the final minutes to take a permanent lead. Quarterback Cam Newton, the former first overall pick, threw two interceptions in the loss.
RECENT MEETINGS
These teams met in Week 6 of last season when both clubs were 1-3 and looking for a springboard performance that would propel them forward. Carolina delivered with a 35-10 shellacking at the Metrodome and went on to win 10 of their next 11 games to secure a home game in the NFC playoffs. Minnesota lost its next three games.
The Vikings beat the Panthers 24-21 on October 30, 2011 in Christian Ponder’s second career start for the club. The game between two lackluster teams featured a fight between Captain Munnerlyn and Percy Harvin and a missed 31-yard field goal by Olindo Mare that lost the game for Carolina.
Prior to that, the Panthers beat the Vikings 26-7 in the infamous Sunday night game in which Brett Favre and Brad Childress feuded on the sidelines over Favre’s tendency to audible out of run plays and pass the ball instead.
Minnesota leads the all-time series 6-5 over Carolina.
COMMON CONNECTIONS
Matt Kalil faces his brother, Ryan, for the second time in his career. Ryan Kalil, a center, is in his eighth season with Carolina and has been a mentor for his younger brother throughout his football career.
Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn played with the Panthers for five years before leaving for Minnesota in free agency. Munnerlyn recorded seven interceptions, four forced fumbles and five defensive touchdowns with the Panthers before signing a 3-year contract with the Vikings in the offseason.
The third-string quarterback for Carolina is Joe Webb, who started for the Vikings in their 2012 playoff game at Lambeau Field. Webb spent four years in Minnesota and never found a permanent niche. He made starts in three different seasons at quarterback and performed decently but was not deemed a viable option as a long-term starter. Webb also experimented with wide receiver but struggled to run routes. He has one reception and two kick return attempts this season for Carolina.
Offensive tackle Mike Remmers, a Vikings pre-season cut, will be starting on the O-line for the Panthers. He was signed by Minnesota in November of last year and did not play in a game.
Both teams have a Charles Johnson on the roster. The Vikings’ Charles Johnson is an up-and-coming wide receiver in Norv Turner’s offense making less than $500,000 in base salary, while the Panthers’ defensive end Charles Johnson is in the middle of a 6-year deal with $32 million guaranteed. He is questionable for Sunday (illness).
UNPOPULAR CAPTAIN?
In a recent story from the Charlotte Observer, Carolina cornerback Josh Norman claimed former teammate and current Viking Captain Munnerlyn had “little man syndrome” and “never wanted to help me out with anything.” It was a brash statement about Munnerlyn, a veteran considered to be a locker room leader in Minnesota.
Norman did not start any games in 2013, but with Munnerlyn’s absence this year, has started seven games. Norman claimed Munnerlyn was insecure about being replaced by the young corner, a notion that offended Munnerlyn.
“It was a slap in the face to me that he would come out and say I'm the type of guy that didn't try to help them and all that,” said Munnerlyn on Monday. “If you know me, if you go in that organization and ask the other cornerbacks, or anybody in their organization, I'm the kind of guy who was willing to help and lay it on the line each and every day.”
Munnerlyn also did an interview with the Charlotte Observer where he said that Norman didn’t “respect the game.” He believed that Norman resented him because of his age. Munnerlyn was several months younger than Norman but had three more years of NFL experience.
“I was one of the veterans, and he was like, ‘Man, I’m older than him,’ ” Munnerlyn told the Observer. “I think he had a problem with that.”
Since the two former teammates play the same position, they will not appear on the field at the same time.
“I don't have to play against him; he don't have to play against me,” said Munnerlyn. “He's got to worry about our offense; I've got to worry about their offense.”
INJURY REPORT; ZIMMER IRRITATED
Maybe it’s the recent cold in Minnesota, maybe it’s an usually stressful first season as head coach, but Mike Zimmer was not in a good mood when asked about injuries at Friday’s press conference.
“I know you got to ask, but I just get tired of talking about the injuries, because I just think it doesn’t do us any good to talk about them,” said Zimmer. “Doesn’t do me any good to talk about the injuries, so I’m on a pet peeve right now.”
Zimmer dealt with a packed injury list this week and will reportedly be without Jerick McKinnon (back). That means the recently-concussed Matt Asiata, newly-signed Ben Tate and practice squad back Joe Banyard will be carrying the load in the running game.
Chase Ford (hamstring), Sharrif Floyd (knee) and Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) were all limited in practice on Friday, too.
On the opposing side, Carolina’s former first round selection Star Lotulelei (ankle) and offensive guard Amini Silatolu (knee) are doubtful. As mentioned earlier, Charles Johnson is questionable (illness).
WEATHER REPORT
The Vikings were fortunate the past two weeks to escape frigid temperature. Each of the last two games were played outside – in Chicago and Minneapolis, respectively – but hovered around 30 to 40 degrees. Sunday is expected to be the coldest temperature quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has ever faced with a projected high of 16 degrees.
According to Bridgewater, his coldest-ever college game was 20 degrees in Connecticut.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
LB Luke Kuechly vs ball-carriers: Don’t take your eyes off no. 59. Luke Kuechly, the ninth overall pick in the 2012 draft, was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. He is vicious as a tackler and also has a nose for the football with six career interceptions.
RT Mike Harris vs RDE Charles Johnson (probably): Assuming Charles Johnson is good to go, he’ll be up against fill-in tackle Mike Harris, who replaces the injured Phil Loadholt. The Vikings have struggled at the left tackle position this year, but the right tackle spot has been sound with Loadholt playing well. Bridgewater may have to face intense pressure from both sides if Harris doesn’t work out.
PREDICTION
The Panthers have been a mess offensively without a first half touchdown in their last six games, and the Vikings have been much better on defense in recent weeks. This seems like a game the Vikings could control if they get ahead early. Vikings 20, Panthers 13.
Sam Ekstrom is a staff writer for Cold Omaha at 105 The Ticket and a play-by-play broadcaster in Burnsville, Minn. Hear him on 105 The Ticket weekdays from 2-3 p.m. on “The Michael Knight Show” or Sunday mornings from 8-10 a.m. on “The Wake Up Call.” Follow him on Twitter @SamEkstrom for further insights.