The Carolina Panthers will look to go on a win streak for the first time since Week 5, but ahead of them is a date with a Minnesota Vikings team that has seemingly gotten it together of late, despite a recent setback. Read on for our preview of Panthers vs. Vikings Week 12 preview below.
Carolina will not have Teddy Bridgewater again as the Panthers take on the Vikings in Week 11, as the quarterback is still nursing a knee injury, but it appears that they are just going to be fine with PJ Walker under center. Although Walker got picked twice in the Panthers’ 20-0 win at home over the Detroit Lions in Week 11, he managed to go 24-of-34 with a touchdown. The Panthers’ also got 127 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven catches from DJ Moore. With more confidence as a starter, Walker can have better numbers in Week 12 against Minnesota’s defense that is just 26th in the league with 260.7 passing yards allowed per game. Having pounced on the Lions’ offense, the Panthers’ defense can look forward to opportunities against Minnesota’s turnover attack.
The Panthers are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games away from home.
The Vikings saw their three-game win streak end in Week 11 during a 31-28 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Despite the gut-wrenching defeat, Minnesota did get an impressive performance from Kirk Cousins, who threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns without an interception on 22-of-30 completions. The Vikings are likely to play without star receiver Adam Thielen (COVID-19 list) but they still have stud youngster Justin Jefferson and running back Dalvin Cook, who’s been running circles around defenses this season. Carolina is only 17th in the league with 116.8 rushing yards allowed per game, and that plays right into Cook’s game. Cook is second in the NFL with 1,069 rushing yards and tops with 13 rushing touchdowns. The Vikings are sixth overall with 150.7 rushing yards per contest.
The over is 6-0 in the Vikings’ last six home games.
