CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As the Minnesota Vikings flew east Saturday afternoon, before their game Sunday at the Carolina Panthers, there was a part of tight end Kyle Rudolph's mind that was back in the Twin Cities.

Rudolph's wife Jordan is pregnant with twin girls, and while the babies weren't due until early October, doctors had told the Rudolphs that Jordan could go into labor at any time.

The couple had gone through all the scenarios before Rudolph left for Charlotte. They were confident they could make sure Kyle was there for the birth of his daughters in any circumstance except for one: if Jordan had gone into labor early Sunday morning.

"If that would have been the case, her doctors said we would try to prolong it as long as she could," Rudolph said. "That's how tough Jordan is: She was OK with that. If that was going to happen, she was going to hold off as long as she could until we got back. But there was no circumstance where I wasn't going to be down here with the guys."

After he caught seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 22-10 win over the Panthers, Rudolph said he hadn't heard news from Minnesota about his wife going into labor -- which all but guaranteed he'd be able to make it back home in time. The Vikings now have back-to-back home games before their bye week, and they're not on the road again until Oct. 23. In all likelihood, the Rudolphs will be together to welcome their twin girls into the world.