MINNESOTA (2-0) at CAROLINA (1-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, Fox
OPENING LINE -- Panthers by 7
RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Minnesota 2-0, Carolina 1-1
SERIES RECORD -- Vikings lead series 7-5
LAST MEETING -- Vikings beat Panthers 31-13, Nov. 30, 2014
LAST WEEK -- Vikings beat Packers 17-14; Panthers beat 49ers 46-27
AP PRO32 RANKING -- Vikings No. 5, Panthers No. 4
VIKINGS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (28), RUSH (32), PASS (20).
VIKINGS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (5), RUSH (6), PASS (10).
PANTHERS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (3), RUSH (1), PASS (5).
PANTHERS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (7), RUSH (T-7), PASS (7).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -Game being played in Charlotte, North Carolina, which was declared to be in "state of emergency" Wednesday by Gov. Pat McCrory due to police shooting protests. ... QB Sam Bradford threw for 286 yards, two TDs in first start with Vikings. . ... RB Adrian Peterson sidelined indefinitely after surgery for torn meniscus in knee. RBs Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata expected to see action in backfield. ... WR Stefon Diggs was NFC offensive player of week with nine receptions for 182 yards and TD last week vs. Packers. Diggs' 285 yards receiving are second most through two games in Vikings history (Gene Washington, 324 in 1969). ... LT T.J. Clemmings gets start with Matt Kalil (hip) out for season... DE Everson Griffen had two sacks on Cam Newton in last meeting, and forced fumble and sack in Week 2 vs. Packers ... DE Danielle Hunter has 5 + sacks in last six games. ... CB Trae Waynes struggled with penalties in Week 2, but got first INT. ... S Andrew Sendejo led team with 11 tackles last week and has 10-plus tackles in two of last three games. ... Panthers have won 14 straight home games, including playoffs. They've averaged 42 points per game in last three home games, two of those being playoff outings. ... QB Cam Newton passed for 353 yards (and four TDs) in Week 2, most since rookie season in 2011. ... Newton has 20 TDs (17 passing, 3 rushing) in past five home games. .. RBs Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne expected to split carries with regular starter Jonathan Stewart (hamstring) out. Panthers still No. 1 in league in rushing. ... Whittaker had 131 yards from scrimmage last week, but one fumble. ... WR Kelvin Benjamin has three TDs in two games since returning from torn ACL. He has three 100-yard receiving games in last four at home, dating back to 2015. ... WR Devin Funchess has four TDs receiving in last five home games. ... TE Greg Olsen had career-long 78-yard TD reception last week and has six TDs in past eight home games. ... DE Charles Johnson had forced fumble and sack in last meeting. ... Since entering league in 2012, MLB Luke Kuechly leads NFL in tackles (612). ... OLB Shaq Thompson had 9-yard TD return last week. ... Rookie. CB James Bradberry had first career interception last week vs. 49ers. ... Fantasy Tip: Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph had TD catch in last two games vs. Carolina.
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