Panthers Storm Back To Topple Vikings In a Great Comeback Win

by poohty_t | 8 years ago | 0 Comments

Last night the Week 3 game was played between the Vikings and the Panthers. The winds were high at 12mph and played a role in this game from the start.Both teams came into week 3, 2-0 , hoping to make to 3 first.Earlier in the day the Vikings made a move some questioned and traded HB Adrian Petterson to the Jags for a 1st round pick. When asked about it coach Tizel said " It was a really tough choice for our team. Someone in mangagment , before i cam along, had some horrible idea to trade the Eagles our 1st and 4th for QB Sam Bradord. I totally disagreed that we should have done that. I had to figure out a way to get us back in the first round of the draft.As much as i love watching AP shuve defenders to the ground ,he was our only choice .Also it opens up some cap for us to resign some guys this year who are younger.It was a tough call, but we had to do something."

The first quarter was a struggle for both offenses as both teams come into this weeks game with some good defenses.The Vikings got close in the first quarter but missed a 40 yard fg off left. The first quarter ended without a score on the board.It looked like this would be a defensive battle , and indeed it was.

In the second quarter , with 6:10 left , the Vikings managed to get in FG range again, to kick a 37 yarder to go up 3-0. The Vikings defense then forced a quick 3 and out on the Panthers offense. The Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater found WR Jarius Wright for a 61 yard pass for a TD to go up 10-0 with 4 minutes left before halftime. Things seemed to be looking up for the Vikings. The Panthers go the ball back and started to move the ball , only to stall out on the 45 yard line.They decided with the wind, it was time to punt.However this time the Panthers defense forced a 3 and out. The Panthers got pinned deep on their own 8 yard line and couldt get much of anywhere. They had to punt with 42 seconds left. The Vikings took advantage of the field position and managed a 46 yard field goal to end the half 13-0. 

The first half seemed to be dominated by the Vikings defense.While the Panthers defense played well , holding the Vikings run game in check very well.The Third quarter played out like the first, both teams, having to do alot of punting as both defenses held up great against the opposing offenses. Then in the 4th quarter, on the Panthers 31 yard line, up 13-0 the Vikings seemed to be about to close the door on this game. Then on 2nd and 10 Teddy Bridgewater couldnt find anyone open, so he rolls out of the pocket to be sacked and fumbles the ball, which was picked up by Kawann Short who rumbled his way 55 yards for a defensive score. They missed the extra point so it was then 13-6, but still within a score to tie now. 

On the Vikings next possession , Teddy did what he had not done all game, he threw a INT to CB James Bradberry on the first play of the possession. This INT was returned for another defensive TD for the panthers to tie the game at 13. The Panthers defense had just score two tds in about a 30 second span of the game to tie it up and swing momentum.Teddy didnt let it shake him though, as he quickly moved his team down field, and ended up with another FG to go up 16-13 with 5 minutes left.

On the next possession, Cam Newton threw a deep pass , only to have it tipped to FS Harrison Smith on about the Vikings 40 yard line.However a few plays letter , Teddy returns the favor , and gets picked off on a deep pass by CB Bradberry again on the Panthers 19. The Panthers score a TD on a 55 yard deep pass , where SS Anrew Sandrejo was all over the WR but failed to even make a play on the ball at all , and watched as the Panthers took a 16-19 lead. The Vikings would lose the game on this play , as it came down to a hail mary from their own 45 as time expired ,but it feel incomplete.This capped off a great comeback by the Panthers who scored all 19 points in the 4th quarter and 13 of them came from the defense.

 

Both teams struggled to get a running game going , some blame missing Adrian Petterson for that happening to the Vikings. Coach Tizel replied to those comments after the game " Look, no doubt we miss having AP, but that is not why we only managed 48 yards rushing tonight. We were facing an extremely tallented defense out there.Their Dline and Linebackers are all very good and they executed well when we tried to run.We picked up some FA picks to make up for losing AP, and they just have not learned the playbook in a day.Its going to take time.Plus we need to train our offensive line to block better for our runners.Even when we had AP in the first two games, he didnt rush for 80 yards in either game.This one hurts because we played well for a majority of the game, only to blow it in the last quarter.Teddy worked hard all week to cut down his turnovers, which he did great for the first 3 quarters, only to fumble once and throw two ints in the 4th. He must play smarter. Props goes out to the Panthers though, they area a great team and they played great.They never folded and kept fighting.They wanted it more than our guy did tonight. It hurts , but now we must move on and focus on the Giants. A team I as a coach cant ever seem to beat.One week at a time is what we tell everyone in the locker room.Forget last week , win or lose, and focus on the task in front of you."