Carolina Panthers vs. Minnesota Vikings: Complete Week 13 Preview for Carolina
The Carolina Panthers enter Week 13 with a 3-7-1 record and are in a bizarre position. Only half a game separates them from first place in the NFC South, while two-and-a-half games separate them from the worst record in the league. With five games left to play in the regular season, Carolina can control its own destiny by winning out.
If that is to happen, the Panthers will need to get by the Minnesota Vikings (4-7).
This game is winnable, but as Week 11 proved, games against below-.500 teams are not guaranteed victories. However, it was Minnesota that the Panthers started its long, eight-game winning streak against last season. A similar result would be welcomed by the Panthers.
The Vikings haven't been good this year, but unlike Carolina, they do not have the fortune of playing in a weak division. However, like Carolina, they have been immersed in controversy surrounding one of their key players in Adrian Peterson.
The only difference: Peterson's case has concluded in the courts, and now the star running back is fighting to get back on the field. Carolina's Greg Hardy will have to wait until the season ends to have his appeal heard, and it's likely his career in a Panthers uniform is over.
Both teams are young and have a lot to prove Sunday. The Vikings can only play for respect as they are well out of the running for a playoff berth, while the Panthers can capitalize with a win in the Twin Cities. As it stands, Carolina has a lot more on the line in terms of both playoff hopes and job security.
A few interesting headlines have been in the news regarding the Panthers over the past couple of weeks, and they could impact how the team closes the season. Without further adieu, here is the Week 13 game preview for Carolina.
Carolina Panthers Week 11 Recap
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Carolina was on its bye last week, and it was very much needed after the season the team has been having. The bye came after a disheartening loss to the rival Atlanta Falcons in which the Panthers fell short 19-17. The Panthers were able to jump ahead late in the fourth quarter, but the defense could not keep the Falcons from moving the ball into their territory to set up the eventual game-winning field goal.
Carolina was given two more opportunities.
A missed field goal by Graham Gano from 46 yards appeared to doom the Panthers, but they got the ball one more time, and Gano attempted another field goal from 63 yards. However, that opportunity was blocked, which allowed Atlanta to come away with the win.
Many issues about this game sealed the Panthers' fate.
For starters, the inconsistency of Cam Newton saw the Panthers go three-and-out a lot early in the game. He could not find a rhythm, and some of his throws were high or wide of the mark. It didn't help the offense that the line struggled again and the running game couldn't get anything going.
The defense did keep the points scored down, thanks mostly to limiting the Falcons to field goals on all but one of their scoring drives. Of course, when the unit needed a big stop after Carolina went ahead in the fourth quarter, the defense failed and as a result yielded the points that would win the game for Atlanta.
Another issue was the coaching staff.
While Ron Rivera did keep enough timeouts to get the ball back for one final drive, there was some questioning about the play-calling prior to Gano's first field-goal attempt. Considering the way Carolina was able to move the ball against the Falcons secondary, it was surprising to see Mike Shula's offense go conservative and run the ball three consecutive times instead of going for the first down and getting closer to the end zone.
The loss hurt more since it was a missed opportunity for the Panthers to get back into the playoff mix, as New Orleans would lose that week as well.
News and Notes
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Silatolu Could Play Offensive Tackle
The Carolina Panthers have experienced a revolving door of sorts on the offensive line, and in recent weeks that door has been at offensive tackle. Injuries to Byron Bell and Nate Chandler have forced Carolina to improvise and rely on the depth chart to fill the hole at both left and right tackle.
However, Chandler is lost for the season, and that could result in Amini Silatolu getting the nod at the position. The offensive guard has not played at tackle since his college days, so there could be a bit of a learning curve. The Panthers don't have a choice in the matter and will look at other potential replacements in David Foucault, Mike Remmers and Chris Scott.
Panthers Backfield to be at Full Strength
Mike Tolbert was put back on the 53-man roster following the loss to the Atlanta Falcons and should be cleared to play Sunday. This is great news for a Carolina team that has struggled to run the ball and been very limited in red-zone and short-yardage situations. Having Tolbert back in the offense will give Mike Shula the opportunity to open the playbook a bit more.
Center Ryan Kalil summed up Tolbert's return by mentioning the impact he has with the offense. "He brings a lot to the table. He was definitely missed, and we're excited to have him back," Kalil said, according to Max Henson of Panthers.com. If all goes well, Tolbert could be difference-maker in whether Carolina makes the playoffs.
Taking Advantage of Final Five Games
Max Henson of Panthers.com wrote an interesting piece on the team's website about how the Carolina Panthers can win the division title. Most of his notes were obvious such as importance of players like Mike Tolbert and Philly Brown in the offense and how Carolina needs to limit mistakes that would beat it in games.
Another aspect worth mentioning here is the favorable schedule. Carolina has the easiest schedule of its division rivals to close the season with only one game against a team with a winning record (Cleveland Browns). However, three of the last five games are on the road, and the Panthers haven't been very good away from home (well, they haven't been very good anywhere).
Ending the year on a strong note and a five-game winning streak would be an excellent way to end a disappointing season. It would not only salvage the year but get the Panthers in the playoffs.
It's Cold Out There
The Minnesota Vikings are awaiting the completion of their new stadium. In the meantime, they are playing their games at TCF Bank Stadium, which serves as home to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
It should be noted that this stadium is open air, and the forecast calls for chilly temperatures Sunday. The projected high for this weekend's game in Minneapolis is 22 degrees. That would make it the second coldest game the Panthers have played in franchise history. The Panthers don't fare well in cold-weather games and have a record of 2-6 when the temperature is 32 degrees and below. The good news is there is no snow in the forecast.
Injury Report
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| Player/Position | Injury | Game Status |
| Bene Benwikere, CB | Ankle | Probable |
| Philly Brown, WR | Illness | Probable |
| Charles Johnson, DE | Illness | Questionable |
| Star Lotulelei, DT | Ankle | Out |
| Andrew Norwell, OG | Thigh | Probable |
| Amini Silatolu, OG | Knee | Out |
| Mike Tolbert, FB | Knee | Probable |
Update as of Nov. 29
Both Star Lotulelei and Amini Silatolu will miss Sunday's game. The defensive line has already played a couple of games without him so they won't be too concerned with replacing him up front. The same could be said about the offensive line as Silatolu will be out as well. Through 13 weeks, the Panthers have had at least six different line combinations and this week appears to be no different.
The biggest question mark will be whether or not the defensive line will have the presence of Charles Johnson on the outside. He has been under the weather the past few days and looks to be a game-time decision.
Fortunately, it seems as though everyone else will be able to play.
End of update
Early indicators suggest that Amini Silatolu and Mike Tolbert will be playing Sunday. Philly Brown should be available as well, but his status could be based on how he feels on game day. After Wednesday's practices, only Brown and Star Lotulelei did not practice.
Brown did return to practice Thursday, but new addition Charles Johnson and Silatolu were held out. Brown should be able to go Sunday, and Johnson could be ready, but more information should be known by Friday afternoon.
Source: Panthers.com
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X-Factor and Matchups to Watch
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Kelvin Benjamin vs. Captain Munnerlyn
The future of the Carolina offense will go against the past of the Carolina defense. Benjamin has emerged as one of the best rookie receivers from this year's draft class, while Munnerlyn signed with the Vikings during the offseason.
Munnerlyn was underrated as a cornerback in Carolina and had many critics and supporters during his time with the Panthers. It will be interesting to see if Benjamin can outplay the veteran, which could provide some reason as to why the Panthers allowed Munnerlyn to walk.
Greg Jennings vs. Josh Norman
Josh Norman has slowly emerged as Carolina's best defensive back. He started out on the bench but has found his way back into the starting defense. He is very physical with opposing receivers and, unlike Antoine Cason, does not make a habit of getting flagged for unnecessary penalties.
Norman's play will be crucial against Greg Jennings, who has not been the same dangerous receiver as he was in Green Bay but is still a threat nonetheless. He leads Minnesota receivers with 501 yards and three touchdowns. Jennings' numbers are not impressive, but a lapse in coverage on Norman's part could make for a big day for the Vikings wideout.
Luke Kuechly vs. Teddy Bridgewater
Carolina's top defensive player will be tasked with keeping Minnesota's rookie quarterback in the pocket and under pressure all game long. Luke Kuechly has continued to play at a high level and could be difference-maker when the Carolina defense squares off against the Minnesota offense.
Bridgewater is still learning the NFL game but is capable of making plays with both his arm and legs. The advantage goes to the veteran, who has the personnel around him to make Bridgewater's day a long one.
Carolina's X-Factor of the Week: Defensive Line
The Panthers defensive line has not been the dominant unit it was a year ago, but the Vikings offensive line could make the D-line look like it for one game. The Vikings have allowed their quarterbacks to be sacked a combined 34 times—one more than what Carolina's line has allowed.
The key will be to take advantage of Bridgewater's inexperience and force him to make bad decisions. If Charles Johnson and company can get to him often, the odds of a Carolina victory will increase.
Prediction
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It's difficult to predict how this game will turn out. These are two underachieving teams playing each other. The weather will be cold, and it's unknown which team will show up. The latter has been very true of the Carolina Panthers this season. This team looked decent early on but has struggled to establish itself as a contender over the past eight weeks.
The defense has been known to give up a lot of points, and the offense lacks the weapons to recover from an early deficit. Combine that with the performances of the individual units or players, and the season becomes a maddening one for fans who expected more this year.
The Panthers have the most to lose by falling to the Vikings, and that alone should be all the motivation needed to rebound and return to the win column. The possibility of getting back into first place should be the driving force for the Panthers to play a good game (and hopefully, the third time is the charm).
Minnesota's football team won't be nearly as much a factor as the weather will be. If Carolina can overcome the frigid temperatures, it should come away with the victory.
Prediction: Carolina 17, Minnesota 9
Team and player news and information provided via Panthers.com, ESPN.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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