Panthers-Vikings: Steve Smith's Fiery Return, Vikings Desperate to Avoid 0-3

This Sunday the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings will face off surrounded by the hype of Steve Smith's return to the Panthers and the Vikings' already-dwindling playoff chances.

This game harps on one thing: Adrian Peterson's presence in it, or lack thereof.  If Peterson plays, the Vikings have a very slim chance.  If the star running back's hamstring injury forces him to sit out, the Panthers are pretty much a lock to win.

Whether or not Peterson plays, Carolina's offense is superior.

The Panthers have a highly effective running back duo in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.  They balance each other out very nicely, and they also ensure that the Panthers always have a great back that fits the opposing defense.

Jonathan Stewart, the power back, displayed this ability last week when he spelled DeAngelo Williams last week against the Bears. 

Williams—the smaller, elusive back—gained 31 yards on 11 carries in the first half. 

Stewart replaced him in the second half and accumulated 76 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries as he led the Panthers on a 17-point comeback that allowed them to win by three points.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme hasn't been the same amazing field general in 2008 as he was last year, but he has still stepped up in a big way several times. 

Delhomme is a natural leader, poised, and he plays big when he needs to.  Case in point: the two-minute drill in the San Diego game.

But at least Delhomme has the weapons necessary to be a great QB.

First off, he has star receiver Steve Smith again.  Smith's latest blog entry has indicated that he's primed for an insane season debut. 

He also has offseason additions DJ Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad. 

Last but not least he's got backup tight end Dante Rosario, whose receving abilities should have made him a starter by now, especially after his performance in the Chargers game (make a note of that, Coach Fox). 

The Vikings defense, in particular their run defense—the best rush defense in the NFL last year—was highly touted entering the season.

While the fact that their run defense is currently ranked seventh in the league would be ominous to most teams, that doesn't count for much in this game for two reasons.

The Panthers just ran for more than four yards per carry against the eighth-ranked Bears run defense as they used mostly Jonathan Stewart to plow through the Bears.

Plus, in last week's game, the Vikings played the Colts.  Indy running back Joseph Addai has been completely ineffective insofar this season, rushing for 64 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, a 2.4 yards per carry average.  Stopping Addai is nothing special this season.

In the Vikings' first game of the season, Packers RB Ryan Grant carried the ball 12 times for 92 yards.  Grant has been much better than Addai this year, accumulating 112 yards on 27 carries, which produces a 4.1 yards per carry average. 

Chances are, with the Minnesota defense going up against a venerable Carolina running duo, we're going to see a performance closer to the near-100 yard day Grant had. 

If the run defense doesn't show up, the pass defense doesn't have a prayer.  They're ranked 24th in the league at 319 yards allowed per game to begin with. 

But if the Panthers running game forces the Vikings secondary to cheat toward the run, all of the Panthers' receivers will have field days, especially jack-in-the-box in-waiting Steve Smith. 

And if that happens, Adrian Peterson will have to win the game for the Vikings—which, even though he's a complete stud, won't happen against the Panthers.  Carolina's defense is just too good, despite what the stats will tell you.  They make stops when they need to.

In addition, Peterson is a game-time decision with a hamstring injury.  That will certainly slow him down.  Even if he plays, he won't be the potential game-breaker he usually is.

Unless Gus Frerotte comes out and puts on an astounding performance, I guess. 

But it will be all Frerotte can do just to manage the game.  He doesn't have more than one good receiver, Bernard Berrian, who is probable.

Also the other starting receiver, Sidney Rice, is questionable.   

Even if Berrian and Rice play, they won't be as quick and fast as usual—Berrian has a foot injury, Rice a knee injury.  I'm thinking safety Chris Harris will get some chances to force a couple fumbles today.

The only chance that the Vikings would have had to win this game was if Peterson played healthy and somehow won the game for them.  It's that simple.  But that simply isn't going to happen.