EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are shifting gears after a game-winning drive against one of their most common opponents to make one of their rarest road trips. Minnesota (2-3) will visit Carolina (3-2) for just the sixth time. The Panthers began play in 1995 and first hosted the Vikings in 2005. This will be a rematch of a down-to-the-wire 28-27 Vikings victory over the Panthers at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2020. Here's an Early Look at the Vikings Week 6 matchup against the Panthers, presented by Minnesota Eye Consultants, the Official LASIK partner of the Minnesota Vikings. STAT OF THE WEEK The Vikings are one of two teams in the NFL who have two players with 4.0 or more sacks apiece. Danielle Hunter has 6.0, which is tied for fourth in the NFL, and Everson Griffen has 4.0 after recording 2.0 last week against Detroit. The Bears (Robert Quinn, 4.5 and Khalil Mack, 5.0) are the other team. NORSEMAN NOTES QB Kirk Cousins threw his 200th career touchdown, becoming the 46th NFL player with that many, last week. It was his 101st with Minnesota. RB Alexander Mattison set a new career high with 113 rushing yards, fueled by a 48-yard gain against Detroit. WR Justin Jefferson totaled 124 receiving yards against the Lions after racking up 104 in the first half. It was the ninth 100-yard game of Jefferson's two-season career (21 games). His nine 100-yard games rank second in the NFL since 2020 behind Green Bay's Davante Adams (10 games). WR Adam Thielen moved past Ahmad Rashad (5,489) for seventh on Minnesota's career receiving yards list. He has 5,507 entering Week 6 and is 800 yards shy of Vikings Ring of Honor tight end Steve Jordan. DE Everson Griffen has recorded at least one sack in each of his past three games, pushing his career total to 84.5, including 78.5 with Minnesota. He ranks seventh in team history. Griffen is scheduled to play in his 152nd game Sunday, which will move him past Mark Mullaney for fifth among Vikings defensive ends all-time. DE Danielle Hunter's sack against Detroit moved him past Brian Robison and 2021 Vikings Ring of Honor inductee Kevin Williams and into a tie with Doug Martin (60.5) for eighth in franchise history. LB Eric Kendricks ranks third in the NFL with 55 tackles on the season, the most he's recorded through the first five games of a season. Kendricks recorded his ninth career interception, tying him with Wally Hilgenberg for ninth among Vikings linebackers. K Greg Joseph's 55-yard and game-winning 54-yard field goals against the Lions are the two longest of his career. KNOW THE FOE Head Coach: Matt Rhule, 2nd season with Detroit (8-13) Rhule was hired by Carolina after leading an impressive turnaround in three seasons at Baylor. The Bears went from 1-11 in 2017 to 7-6 and 11-3 under Rhule. After joining the Panthers, he helped four players gain more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his first season, making Carolina the fifth team in the Super Bowl era with that widespread production. QB Sam Darnold was acquired by Carolina in a trade this offseason. The 2018 third overall pick won his first three games as the Panthers starter after going 13-25 in three seasons with the Jets. Darnold has five of Carolina's seven rushing touchdowns this season. WR DJ Moore, the 24th overall pick of 2018, leads the Panthers with 35 catches, 440 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He has finished each of the past two seasons with four receiving touchdowns. Rookie RB Chuba Hubbard has gotten most of the workload while RB Christian McCaffrey has been out with a hamstring. Hubbard rushed 24 times for 101 yards Sunday against Philadelphia. OLB Haason Reddick is tied for second in the NFL with 6.5 sacks. He joined Carolina this offseason after totaling 20 sacks in his first four seasons with Arizona. S Jeremy Chinn returned two fumbles for touchdowns against Minnesota last season. Carolina has only allowed 25 points to opponents in first halves this season while totaling 69 points. The Panthers have scored just seven in third quarters this season. Vikings.com
Did I hear right the Vikings talked about adjustments and Zimmer talked about the running game is Zimmer going to get outcoached! again
