The Carolina Panthers are back at Bank of America Stadium for a Week 6 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. The Panthers enter this game with a 3-2 record following back-to-back losses to Dallas and Philadelphia over the last two weeks. Carolina is tied with New Orleans for 2nd place in the NFC South.
This marks the fourth-consecutive year that the Panthers have started the season with a 3-2 record and the 10th time in team history. Minnesota comes to Carolina with a 2-3 record. The Vikings topped Detroit in Week 5 by a score of 19-17. The Panthers are 14-6 all-time in home games against NFC North opponents, including a 3-2 record vs. Minnesota in games played in Charlotte.
The Numbers
About the Panthers
- Through five games this season, the Panthers are averaging a 34:51 time of possession per game, the highest mark in the NFL. Carolina has totaled 115 first downs, ranks 10th in the NFL.
- The Panthers have gotten off to a fast start in each of game this season, holding a +44 point differential at halftime, the 2nd highest margin in the NFL. Carolina has tallied 64 first downs in the first-half this season, 5th most by any team.
- QB Sam Darnold 802 first-half passing yards this season ranks 5th behind Tom Brady, Kyler Murray, Josh Allen and Dak Prescott. His 105.5 passer rating in the first two quarters ranks 10th among QBs and his 68 completions ranks 6th.
- Carolina is one-of-nine teams this season to average at least 100 rushing yards and 250 passing yards per game. Of The Panthers 344 total plays, 197 have been passing plays while 147 have been rushing. The Panthers and Bills are the only clubs with at least 140 rushing plays and 180 passing plays this season.
- Carolina is tied for third in the NFL in sacks (16) and ranks tied for 9th in hits on opposing QBs (32). The team’s 16 sacks are the 6th most through the first five games in franchise history, while the 32 QBHs are the 2nd most. The Panthers are averaging a sack, pressure or QB hit on 11.0% of opposing teams’ pass plays, the second highest percentage in the NFL in 2021.
- Through the first five weeks of the season, the Panthers are allowing just 94.2 rushing yards per game, the 6th fewest by any team in franchise history and 8th fewest by any team in 2021. The Panthers allowed just four rushing TDs this season, with only one coming from an opposing RB. The only rushing TDs allowed came from Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott in Week 4 (10/3/21), Saints QB Jameis Winston in Week 2 (9/19/21) and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts in Week 5 (10/10/21), twice.
- Carolina are holding opposing QBs to a 58.9 completion percent, which ranks 4th lowest in the NFL. Through five games, the Panthers are allowing an 82.1 passer rating by opposing QBs, the 5th lowest in the league. The Panthers have tallied four interceptions by three different players this year – CB Jaycee Horn, FS Juston Burris, LB Shaq Thompson and CB Donte Jackson.
- Carolina’s defense forced two Philadelphia turnovers on back-to-back drives in the third quarter. CB Donte Jackson was responsible for each takeaway. On the first takeaway, Jackson punched the ball out of the hands of WR DeVonta Smith and S Jeremy Chinn recovered the fumble and returned it 18 yards. On Philadelphia’s next offensive drive, Jackson picked off a deep ball intended for TE Zach Ertz. The interception marked Jackson’s first of the year and 11th of his career. His 11 interceptions are tied with Deon Grant for the second-most picks in a player’s first 48 games with the Panthers.
- Panthers OLB Haason Reddick racked up 2.0 sacks against Philadelphia. The sacks came on back-to-back plays in the third quarter. Through Week 5, Reddick is tied (with Patriots LB Matt Judon) for second in the league with 6.5 sacks. Reddick’s 6.5 sacks are tied with Mario Addison (2019) and Lamar Lathon (1996) and for the second most by any Panthers player through the first five games of a season, only trailing Kevin Greene (10.0 in 1998). He is the only player in the NFL that has registered four games with at least 1.5 sacks this season. Reddick led the Panthers defense with eight tackles (six solo), 2.0 sacks and two tackles for loss.
- Rookie RB Chuba Hubbard got his second start of the season on Sunday and became the first Panthers rookie RB to rush for 100+ yards since Jonathan Stewart in 2008 (12/8/08 vs. Tampa Bay). He becomes the first Panthers player with 100+ rushing yards since ChristianMcCaffrey went for 108 in Week 10 of 2019 at Green Bay. Hubbard is one-of-four rookies in Panthers history to eclipse 100 rushing yards in a game, joining Brad Hoover (11/27/00 vs. GB), DeAngelo Williams (11/19/06 vs. STL) and Stewart (11/16/08 vs. DET and 12/08/08 vs. TB). Hubbard finished the game with 134 scrimmage yards, 101 rushing yards, 24 rushing attempts, 33 receiving yards and 5 receptions.
About the Vikings
- 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.
- 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.
Connections
- Panthers LB Kamal Martin is a native of Burnsville, Minnesota and attended Burnsville HS. Martin played his college years at Minnesota University form 2016-19.
- Panthers WR Brandon Zylstra is a native of Spicer, Minnesota and attended New London-Spicer HS. Zylstra played his college years at Concordia College from 2013-15.
- Vikings CB Mackensie Alexander played spent his college years at Clemson University from 2014-15.
- Vikings CB Bashaud Breeland is a native of Allendale, SC and attended Allendale-Fairfax HS. Breeland played his college years at Clemson University from 2011-13.
- Vikings C Garrett Bradbury is a native of Charlotte, NC and attended Charlotte Christian HS. Bradbury played his college years at NC State from 2015-18.
- Vikings LB Chazz Surratt is a native of Denver, NC and attended East Lincoln HS. Surratt played his college years at the University of North Carolina from 2017-20.
- Vikings G Olisaemeka Udoh is a native of Fayetteville, NC and attended Terry Sanford HS. Udoh played his college years at Elon University from 2015-18.
- Vikings DE D.J. Wonnum spent his college years at the University of South Carolina from 2016-19.
Panthers vs Vikings
- All-Time Series (Regular & Postseason) 15 total matchups | Minnesota leads the series 9-6
- Last Regular Sseaon Games – 11/29/20 | Carolina 27 @ Minnesota 28
- Series Record at Venue: Carolina is 3-2 in home games vs. Minnesota
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET FOX: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Sara Walsh
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio: WBT-AM 1110 AM in Charlotte market; On The Call: Mick Mixon, Jake Delhomme, Jim Szoke, Kristen Balboni
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