Panthers show a little bit of everything in big win against Vikings

The Carolina Panthers came into Sunday’s game against the 10-2 Vikings hoping to keep pace with the Saints in the NFC South, and that’s what they did with their 31-24 win.

The Vikings came into the game after having shut down the Falcons the week before on the road, riding an eight-game winning streak. The Panthers knew they had a tough test coming into the game, and they were able to make the proper adjustments to come out with a win.

It wasn’t just a matter of the Panthers being the better team on Sunday. They tried new things and proved they’re a team to be reckoned with as the regular season’s conclusion nears.

The Panthers got off to a fast start in the first quarter with this 60-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Stewart. It was a well-executed play, and the Vikings never really stood a chance once Stewart broke through the offensive line.

But the formation here wasn’t normal. The Panthers played with an unbalanced offensive line, including a sixth lineman. Four lineman were lined up to the right of the center, with two to the left:

While the purpose of the play was to pick up the one yard needed for the first down, it worked out even better for Carolina, and it was a nice building block early in the game.

One of the best parts about Cam Newton’s game is that he does things that you couldn’t draw up. If you did, you’d be considered an unreasonable person with unreal expectations of the limitations of the human body.

Yet again on a third down, the Panthers came up with a big play. This time, Newton somehow escapes immense pressure before chucking the ball in the other direction for a touchdown to Devin Funchess.

The Panthers have quietly been a good team this season. Newton’s not having the MVP season he had in 2015, but it’s plays like those that helped the Panthers to a 15-1 season two years ago.

After throwing a bad interception in the fourth quarter that would allow the Vikings to tie the game with a field goal, Newton made up for it with yet another big play. This time, it was a juke and a heart-crushing run:

Jonathan Stewart then helped seal the deal with a flying touchdown to make it a 31-24 game:

If Newton can continue to make those types of plays, the Panthers should feel pretty good about themselves moving forward. Of course, the turnovers will have to be limited.

The NFC South has been the most competitive division — and the best — all season. The Panthers would still be in the thick of the race even if they had lost on Sunday, but the win makes things all the more interesting with them at 9-4.

The Saints own the tiebreaker over the Panthers having beaten them twice already this season. If the Panthers hope to win the division, they’ll need some help from the Falcons, who travel to New Orleans in Week 16 for a second matchup this season.

The Panthers will also face the Falcons, who are also very much in the mix in the NFC South at 8-5, in Week 17. The division and respective Wild Card spots likely won’t be decided until that final week.