Minnesota Vikings

Vikings Countdown: Panthers defense presents big problems

Published Sep. 23, 2016 2:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

After holding Aaron Rodgers in check and exploiting the Green Bay Packers' banged-up secondary in Week 2, the Minnesota Vikings face their biggest test of the season Sunday, and they'll face it without Adrian Peterson.

Peterson is likely lost for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus Thursday, a development that will put the focus squarely on the Vikings' passing game.

Quarterback Sam Bradford and breakout star Stefon Diggs square off against a Carolina Panthers defense that ranks among the league's best, while Harrison Smith and the Vikings' defenders will be tasked with stopping offensive dynamo Cam Newton.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

-- The Panthers are expected to key in on Diggs after he torched the Packers for 182 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Sunday's game could be telling for Diggs' potential the rest of the way. Diggs flashed early last year too, logging 419 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first four games, but suffered once defenses began to game-plan for him, topping 50 receiving yards just twice in the final nine games of the season.

-- The Vikings cornerbacks struggled to contain the Packers' underwhelming receiving corps with starter Xavier Rhodes on the sidelines, racking up pass interference and holding calls at a worrying rate. They'll face a much more dangerous deep threat in Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin. Newton has targeted Benjamin 21 times through two games, putting his 6-foot-5 frame to good use and boxing out opposing cornerbacks with ease. Xavier Rhodes shut Benjamin down in their last meeting, and a repeat performance will likely be required Sunday. Tight end Greg Olsen is the only Panthers pass-catcher with more than four receptions, and forcing Newton to look for Ted Ginn, who dropped 10 passes last season, and Devin Funchess, who had just one catch last week, will be critical.

-- The Vikings will turn to some combination of versatile runner Jerick McKinnon and bruiser Matt Asiata to fill the void left by Peterson. That tandem isn't likely to net the Vikings another 2,000-yard season, but after rushing for a combined 4.15 yards per carry during Peterson's last extended absence they should be more than capable of keeping the ground game churning. McKinnon shiftiness gives the Vikings another versatile weapon to plug in on passing downs, while Asiata should be used extensively as a bulldozer between the tackles.

2 THINGS TO REMEMBER

-- The Panthers are also facing issues at running back after losing starter Jonathan Stewart to a hamstring injury. Head coach Ron Rivera will instead deploy a starting committee that includes Fozzy Whittaker, Cameron Artis-Payne and bruiser Mike Tolbert. Whittaker rushed for 100 yards on 16 carries and picked up 31 receiving yards against the San Francisco 49ers, but will split carries with Artis-Payne, who Rivera said will start. However, the Panthers' most effective runner is likely their quarterback. Newton took off just six times last week, but leads all quarterbacks with 616 rushing attempts since entering the league in 2011, and has averaged 5.35 yards per attempt.

-- Second-year lineman T.J. Clemmings is one again set to slot into the Vikings' starting lineup, this time in Kalil's spot at left tackle. Clemmings struggled at right tackle as a rookie last season in relief of Phil Loadholt, while the entire group has had issues through two games despite the addition of Alex Boone and Andre Smith.

1 KEY MATCHUP

-- Bradford looked like a Vikings get after just two weeks in the organization, throwing for 286 yards and two touchdowns in his first start since being traded to Minnesota. Those yards came at the expense of a depleted Packers secondary that pitted inexperienced corner Damarious Randall against the Vikings' top receivers. The Panthers' is without a lockdown cornerback following the departure of Josh Norman, but their defense has looked fearsome as ever through two weeks, and has allowed just 304.5 yards of total offense per game. It's a small sample size, and one that includes games against inexperienced Denver quarterback Trevor Siemian and San Francisco journeyman Blaine Gabbert, but the Panthers represent a huge upgrade over the Packers' defense.