Which team was fighting for a playoff berth Sunday in Minnesota? It wasn't the team that looked better prepared and started fast.
The Minnesota Vikings entered the day three games out of a Wild Card spot and four games away from the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers with five games to play. The Carolina Panthers were inexplicably a half-game out in the NFC South with a 3-7-1 record.
Minnesota proceeded to score the first 14 points and led 28-6 at halftime on its way to a 31-13 win against Carolina. The Vikings' offense got the fast start it wanted and made big special teams plays to win and run their record to 5-7.
Here's how Minnesota graded out in each phase Sunday:
Pass offense: B
The Vikings' offense had struggled with quick starts in recent games, relying more on late success. There was no trouble in that regard Sunday. After a three-and-out by the Panthers on the first offensive series, Minnesota went right down and scored. Receiver Charles Johnson caught a 24-yard pass on the drive and tight end Kyle Rudolph finished with a 4-yard touchdown reception.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater completed his first five passes of the day, as Minnesota used a few quick-hitting plays to get the rookie into an early rhythm. Bridgewater finished 15 of 21 for 138 passing yards and his second straight two-touchdown game.
With the benefit of two blocked punts, the offense was hardly on the field in the first half, but did the job when it had chances. On the flip side, the Vikings couldn't sustain any offense in the second half to put the game away. Of Minnesota's 210 total yards, only 86 came in the second half. Bridgewater completed 6 of his 9 passes in the second half for just 46 yards, while chants of "Teddy" rang out from the TCF Bank Stadium crowd for much of the second half.
Greg Jennings led the way with six targets and five receptions for 45 yards. He made a nifty inside cut on a defender and then beat defenders to the pylon for a 17-yard touchdown catch. Johnson had two catches for 41 yards and Jarius Wright had the big play of the game, a 35-yard reception as part of a 2-catch, 40-yard day.
Run offense: D
One reason Minnesota couldn't keep the offense on the field in the second half -- six total drives accounting for 86 yards and four three-and-out series -- was because of the running game. Jerick McKinnon was held out because of a low back injury and Matt Asiata got the start.
Asiata finished with 14 carries for 52 yards and really gave the Vikings the only sustained success in the running game. But Asiata's effort equates to a 3.7 yards-per-carry average. Ben Tate got his first action for Minnesota and had five carries for 15 yards. Joe Banyard was hardly used Sunday, finishing with two carries for eight yards.
Bridgewater scrambled twice for 12 yards, and Wright added a 5-yard run giving the Vikings 92 total rushing yards on 24 carries, a 3.8-yard average. Tate had the longest run, a 9-yarder, and Minnesota couldn't count on its running game.
Pass defense: B
Quarterback Cam Newton, receiver Kelvin Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen were the worries coming into the game. The Vikings' defense continued its improvement from a year ago with another strong showing against the pass. Newton finished 18 of 35 for 194 passing yards. He was sacked four times, twice by Everson Griffen, and was intercepted late by Josh Robinson.
Olsen had five catches for 59 yards. Benjamin was held in check -- mostly by cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who continued his strong play âwith five catches on 12 targets for 56 yards. The biggest play of the game was a 32-yard touchdown by Philly Brown in which Robinson fell down and didn't have safety help. The Brown touchdown brought the game to 28-13 and Carolina looked ready to give the Vikings a challenge in the second half.
However, Minnesota's defense held. After Brown's touchdown, the Panthers had 251 yards and were averaging 5 yards per play. The rest of the game, the Vikings held Carolina to 82 yards and 3.7 yards per play.
With the Panthers forced to throw because of a large deficit, Minnesota's pass rush was able to start getting to Newton. Carolina's offensive line has struggled all season and used extra help earlier in the game. With a big deficit, the Panthers were forced to put more players in routes and the Vikings won their 1-on-1 matchups.
Run defense: D
Containing Newton was a big part of the defensive focus. The big, strong Carolina quarterback is most effective when he can use his legs and he had nine carries for 49 yards. Minnesota was able to keep him in the pocket for the most part, but he did escape a few times for decent gains.
The biggest concern was how the Vikings handled Jonathan Stewart. The oft-injured back looked revitalized against Minnesota's defense. He had 12 carries for 85 yards, a 7.1-yard average. DeAngelo Williams, the second part of the two-headed attack, looked marginal again, finishing with seven carries for 21 yards.
Stewart busted free for several big gains, though, including a 26-yarder. There were some missed tackles by the Vikings again and Carolina finished with 178 total rushing yards and a 5.4 yards per carry average.
Special teams: A-plus
Is there any other grade to go here? Minnesota's two biggest plays came from the special teams. Two blocked punts returned for touchdowns created many historical references and overshadowed the Vikings' stagnant second-half offense. Minnesota won a game with 210 total yards.
Adam Thielen got the fun started, becoming the first Vikings player since 2006 to block a punt and the first since 1986 to return a blocked punt for a touchdown. Thielen broke free right up the middle and blocked the punt. When he fell to the ground, the ball settled right near him and he got up and ran for a touchdown.
Interestingly, the second blocked punt came with Minnesota in a base defense in preparation for a fake. Jasper Brinkley came up the middle and made the block and Griffen scooped the ball up and scored.
The Vikings believed they had a chance to block one punt because of an alignment. Brinkley felt he would have the chance on the second one and had been begging for a few weeks to attempt the block.
When Carolina did get a punt off, Marcus Sherels provided a couple of strong returns. He had two returns for 45 yards.
Cordarrelle Patterson was noticeably absent in the offensive game plan, only taking three snaps all game and getting one target. He had one kickoff return for 28 yards and three others fell for touchbacks.
Overall: B
Minnesota looked like the team vying for the playoffs, as remote as its chances seem to be. The Panthers, perhaps, showed why they are still behind in the worst division in football. Three of the Vikings' five wins this season have come against the NFC South.
In coach Mike Zimmer's first year, Minnesota is using the time to continue to develop, and players and coaches have talked a lot about continuing to fight this season and not giving in. For the most part, it showed on Sunday. The defense held despite being on the field for much of the first half and when things looked tenuous in the second half. The defensive turnaround continues to lead the way for the Vikings.
Offensively, there are still steps to be taken. Bridgewater was efficient, but Minnesota still hasn't developed any consistency on offense.
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