Sunday, November 29, 2020, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1 p.m. ET
Panthers at Vikings Betting Preview: Panthers (+4.5/+110), Vikings (-4.5/-110)
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers (4-7) snapped a five-game losing streak with a blanking of Detroit last week, marking the first shutout for Carolina in five years. Teddy Bridgewater, a former first-round draft pick for the Vikings, could be back in action after missing a game for the first time this season with a knee injury.
P.J Walker filled in at quarterback, throwing his first NFL touchdown pass, though he was picked off twice in the end zone. Carolina likely will be without running back Christian McCaffrey (shoulder) again. The Panthers seemed motivated on defense, particularly after a miserable outing a week earlier against Tampa Bay.
Whether they maintain that type of anger channeled in the right direction could be a factor in how they perform in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings (4-6) seemed to have wasted some of the good work of a three-game winning streak by losing at home to struggling Dallas. Getting back on track against the Panthers is almost essential in order to salvage the season. Most of the issues of concern came on the defensive side for the Vikings, whose youth showed up with numerous breakdowns against the Cowboys.
Carolina has some fill-ins at work on offense, but it’s the only NFL team with two receivers (DJ Moore and Robby Anderson) with more than 800 receiving yards. The Vikings generally put up enough points to get things done. Dalvin Cook has gone above the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second season in a row.
There are questions about the availability of receiver Adam Thielen, whose 11 touchdown catches reflect more than half of the team’s total of 20. Thielen went on the Reserve/COVID-19 list at the beginning of the week but has since tested negative.
Panthers at Vikings Betting Pick for Week 12
The Vikings seem due for another “prove-it” situation and so they should be determined after a performance riddled with mistakes. An overriding storyline for the game will be the status of Bridgewater, who is expected to be back on the field after a one-week absence with a knee injury.
Bridgewater is a former first-round draft choice and starter with the Vikings, so he figures to be well-motivated as well.
Panthers at Vikings Betting Pick: Vikings 28, Panthers 23
Panthers at Vikings Best Bet for Week 12
The Vikings tend to reach the 28-point mark with regularity and so that might make the accomplishments of Carolina’s defense turn into a one-week blip. Minnesota has plenty of offensive weapons.
If the Panthers have Bridgewater back, they should be capable of doing some good work on offense, especially if the Vikings haven’t gotten things fixed on defense.
Panthers at Vikings Best Bet: OVER 48.5 total points (-110)
