Vikings Surprise Panthers to earn crucial 5th win

The Minnesota Vikings squeaked out a win on Sunday over the Carolina Panthers.
Final: Carolina Panthers 27 Minnesota Vikings 28

Stats:
Minnesota:
QB:
K. Cousins 34/45 307 yds 6.8 avg 3 TD 115.7 rtg (1 fumble lost)
RB:
D. Cook 18 car 61 yds 3.4 avg 14 long (1 fumble lost)
WR:
B. Johnson 7 rec 74 yds 10.6 avg 17 long
J. Jefferson 7 rec 70 yds 10.0 avg 2 TD 18 long
K. Rudolph 7 rec 68 yds 9.7 avg 25 long
C. Beebe 7 rec 63 yds 9.0 avg 1 TD 16 long (1 fumble lost)
K:
D. Bailey 2/2 FG (53,25) 2/2 XP
DEF:
E. Kendricks 1 INT

Game Summary:
The story going into today was the return of QB Teddy Bridgewater, whom the Vikings drafted out of Louisville back in the 2014 NFL Draft. I will be honest I miss Teddy quite a bit so this was bitter sweet.
Despite the story lines, this game wasn't mostly about Bridgewater. It was in fact about the Vikings turnover struggles and special teams flubs. 
The first half started just like you would want it to. The Vikings forced the Panthers to punt and took the ball down the field and scored in the redzone without veteran WR Adam Thielen who was inactive today due to Covid. However, the Vikings could not find the endzone the rest of the half, only managing a 53 yard field goal in the 2nd quarter. Neither team really dominated the first half, as the Vikings led by 3 at half.
The second half was a different story. It started out with two nightmares for the Vikings. First Cousins fumbled in one of the weirdest ways I have seen this year. Then Dalvin Cook appeared to injury himself and lose the ball all in one play. Both of these plays were returned for touchdowns as the Vikings were 10 yards from their own endzone. Suddenly, the Vikings found themselves down by 2 scores in a game they thought they were in control of. 
As the Vikings defense and offense tried to stop the bleeding, the special teams unit had yet another flub this week. Rookie returner KJ Osborn was inactive today with no injury designation, so in his place 3rd year WR Chad Beebe started in his place. Chad Beebe then muffed a punt early in the 4th quarter. Fortunately for the Vikings the Panthers only managed a field goal out of that nightmare.
The Vikings offense continued to claw back, with Cousins throwing another touchdown to rookie WR Justin Jefferson, as well as another Bailey field goal. 
Now the Panthers had the ball with around 3 or 4 minutes remaining in the game to try and either ice the game or put it away. However, they chose to throw on 3 straight downs and punt after only 19 seconds ticked off the clock. The Vikings got the ball back and marched down the field in around 1 minute. Cousins threw a touchdown to WR Chad Beebe for the redeeming score that put the Vikings up by 1 with around 30 seconds to go. The Panthers did get down the field and managed to put up a 51 yard field goal, but Sly missed the kick and the Vikings won the game!

I will be honest, we stole this game. No way should the Vikings have won this game. Special teams continues to be this team's Achilles heal. I think that Zimmer benched KJ Osborn to see if that would change the theme on the unit, but even Beebe muffed a punt. I do not envy that unit, as some people could be fired this week for that screw up. Despite how close this win was, it is still a win and that's what this team needs right now in order to stay in the playoff race.
Also, Cook had another game without 100+ rushing yards which hurts his OPOY chances even further.

Playoff Picture/Standings Update
With how mad I was last week I did not make a playoff picture update. That changes this week as with the win this week and some other key losses around the league give the Vikings a chance to make the playoffs.
Here are the standings as they appear now before Green Bay-Chicago tonight:
NFC:
1. New Orleans (9-2, 1st round bye)
2. Seattle (7-3)
3. Green Bay (7-3)
4. New York Giants (4-7)
5. Los Angeles Rams (7-4)
6. Tampa Bay (7-5)
7. Arizona (6-5)
First 4 out:
Chicago (5-5)
Minnesota (5-6)
San Francisco (5-6)
Detroit (4-7)

Now, the Vikings won today which puts them at only 1 game out of the playoffs. This is because both the Bucs, Cardinals, and Rams all lost today while the Vikings won. If Chicago loses in Green Bay tonight that puts the Vikings up to first team out of the 7 seed in the playoffs. This is turning out to be a better scenario for the Vikings, as I believe we would have the most tiebreakers over Arizona then LA. If the Cardinals and Bears lose next week and the Vikings win then I believe that Minnesota slides into the 7 seed in the playoffs! So remember that the Vikings need Chicago, Arizona, San Francisco, and Tampa Bay to lose going forward!

Injury Report:
Veteran WR Adam Thielen was inactive today due to Covid, he is expected to play next Sunday. 
2nd year TE Irv Smith Jr. was out today with a groin injury. Watch practice injury reports this week for info on him.
OL Ezra Cleveland was out today with an ankle injury, it is unclear if he will be back next week or not.
RB Dalvin Cook left the game briefly in the second half, but returned in the fourth quarter.

Up Next:
Next week the Vikings finish their homestand as they host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kickoff is on Sunday December 6 at 12 PM CT.

​#SKOL