Once again, as with the Green Bay game a week earlier, this week's Vikings-Carolina contest was a study in "pluses vs. minuses".

Carolina (in Cam Newton) had the most electric player on the field...

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Our secondary was still as shaky as ever...

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And the offense wasn't exactly a juggernaut...

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However, once again, Christian Ponder came through big in the clutch (looking like a veteran beyond his years on the final drive of the game)...

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Adrian Peterson made some big plays...

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And a little bit of luck (missed field goal by Olindo Mare) finally went our way...

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The biggest difference between this game and Green Bay, though?!  A "W" in the left-hand column...

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I was very impressed by the Vikings' ability to win on the road in a locale that has completely intimidated us in the past.  Are we a team to be feared yet?  Nope.  But, the baby steps keep occurring in the road back to respectability.

The next step?  Winning a game (on the road) against a solid opponent.  Might the upcoming MNF match-up against the rival Packers fit that bill?!

                                               And I have to wait two more weeks for that?!