Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers: Second Quarter Open Thread

This one got off to about as bad a start as you could have if you’re a Vikings fan. Case Keenum was intercepted on the first Minnesota drive, and the Panthers took advantage courtesy of a 60. . .yes, sixty. . .yard touchdown run by the venerable Jonathan Stewart to take an early 7-0 lead.

MinAfter fifteennesota wasted little time in answering, though. They took the ball and marched down the field with Case Keenum leading the offense 75 yards in 10 plays. The drive concluded with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Keenum to Kyle Rudolph for the score. It was Rudolph’s seventh touchdown of the season, and the Kai Forbath extra point tied the game at 7-7 with a little over six minutes left in the quarter.

It appeared that the Vikings had the Panthers stopped on their next possession, but the Vikings were flagged for a roughing the passer penalty on Anthony Barr to keep the drive alive. Another personal foul, this one a face mask by Everson Griffen, moved the ball into Minnesota territory for the Panthers. Carolina took advantage, pushing into the Minnesota red zone, and as we move to the second quarter of play, the Panthers are looing at second-and-goal at the Minnesota 5.

We are tied 7-7 after one quarter of play, but the Panthers are on the doorstep. Can the Vikings right the proverbial ship in this one?